This module I wrote can be a model for how to accomplish data input/display in a Drupalesque way: http://drupal.org/project/object_driver Not 15 lines, but not complicated. This also had lots of extra goodness (such as hooks) that a dedicated module would not need. Or see (you have to get its code from CVS): http://drupal.org/project/member As before - these modules don't give you any of the power of the node system, but sometimes that 's more than you need. You could even implement hook_search if you need a custom data type to be searchable with Drupal's search module. -Peter On 8/28/07, Walt Daniels <wdlists@optonline.net> wrote:
Ok, where is a sample of your fifteen-lines PHP function.
-----Original Message----- From: development-bounces@drupal.org [mailto:development-bounces@drupal.org] On Behalf Of Bèr Kessels Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 3:55 PM To: development@drupal.org Subject: Re: [development] Advice Needed
Op dinsdag 28 augustus 2007, schreef Farsheed:
The advantage being you get all the views query goodness and all you have to do is make sure the data is output the way you want.
The disavantage should also be mentioned here: Complexity.
A views style plugin is actually (ahum) an abstraction layer, on an abstraction layer, on an abstraction layer and so forth, approximately six levels deep. Drupal, has a DBA to talk to SQL. Views lays on top of that as some kind of databasequery builder, adding complexity to an already complex thing. On top of that lies the Drupal theme layer. But, views style lies on top if /that/ altering the theme. In fact, views has a theme abstraction in itself too. And on top of that, you get the theme layer again.
Disclaimer: I am in favour of a simple fifteen-lines PHP function to aggregate data from the DB and present that in the table the way the client wants to see it, over views, cck, theme-over-theme-over-abstraction layers and all that. I just put this other side of the medallion here, so that readers are not blinded by all the CCK/views goodness, but can value a simple few lines of PHP where appropriate :)
Bèr -- Drupal, Ruby on Rails and Joomla! development: webschuur.com | Drupal hosting: www.sympal.nl