ECI Version 6.3.3 Beta
Please contact me directly to get a copy of the new beta. I’m currently on hire to apply a specific upgrade to the plugin, I may not reply straight away. Also I’m aware the download page is not available on login, I’m planning a new download area.
New Project Type: Comparison and List
In short this project allows users to merge multiple records into one. This upgrade was paid for and will be configured for a specific project in terms of the list design. However eventually I can make it more flexible and intend to make great use of comparison tables.
New Shortcode [ecilist]
This new shortcode is only for use in a Comparison and List project. It places the list or table into the post content. It must be used in the WYSIWYG editor and you may put content before or after it. Giving the flexibility of not only offering a list of products or comparison table but using other methods to make the page as unique as possible. Great for SEO.
New Condition: Item List
Another feature for Comparison and List projects. You must use this Condition to setup the columns that will be used as keys. Records will be grouped by the values in the key columns, distinct values they are called. You can use one or two columns.
Instructions
This new project type is very different as it requires specific things in order to work properly so here are some basic instructions to get you started. The list you create with this version will be very basic but I do intend for it to become impressive.
- On the Start page select the Comparison and List project, create a project as usual.
- No speed profile is required, currently only full speed processing will happen, this will be improved later.
- On the Design page, you should see a panel for List Design under the editor. The text area in that panel is for pasting a single items design. You do not need to add the html code for ordered or unordered lists. You can paste a single token in that box for the values from that tokens columns to be listed.
- For your title, you should use the tokens for the key columns because those hold the distinct values that apply to all of the items in the lists to be generated.
- On the Configuration page you should import all data, at this time you may want to test with a small file of 2000 or less records. I’m releasing this beta prior to serious testing with large files.
- Go to Conditions, open the Item List condition. Then select your key columns i.e. in hotel data it would be the city and country columns or maybe just city. The second column is important for the larger for data feeds.
- On saving the plugin will generate a list of distinct values. The number of distinct value sets generated will be the number of posts created. At this time the output does not indicate the number of posts or how many records will be marged per post. For a data set of 60,000 records that would be a lot of output. I think we may need query tools, let me know what you think on this?
- Then create posts on the Finish page.
Various Other Changes and Fixes
There is a small list of other changes in response to feedback, I have tried to email everyone and let them know their reported issue or suggested change has been implemented. I still have many emails to get through and the plugins to do list has grown recently. Let me tell you, there is some impressive abilities on the horizon. What we have now in ECI is just the beginning but I’m going to be patient. I need to improve what we have a bit more and take in more feedback.
Please keep the feedback coming.