Visual grid/layout editor

[jedateach]

This module is about trying to provide more than a single HTMLTextEditor WYSIWYG for managing SS content on a single page. The current working concept in this module splits up a single content field, and places the separate content pieces within the defined blocks.

For this concept to work well, at the heart of the experience (I think) should be a good javascript grid editor. This would produce a data structure which defines: a grid, and where pieces of content sit within it. (whereas currently for this module you simply add json to a TextareaField in the CMS.)

Taking the concept further for greater content flexibility - we could allow creating/editing widgets, elements, blocks, modules, "components" or any other content dataobjects within this visual editor.
You could potentially define and store a layout. Many_many linked objects could have many_many_extrafields which define where the linked objects should sit in the defined layout.

Much of my inspiration has come from testing the squarespace page "LayoutEngine".... Especially the drag-and-drop & insertion points functionality. Check it out to see what I mean.

Projects that could be borrowed from:

• sir trevor js, (+this issue), integration attempt with ss
• makona editor

[jedateach]

@sheadawson @wilr @mandrew @unclecheese @Leapfrognz @jnv @lekoala @icecaster @webtorque7
Hey guys, I thought you might be interested in this discussion, considering you've worked on similar things.

[mandrew]

I'm all keen for some sort of shared repository of reusable SilverStripe component objects which could be implemented anywhere (not just for one particular module). It would make front end development in SS a lot more streamlined. These could then be dropped into your module and already configured to be editable via the CMS in some sort of grid editor

[icecaster]

Hey Jeremy,

appreciate your effort!

I'm pretty busy at the moment but will check out your module & join the conversation when I have some time available.

Cheers

[wilr]

Will check out the module, I also ran into a project today that was using https://github.com/webtorque7/inpage-modules for modules on the page. Def something that looks like it needs to be a clear path.

[wilr]

Also on the topic http://alistapart.com/blog/post/longform-content-with-craft-matrix/

[riddler7]

Inpage-modules was designed around reusable building blocks. First version was a little crude. A bit less crude now. Can have multiple sections to add modules, e.g main content, side bar, footer

[jedateach]

I just watched this webstock '13 video, which somewhat relates: http://www.webstock.org.nz/talks/adapting-ourselves-to-adaptive-content/

[jedateach]

I have recently seen that weebly now has a very similar editor.

[jedateach]

Another library to be aware of: http://neokoenig.github.io/jQuery-gridmanager/

[jedateach]

FYI: this discussion topic has now made its way to the core mailing list:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/silverstripe-dev/3kC1-iG1nYw

[wilr]

Just used http://vc.wpbakery.com/ and that works pretty much how I'd like something in SS to work.

[prembo]

Just wondering if there is any more interest in developing something like WPBakery or Gutenberg for SilverStripe?

[wilr]

@prembo This module is deprecated. Gutenberg is already ported to SilverStripe and also see Elemental for visual editing.

https://github.com/MadeHQ/silverstripe-gutenberg-editor
https://github.com/dnadesign/silverstripe-elemental