How to add custom tags to your documents

In order to properly tag your documents I recommend using a special table that will have all the values you need. By using a table you can easily change the values and also add new ones quite fast.

1. Create a table in your modx database:

In my case the table will be named tags_modx_versions and will have 2 fields id and name

Here's the SQL command for creating this table

CREATE TABLE `tags_modx_versions` ( `id` INT UNSIGNED NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT, `name` VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL, UNIQUE (`id`))

Insert the first 2 values: Evolution and Revolution

INSERT INTO `tags_modx_versions` (`id`, `name`) VALUES ('', 'Evolution'), ('', 'Revolution');

At this point we're done with the database stuff.

2. Create the TV

Log in into the Manager and create a new TV. I will name it modxVersion.

Enter a caption/description, select Checkbox for Input Type and paste the following into Input Option Values:

@SELECT name,id FROM tags_modx_versions ORDER BY name

Widget: Delimited List

Delimiter: ,

Before saving the TV you have to select the template you want to use it for.

Click here to see a screen grab.

3. Display the tags

At this point if you want to use the TV you will get an ID or a comma separated list of IDs.

To display the names associated with those IDs we have to create a new snippet:

<?php
// [[GetModxVersion? &ids=`[*modxVersion*]`]]
$ids = isset($ids) ? $ids : 0;

if($ids){
    $values = array();
    $res = $modx->db->select("name", "tags_modx_versions", "id IN ($ids)", "name ASC");
    while ($row = $modx->db->getRow( $res )) {
        array_push($values, $row['name']);
    }
    return implode(', ', $values);
}
?>

Call the snippet anywhere in your document like:

[[GetModxVersion? &ids=`[*modxVersion*]` ]]

This was quite a long one, but now you can easily add new tags by using the Insert functionality in phpMyAdmin or your favorite database tool.

Note: A modx module can be created in order to Add or Delete new tags. I will handle this in a future post.

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sharkbait
Posts: 2

Re: How to add custom tags to your documents
Reply #3 on : Mon October 19, 2009, 03:41:13

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Hi Cipa,

what are the advantages of this tagging solution to the one of Ditto? The output of this Snippet will be a list of Tags - no links, right? - thanks, jan

keep up the good work :) this site's quickly becoming a great MODx ressource

cipa
Posts: 1

Re: How to add custom tags to your documents
Reply #2 on : Mon October 19, 2009, 08:51:13

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If you are referring to http://ditto.modxcms.com/screencast/tagging.html

I think the only difference is that if you later want to change a tag Eg: Evolution -> Modx Evolution it is easy to do. You only have to edit your table.

Imagine having to change the tag for all the documents. I guess you can do it with sql script but it's not as easy.

sharkbait
Posts: 2

Re: How to add custom tags to your documents
Reply #1 on : Mon October 19, 2009, 15:53:51

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ah, okay, i see - thanks!