Table of Contents

Using the RocketNews Module

This guide explains how to set up and manage the RocketNews module, a system designed for publishing news articles, press releases, or announcements. It is built upon the flexible RocketDirectory system but is streamlined for journalistic content.

Step 1: Initial Configuration

When a new RocketNews module is added to a page, it must be configured. The module requires an AppTheme to define its data fields (e.g., headline, article body), layout, and editing interface. Click the Configure button to start.

Step 2: Select an AppTheme

On the AppTheme selection screen, you will choose a theme appropriate for news content.

  1. Select the Project: AppThemes-W3-CSS.
  2. Select the AppTheme: rocketnewsapi.News. This theme provides the structure for a classic news listing and detail page.
  3. Click Save.

Step 3: Module Settings

The settings page controls the behavior of your news feed. It combines standard RocketDirectory options with settings specific to the News AppTheme.

Standard Settings

  • Disable Cache, ECO Mode, Template, Default Sort, List/Detail Page, API Module Reference: These function exactly as they do in the standard RocketDirectory module, allowing you to control performance, select different view templates (e.g., list vs. grid), and reuse a news feed across multiple pages.

News AppTheme Settings

The rocketnewsapi.News theme may add its own settings, such as:

  • Articles Per Page: The number of articles to display on the main news listing.
  • Show "Read More" Link: A toggle to show or hide a "Read More" link if the summary is used.
  • Date Format: Allows you to choose how the publication date is displayed (e.g., "MM/DD/YYYY" vs. "Month Day, Year").

Step 4: Editing Data (Creating a News Article)

In "Edit" mode, you can write and manage your news articles. The fields are tailored for this purpose:

  • Headline: The title of the news article.
  • Sub-headline/Summary: A brief summary of the article.
  • Article Body: The full content of the news story.
  • Source: The source of the news, if it's from an external feed or newswire.
  • Publication Date: The date the article is published.
  • Article Image: A primary image to accompany the story.

Step 5: The Administration Settings

The core administration for RocketNews is handled by the central RocketDirectory panel. All the system-wide settings described in the RocketDirectory tutorial—covering General, Config, Order By, Providers, and Tools—apply here as well. For instance, you could use the "SQL Filter" in the Config tab to create a module instance that only shows news from a specific category or time frame.

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