In the UK Web Platform, "Views" is a sophisticated engine used to create and manage custom lists of content. While standard paragraphs are great for manual content entry, Views allow you to retrieve and display items—such as news articles, faculty profiles, or upcoming events—automatically based on specific criteria.
Permission Requirements: Creating and editing Views is restricted to users with the Site Builder role. If you do not see the "Views" option in your menu or if you need assistance building a complex display, the Web Team is happy to help. Please reach out for a consultation by submitting our General Support form.
Why Use Views?
Views improve the organization of your site by ensuring content is always up-to-date without manual editing. By leveraging this core Drupal feature, you can:
- Filter: Show only content that meets specific rules (e.g., "Only show News tagged with 'Research'").
- Sort: Organize items by date, title, or a custom weight.
- Pagination: Control how many items appear on a page and provide navigation for longer lists.
- Format: Choose how the list looks, ranging from simple bulleted lists and tables to complex grids or carousels.
Walkthrough: Creating a New View
For those with the Site Builder role, use these steps to generate a dynamic content list:
- Access the Interface: Log in to your website and navigate to Structure > Views in the administrative menu.
- Start a New View: Click the Add new view link.
- Basic Information: Enter a name and description. Choose a "View Type" (typically Page to create a standalone URL, or Block to place the list inside an existing layout).
- Select Your Data: Choose a "Base Table" (typically Content) and select the specific Content Types you want to include.
- Refine the List: Use Fields to choose what data shows (e.g., Image, Title, Date), Filters to limit what shows, and Sort Criteria to set the order.
- Finalize Display: Choose your display format (e.g., Grid or Unformatted List) and set your pager options to determine how many items appear per page.
External Resources
Because Views is a powerful tool with significant depth, we recommend utilizing the global Drupal community resources for specific configuration questions:
- Drupal.org Documentation: In-depth information on the Views Module, its configuration, and usage can be found on drupal.org.
- Learn More about Views: Check out the official Drupal User Guide for step-by-step tutorials on creating different types of content displays.