ECI: Item Lists Condition
This feature was added 28th July 2011 and is part of a new project type called Comparison and Lists. This condition allows you to tell ECI what CSV file column holds the values that can be used to group records. Each group of records will be sort of merged into a single post, usually in the form of a list. This is the most basic use but more work will be done to allow more to be done especially in the area of product/service comparison tables.
Key Information
- As of 6th August 2011, only 10 sets of distinct values will be established on submission of the Item List Condition. This is for review and initial post creation. The plugin will establish more distinct value groups as it creates posts. This is to avoid the project array stored in the WordPress options table becoming too large.
- You must select a column in the left menu before selecting one in the right menu.
- You can use a single menu, only the left.
- The second menu is to be used when values in the primary menu may be the same but have different parental values i.e. two towns sharing the same name in two different countries.
Video Tutorial
Item Lists Condition Features
Select Key Columns
There are two columns to create a key. The key is used to group records by their shared value. On selecting then submitting the form, Easy CSV Importer will do an SQL query on your project database table, specifically to get all distinct values within the one or two columns you select. This means you must import all your data from the projects CSV file before using this feature.
Distinct Values
The SQL query establishes all distinct/unique values within the selected columns. Each distinct single value or distinct pair of values is stored. The stored list is displayed under the Distinct Values header and also used later to query the records that contain these distinct values. What is returned from that query is a group of records thought of as being related. The records are then used to build a list or table.