Understanding Form2Content

Form2Content is a Joomla extension (component). It allows users to create 100% native Joomla articles using very simple forms. Each form can have many fields to collect data like images, URL's, text, lists etc.. The layout of the Joomla article is determined by article templates in which the collected data is parsed.

Some facts & benefits of using Form2Content

  • Form2Content is a TOOL, not a "plug 'n play" solution ... but it's a fun tool ;)
  • Webmaster keeps control over article layout
  • Users can manage content without html knowledge or WYSIWYG editor.
  • Users can submit content through the front-end.
  • Images can be uploaded, cropped and re-sized.
  • Advanced templating allows for dynamic content creation..
PLEASE REMEMBER: Form2Content is a TOOL, you will need to create your own submission forms and F2C article templates. For the later some HTML and simple Smarty knowledge is required.

When to use Form2Content

Form2Content is ideally used for website content which has the same layout but varying information. We call these Content Types and for each allow you to make a custom Article template and submission form.

Examples of content types.

  • Blog articles
  • News articles
  • Portfolio articles
  • Documentation articles
  • Product pages
  • Directory pages
  • .......

Technical explanation ... how does it work

In order to actually generate the Joomla article, F2C combines the data from a submitted form with the layout of an article template. The resulting content is saved as a native Joomla article.

The formula: form content (data) + article template (layout) = Joomla article (html)

Whenever you save your article in the Form2Content Article Manager your corresponding Joomla article content is COMPLETELY REPLACED! Any changes you made in the article using the Joomla article manager will be lost.

YES, F2C keeps your article data stored in DB tables

Form2Content does indeed save all your submitted data in our own DB tables as well. This way we can recreate the Joomla article every time the article data is changed and saved. It also allows us to create extensions such as KML Feeds and F2C Search.

F2C Cheat-sheet

An overview of all template parameters (placeholders for your form data). These are used in your F2C intro and main template to parse the data from your submission forms into the Joomla article.

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