Forums » Alpha Release Candidate

1. DouglasKnox | Member

   9 months ago # | |

   I have just started trying out Omeka and have created a number of section pages for an exhibit, but am unable to create an exhibit section page consisting of just text without an item. There is a layout that is plain text, and the database table omeka_items_section_pages seems to allow item_id to be null, which suggests that I should be able to have an image-free section page. Is this a bug?

   The database structure makes me wonder about the assumptions of the data model. I can appreciate having a model where text can be attached to particular items in an exhibit context, but some pieces of text might have a different role, serving as section or subsection labels. Is it not the right way to think about how to use Omeka?

2. SheilaBrennan | Administrator

   9 months ago # | |

   Hi Douglas,

   We're trying to replicate the problem you had with creating text-only layouts in the exhibit builder. You should be able to create text-only exhibit pages. We are doing that on a project in-progress here at CHNM where image-free essays are published online using the exhibit function. But we are investigating whether we have missed something.

   We have designed Omeka so that you may write and publish exhibit section descriptions as well. The pages serve as subsections, where you place items (if you choose them) in context or offer a longer piece of exhibit text. Then individual item descriptions and their metadata fields can act like traditional object labels.

   At the item level, you can also create a text-only item that does not contain a file. For instance, when you add an item to the archive, choose the Document type. In Step 1, there is a field for "text" (such as text from a primary source) that can hold text with or without an accompanying file. In that case the item description offers a summary of that text.

   We plan to create additional exhibit page layouts, so if you have other suggestions please let us know.

3. JeremyBoggs | Project Manager

   9 months ago # | |

   Hi Douglas,

   This is a bug with RC4, and you're the first to catch it. We've added it to our list of tickets to complete before the public release. At the moment, there isn't an easy fix for this for RC4, but rest assured we'll have it fixed before the public release.

   As far as your comment on the database structure is concerned: Right now the structure of the table for exhibit items/text (items_section_pages) does imply a relationship between items and text, for a table in that record. But, the table is set up so that the item_id field in that table can have a NULL value. So, a record in this table doesn't need an item associated with it. A text field can stand alone in a page layout, though there seems to be a bug displaying the text input through the "Text" layout.

4. DouglasKnox | Member

   8 months ago # | |

   Thanks, maybe this is a result of the same issue, but somehow my exhibit pages have been able to skip page sequence. I have an exhibit with pages in order "1, 2, 4, 5."

5. DaveLester | Developer Community Lead

   8 months ago # | |

   In regard to your last question, could you provide a bit more context of when you're observing this discrepancy in ordering exhibit pages? Did you delete an exhibit page at some point?

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