Joomla Featured Articles Module |  |  |  |
Joomla Featured Articles ModuleEver wanted to draw attention to a few particular articles in your joomla website? This simple module allows you to do just that. You just specify the content IDs of the articles you want to feature, and they will their title will get displayed in a simple module. Click here for Joomla 1.5 Featured ArticlesThe idea behind this module is that you might have written a few articles which you like particularly and want to display on the frontpage or in some particular menu link. You could create a new menu to display them and choose the items you like, or you could use this simple module. Just install using the standard module installation. Then you have the following parameters:
DownloadPlease Register and Login to download this module.Joomla 1.0If you like it, please take a moment to write a small review on the Joomla Extensions site , vote for us, or link to us! The module should be fairly easy to use, however if you find any problem while use it, please drop a line in the comments below or contact, and we try our best to support you. If you like it and used it, please do leave a comment with a link to your site, it would be good to know that other people have found it useful. We consider this to be just a drop in the open-source ocean. If you'd like to see it in action, just take a look to the left (Featured Articles). CompatibilityThere are three versions, one for 1.5 (native), which has two layouts (default which uses Divs, ULs and LIs, and table layout which uses tables). There are another two versions for 1.0. The two versions for 1.0 are for DIVs and tables respectively. InstallationTo install the module, simple go to (Extensions > Module Manager for Joomla 1.5) or (Installers > Modules for Joomla 1.0), choose the file you have downloaded above and click on the upload and install button. ConfigurationConfiguration of the module is done via Modules > Site Modules. Click on the Featured Articles item, and you will see a screenshot similar to the one below:
You then need to find the content item ids of the articles you want to display. This is done by going to Content > All Content Items, click on the first article you want to display and in the Publishing parameters in the right you will find the content item id as shown in the figure below. The content item id is 38 in the example below.
Find the content items of all the articles you want to feature and then in the Content Item Id parameter of the module, enter all the item ids. If you want to feature articles with content items ids 37, 25, 38 and 50, the Content Item Id parameter of the module will be (37,25,38,50) as shown in the screenshot above. This parameter is required, and unless the format is (37,25,38,50) with your content ids instead of the numbers, the module will not work. The rest of parameters are:
The give the module a position, publish it and you're up and running. Screenshot
Update: Thanks goes to Ryan which modified the code slightly to allow each item in the featured articles module to be associated with a menu item, and thus keep any modules associated with that menu item. SupportPlease post to the forums of you need help in configuring the module.
Styling the module to the Look and Feel of your websitePlease note that there are two versions of the module, and the way their styling works is different. You should download both modules, and see which one works best for your website. The best way to determine which module to choose is to take a look at the html generated by your template. You should decide where you will be putting, and then take a look at the html of that section of your template. You do this by viewing the source using FireFox or Internet Explorer. Let's give an example of this: I have decided to place the Featured Articles module below the main menu in the left column, and keep the same style of the main menu items. Therefore, I view the source of the current page (right click, View Page Source) and search for main menu text. The main menu is generated by the following html code.
As you can see, the main menu makes use of tables. Therefore, to keep the same style, I should use the tables version of module. On the other hand, if you look at your website's source and the position where it will be is not rendered via tables, but via divs, then you should use the div version.
As you can see in the image above, here we have rendering which is done only via unordered lists (UL) and list items (LI), which shows up in your site as a bulletted list. If the area where you will be putting the module is rendered similar to the one above, then you should download the div module. Styling the tables versionThe tables version of the module should be quite easy to style, provided that the module works well with your website. Once again, the best way to style your module is to look at modules or parts of your website which you already like, and attempt to copy these. The way to do it, is to once again look at the code which is generating your code. Continuing on the example of styling the module to look like the main menu, I once again view the source of the page and find that each item is styled using the mainlevel class.
Therefore, the only change required, is the adding of the mainlevel in the Title Class field of the module.
Before styling:
After styling:
Styling the DIV versionThe DIV version is rendered by having a DIV tag, within which there is a UL tag and several LI tags. Therefore, the first styling which will be applied is the styling defined for the UL and LI tags in your template. Typically you would want to change this. The most popular styling would be making the Featured Articles module look like the Lastest News module or some other module which already exists. The module allows you to apply other styles to the UL and LI class. You therefore need to look at the way HTML code which renders the latest news module and adjust the module parameters to replicate the class styles in the featured articles module.
Typically, you would need to add a class style which exists in other modules (Latest News or Most Read) to the UL / LI / Title class parameters of the module. This has to be done through some trial and error. CSS Styling ServiceA lot of people have been having problems styling the module. The module supports any styling you require, though it seems that most people have trouble configuring the styles. Most requests have been for helping to style the modules to the look and feel of a particular website. I will be publishing some articles soon. For those who don't understand the way CSS works, or want a quick touch up of the module to suit your site's style, I'm offering a special service, priced at €10 to customize the module. I have helped numerous people in the past, unfortunately, time has become so limited that I need to start asking for a small fee for this service. If you are interested please contact us
Do you like this module? - Buy me a beer (€3)If you liked this module, please consider buying me a beer Warning: Installing 3rd party extensions may compromise Joomla's security. Make sure that you trust any 3rd party extension that you install.
|
... the featured articles you see on your the left side of the page.
I liked the simplicity of this module, but wanted divs and not tables, so changed to combination of div ul and li
Chinaman: It would be great if you contact us through the Contact Us page, so that we may put up your version for download too.
Created a new tableless version, which uses DIVs, ULs, and LIs only.
It's genius. I have been looking for something like this!
Well done guys.
this is such a helpful Module. it reall has saved me so much time & hassle.
Further to that, it's semantically correct output is great!
I believe there's a minor update coming for even more functionality? =)
keep up the gr8 work!
This needs to be integrated into the joomla host system. Very useful, thanks.
This is exactly fulfilling my need to present articles that I would like to direct attention to.
Thx
Ian Bendtsen
Getting this error:
Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/ltffizz/public_html/new/modules/ mod_featuredarticlesdiv.php on line 57
Don't quite know how to proceed. Link is here:
nolinkspls://ltf.fizzcolabs.com/new/index.php
thanks!
You are using the incorrect syntax for the content items to use.
They have to specified like this
(xx, xx, xx) where xx is the content id of the article to display. Brackets must be included.
E.g. (37,25,38, 50)
No matter what I do, it won't show up. I have it set to display on all pages. I've tried moving it; Left, User1, User5, Right, Top, Banner. Only once did I see part it, in the side menu.
Are you sure you have published the module Mike?
Undefined variable: buffer in modules/mod_featuredarticlesdiv.php on line 78
Any suggestions?
Hi guys,
Great module by the way. Just had to declare the buffer variable at the start of the php file below the other variables. If someone sees that this may cause problems please reply, otherwise, this fixed the issue I was having:
$buffer = "";
I have updated the code to declare the buffer variable. It seems that with certain versions of php, the buffer needs to be declared whilst with others it doesn't.
A user of the module has recently sent me an email about the possibility of ordering the articles. The module will be soon updated to be able to do this be default, in the meantime, below is the email by Burek which allows ordering by category and article ordering.
Hi,
I've made just a small change to your "Joomla Featured Articles Module" that cause article links to be ordered in the way they are ordered in the backend (first by category ordering, than by article ordering) and here is that change, so if you whish, you can update your module with it.
in the file "mod_featuredarticlesdiv.php", find the line:
$sql = "SELECT id, title FROM #__content WHERE id in $ids";
and replace it with the line:
$sql = "SELECT CON.id id, CON.title title FROM #__content CON, #__categories CAT WHERE CON.id in $ids AND CON.catid=CAT.id ORDER BY CAT.ordering, CON.ordering";
The change consist only in adding the ordering functionality, nothing more.
...
Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach()...
Could you please specify where I should input the content id values.Thanks a lot!
Mark,
please follow the instructions provided in the Configuration section above. This should show you how to elimnate the problem you have.
I am just starting out with Joomla, but my road so far has been like a video game ... every day I come across a module (like this one, a little pot of gold) which, very simply, allows me present my content to my web visitors when and how I want, and so easily.
Love Joomla, just love it!
Cheers,
Kiwi
Hi,
how can i use the Inline CSS Style, UL CSS Style and LI CSS Style?
what class or id divs to use?
thanks a lot!
Anyway to have it include a thumbnail pic from the article next to it?
Hi Ted,
not at the moment, there isn't. Though is definetely something I will keep in mind for the next version.
Hi,
Great module.
I made a small modification 'tho, because I found that the featured articles were going in chronological order, rather than the order I listed them in the backend of the module...
In the file "mod_featuredarticlesdiv.php", find the line:
$sql = "SELECT id, title FROM #__content WHERE id in $ids";
and replace it with the line:
$sql = "SELECT id, title FROM #__content WHERE id in $ids ORDER BY FIELD(id, ".preg_replace('/[\()]/', '', $ids)."
";
The "preg_replace" strips the brackets from the backend list, and the "ORDER BY FIELD" selects the articles using exactly the same order as in that backend list.
cheers,
Rob
Rob,
thanks for sharing! This is the 2nd mod for ordering articles in the module.
Hi,
I like this page in which we are able to comment and compliment your work. What component is this, or how may I implement something similar on my site?
Awesome module by the way !!!
Hi im a newbie, and the template i use uses the "Module class suffix" to change colours ( so i can for example fill the Featured articles user with a different colour). This is a great module but i need that functionality too.
Appreciate any help.
What i mean is where is the " module class suffix" part?
Great module. Simple and usefull.
One suggestion: Could be a "random" featured articles module?
I will add it to the list of enhancements, which will be done, hopefully in the near future.
Any idea why when it points to a page that uses bullets in the text, it displays them as
Claude, please send an email using the Contact Us page so that we may help you solve your problem.
Hi,
Nice Module.
Any chance of some examples I could use for the CSS? I am not sure how I can modify using the CSS elements?
I would love to find a way to modify CSS also. I went into all the css file to modify the UL and LI, but it won't budge. Please help. If I could make it look similar to this website "Featured Articles", it would so wonderful. Thanks for the great module btw.
I'm working on some CSS example articles. I'll post them soon.
Will this be coming out for version 1.5?
Thanks
John
Hi John,
yes, all modules will be converted to Joomla 1.5 once this has been officially released.
However, the modules should still work correctly on Joomla 1.5. I'll test and update asap.
Thanks for the reply. I'll download it and try.
John
i like to show the article in my front. but it just showd just a link? how do i show it all?
Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/beto2007/public_html/modules/ mod_featuredarticlesdiv.php on line 75
What should i do?? any help??
Geefee,
showing all the article is not a feature of this module.
Sebastien,
you need to put in the content item of the articles to display in the correct format.
Hello hello! 
Anyway to also point this to more than an article, like a category blog ?
BTW, Love the module the way it is!
Anyway to point this to more than a article? Can you point it to a 'category blog' page?
My site has a side panel that is allocated to 3 modules--(cpanel,user1,user2) I am able to assign the module to ie: cpanel but I want to create three separate lists..so far I can only do the one? any help is appreciated and your module is great!!
You can create a copy of the module, and assign each copy to the different positions you require. Then change the content IDs for each module seperately.
* It was not possible to copy the selected file.
* JInstaller::install: Failed to copy file: /var/zzz/html/tmp/install_47e7e97453a68/ mod_j15featuredarticles/tmpl/index.html to /var/zzz/html/modules/mod_j15featuredarticles/ tmpl/index.html
This error present also in legacy mode and when Install from Directory was used
This is typically a problem with the permissions on the server. You need to enable the FTP layer to solve this problem.
I'm using 1.5, and just installed the module, but I don't see a field for menu_id. Did I miss something?
Thanks!
* It was not possible to copy the selected file.
* JInstaller::install: Failed to copy file: /var/zzz/clients/everest/tmp/ install_47f1b1d973601/mod_j15featuredarticles/ tmpl/index.html to /var/zzz/clients/everest/modules/ mod_j15featuredarticles/tmpl/index.html
Message
* Install Module Error
Legacy mode with FTP on.
What did I miss?
Pastorjan, I am using the new functions of Joomla to create the links to the articles (as opposed to the old version where links were created manually), and thus everything should be handled automatically.
However, if you still require the menu_id parameter do get in touch.
adib, you need to setup the FTP layer correctly. This problem occurs due to a lack of permissions on your server, however using the FTP layer solves this problem.
For the 1.5 version, legacy module is not required.
I have properly configured the FTP.
But i need the legacy module for other modules to work properly.
However both versions of Featured article 1.5 and 1.0 cant be installed.
it says Unable to find install package.
package contents looks good.
Contact via the Contact Us Page above and we'll take a look. However, I still think its an issue with the FTP layer.
Seems it is not compatible with SectionEx nolinkspls://extensions.joomla.org/component/ option,com_mtree/task,viewlink/link_id,4212/ Itemid,35/ when placed in the right side of the screen.
I get "Class 'ContentHelperRoute' not found in ..mod_j15featuredarticles/helper.php on line 49"
o installed the module & put the content id & LI CSS Style(mainlevel) & saved it..i am getting the following error
Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/abarjigs/public_html/Home/modules/ mod_featuredarticlesdiv.php on line 75
Find the content items of all the articles you want to feature and then in the Content Item Id parameter of the module, enter all the item ids. If you want to feature articles with content items ids 37, 25, 38 and 50, the Content Item Id parameter of the module will be (37,25,38,50) as shown in the screenshot above. This parameter is required, and unless the format is (37,25,38,50) with your content ids instead of the numbers, the module will not work.
It seems a brilliant module. However I couldn't install it because the installation process brings the following error message. By the way, I have no problem with other module, would you kindly help on this issue? As the per the output of the error message, it seems the problem is with the 'index.html' file located in the templ folder
"
# It was not possible to copy the selected file.
# JInstaller::install: Failed to copy file:....
"
dAbarham,
this problem is typically a problem with permissions setup on the server where you are hosting the site. Please enable the FTP layer in the Joomla Settings, and re-install. This will solve your problem.
Because if a vulnerability is found in the module, I can advice you how to fix it.
* It was not possible to copy the selected file.
* JInstaller::install: Failed to copy file: /tmp/install_480dda8c33f17/ mod_j15featuredarticles/tmpl/index.html to ......./9atra.com/modules/mod_j15featuredarticles/ tmpl/index.html
whats the problem with installing ?
veto,
this is a problem with the settings of permissions on the server. You need to enable the FTP layer to fix this problem.
I'm trying to install it but seem to be getting this:
* JFTP::store: Bad response
* Warning! - Failed to move file
I discovered that the featured articles module is causing a conflict with the user login module. If new users try to create an account, it returns a fatal error, saying "Class 'ContentHelperRoute' not found in ..mod_j15featuredarticles/helper.php on line 49." Any suggestions? I would love to use the module -- it's perfect for my site.
Adam,
You might need to change the address of the FTP server as per the following:
nolinkspls://forum.joomla.org/viewtopic.php?f=431& p=1275930
Argent,
can you please contact us via the Contact link above so we may do some private testing please?
Hi,
I'm running joomla 1.5.3 and your mod is great for what i need. i linked ids of a couple of articles that users need to be registered to see, but when i click on them it gives a 404 error. When you login first it works fine.
Wondered if there is a way around this? I'd like to show the registration page if you're not logged in / registered (instead of a 404). Or maybe the article should be hideen until you are logged in?
[I also get a notice Undefined variable: sql in modules/mod_j15featuredarticles/helper.php on line 29 - not sure if this is related]
Thanks!
Andy
Arhodes,
I can put these on the wishlist. Until then, maybe you could create a couple two modules, one which is displayed when users are not logged in, and one when they are.
The other error will be fixed and a new version released asap.
Still having no luck in resolving the:
* JFTP::store: Bad response
* Warning! - Failed to move file
issue. I've tried enabling the FTP, disabling and playing with the permissions of folers via FTP and i'm getting nowhere. There's plenty of forum posts on Joomla about this but nothing definitive. ITs frustrating as this seem like a perfect module for what i wish to do.
Any further suggestions?
I know people have managed to install this without having problems - just a shame it doesn't work across the board. I don't seem to have any trouble with any other module/plugins but this one...
Any word on an article describing how to style the module?
I would like the CSS code changes for the demo here on this site.
I used my current css style from my template and it matches my menu, which I would like to avoid.
Thanks,
Robert
The module supports the Module Class Suffix. If you change this to your own value, you can give the module its own individual style.
Adam,
try getting in touch using the Contact Us page maybe we can determine what's going wrong on your site.
Hello DART Creations and everybody,
I would like to ask you,is it possible to show articles with images?
If yes.
Please what I have to do for it?
Thank you.
Best regards
Luo
Luo,
at the moment this feature is not available, though I will think of implementing this in the future.
Thanks for the great module.
I realize that the linked article is being viewed on the "Home Page" because the my footer module, which is applied to every page except the home page, is not showing up.
I was wondering why when I link to an article, the article is not linked to the menu item. Is there a way to fix this?
Thanks,
Dan
Perhaps the styling directions for the demo module could be posted here (or an article would even be better).
Thanks for helping us out.
Robert
I am getting the following error message
modules\mod_j15featuredarticles\helper.php on line 29
You need to specify more details Vic on the error you are getting. Try getting in touch via the Contact Us page.
I don't see any of the parameters in the module control shown in the joomla1.x screen shots. Are they not a feature of the 1.5x verision of the module?
Not working with wrapper.
Fatal error: Class 'ContentHelperRoute' not found in ....\modules\mod_j15featuredarticles\helper.php on line 49
i will use it on my personal website.
ersineser kamera güvenlik, güvenlik kamerası
ersineser.com
i hope it works fine.
It should be noted that the module supports up to four articles (I didn't see that stated anywhere) and additional IDs are just ignored. How would I mod it to add another?
Is it possible to have it display in multiple columns so I can include it below my content item?
Hi,
I am using Joomla Featured Articles for ver.1.5. It works like a charm, thanks for this. I am wondering how to make it work with SEF enabled. I guess since we are passing article ID it doesn't seem to work with SEF on. Is there a fix or solution for this.
Thanks,
Leena
A few weeks ago, I began to get this PHP error several hundred times a day:
Undefined variable: sql /modules/mod_j15featuredarticles/helper.php on line 29
which is
{
$sql .= "SELECT id, title FROM #__content WHERE id in ".$ids;
}
Sometimes, but not often, the referer is a Google search request.
This coincides with about the time we implemented SEO with SmartSEF, but that might have nothing to do with it. Can you give me some guidance on where to look for a cause?
I believe this has been sorted with the latest version of the module. Possibly the solution to this is only defining the $sql variable.
This might be a lesson for other users, but might mean some more error-checking for Featured Articles. The error was caused by one of the Article ID numbers entered into the Module setup. The Article for that ID number was unpublished. That threw the error.
Love this. Makes it so easy...however, any way to make it a running calendar? It changes the date as the title, and keeps updating on its own?
Hi.
I keep getting the following error:
(It on local host atm)
Notice: Only variable references should be returned by reference in C: \xampp\htdocs\joomla15\modules\mod_j15featuredarti cles\helper.php on line 88
Could you help me with this?
Line 88 is:
return false;
Cheers
Hi there, I tried this component but it does not show the my contents istead giving me this message "failed to get items, check your parameters". I'm using joomla 1.5x and this module is fairly simple and I've put the content ID's is way explained in your site. But I don't why it's not working on my site. Could you please tell why this is happening?
Yes, the article ID's are properly put in the brackets. And I don't see any reason why it asks to check the parameters.
Get in touch via Contact Us page so we try to sort it.
Now I found the solution. The problem is that this mod do not take 'uncategorized artices'. They have to be in some section with some category. Alas, I wish it can publish 'uncategorized articles' too!
The code has been amended recently to make it SEF enabled. This required the introduction of a dependency on the section s / categories. Unfortunately, although we try, you can't manage to help everyone! I'd suggest putting your articles in some generic section / category to be able to use the module successfully.
I'd like to know what joomla extension did you use for the comment component?
Its called !JoomlaComment. Besides this, we do recommend using JomComment (nolinkspls://zzz.azrul.com/? referrer=dartcreations)
Is it posible to show all articles in one category/section?
Hello again,
i have some thoughts about the fixed MenuItemID...
IMHO it would make sense to have different MenuItemIDs. Maybe a list, which coresponds to the article ID list... So i can assign one ID to each Article. The benefit: I could use uncategorized Items or Articles without menuitems and maintain special module assignments from other content.
The Article IDs come from different SEC/CAT anyway... so one MenuItemID does not help in most cases. Especially when there are many articles, which don
Hi RexKramer,
I do understand your point, and will try to put this in the next round of fixes. Would appreciate if you could post this in the Feature Requests forum, to make sure I don't forget
Oooops, sorry. Sure ? forgot about the forum at all (its a tiny menuitem on the right 
)
Excellent module but one problem I facing now. I got the module displayed the featured article correctly but my article has some formatting like BOLD and images. The formatting and images are not showing up. Any help please? Thanks in advance.
In the 1.5 version there is a parameter which allows you to either strip the the HTML formatting or leave it as is. Try tweaking that and check the outcome...
Thanks for response. I tried turning the STRIP HTML function on and the featured article only show plain text without formating and no picture.
When I turned STRIP HTML off, it shows the formating and picture html codes in plain text as part of the other text.
Kindly advice. Thanks again. Cheers.
Hi, the link is nolinkspls://zzz.pmcontrol.com.sg/J15/.
I have turn strip HTML off. Please advice. Thanks a lot.
With the HTML off thye will definetely not show. And if you switch it on the images won't show? Are the rendered addresses to the images correct?
hey there, would love to use it but I haven't received my link after i purchased. I sent an email to info@dart-creations.com with a screenshot of the paypal transaction.
Thanks.
I don't want to use the menu class suffix at all, but every time I o into the module's parameters, the field auto populates itself with "_menu" and I have to delete it time and time again.
is this a bug or is it me?
Every drop counts! No guarantees that any donations will be spent on new development rather than beer, though every effort will be made to spend all donations on new developments 
Great job!
Could you post a screenshot ?