Directories

This page will look at different layouts of Contact Manager directories, how to manage directories, and linking to your directories. You can create one or many contact directories featuring one of four different layouts. Directories list your categories, organizing them into one view.

Create a new directory

To create a new directory:

  1. Select "Search Configurations" from the Contact Manager home page
  2. Select the "Add New" button
  3. Insert the name of your contact directory. This name will identify the type of directory you wish to create and will appear in your list of directories in the i:Create back end
  4. The "Link" field will be auto-generated by i:Create once you finish setting up the directory
  5. Some directory layouts feature a category title for the contact categories you list in your directory. For example, if you are listing different organizational departments, you can insert "Departments" in the "Category Title" field
  6. Insert the page title and text you would like to appear at the top of your directory before the contacts are listed. Always insert the page title's name then style as "Heading 1" before entering any other page content. 
  7. Enter page content you would like to appear before the list of contacts and categories below the Heading 1 page title
  8. Select your directory's page layout
  9. Select which contact types you would like to include in your directory. Your contacts will be associated with a certain type depending on how you set up that contact. View "Contact detail checkboxes" for more information
  10. Select which categories you would like to include in your directory. The contacts associated with each category will be listed as part of your directory for each one you select
  11. Select the "Save" button at the bottom of the page

Types of layouts

There are four different directory layouts you can choose to style your directory.

The Basic Search layout allows the user to search for contacts by the different categories you have chosen to include in the directory. The category title will appear for users, with a dropdown menu that lists the different categories for users to choose from. Users will then be able to view all contacts within the selected category.

Users can also choose to search by keyword if they know the name or category that they are looking for.

Once selected and submitted into the search field, the directory will list all relevant contacts associated with their query. 

The Basic Search layout doesn't list categories or contacts until a user inputs a search query.

The Category Index layout lists all the categories you have chosen to include in the directory in alphabetical order, divided by letter. Users can view each category you have included in one view, organized by the first letter of the categories' names.

Once a user selects a category, they will be taken to a listing of all contacts that are associated with that category, as well as a search function to search for contacts within the category.

The Phone Directory layout lists your categories that you have chosen to include on the directory page. Separated by title, each category you have included will list the contacts associated with the category in a column. On the left side of the column, the name of your contact will appear, along with the contact's designated phone number on the right side.

Contacts can also be expanded once clicked, showing their additional information, such as address, email address, mapped location, or any other information you have chosen to insert into the expanded contact's view.

The Phone Directory with Photo layout functions the same as the Phone Directory layout, but includes a contact's photo once a user has clicked the contact to expand their information.

Sort your directory's categories and contacts

If you have chosen a "Phone Directory" or "Phone Directory with Photo" layout for you directory, your categories and contacts will automatically be sorted by alphabetical order. You can now change how these are sorted and appear on the page by selecting the "Sort" button associated with your directory on the "Search Configurations" page.

To sort your categories and contacts, click and drag the item you would like to move either up or down the list of items that appear in your directory. Select "Save Sort" once you are finished. 

Link to your directory

To link to your directory, create a menu item, button or text anywhere you choose within your website and add the link URL that is generated in your directory's setup page.

Copy the URL extension that appears in the "Link" field near the top of the setup page, then add it onto your website's root URL. For example, you would add this URL extension to www.samplecity.ca so that it becomes www.samplecity.ca/Modules/contact/search.aspx....

Add this URL to the content you would like to link from (i.e., menu item, button, text, etc.).