Knowledge Base

Extended User Details Content Type

Last Modified:
14 Dec 2018
User Level:
Administrator +

Description

The Extended User Details Content Type is a System Content Type. When enabled, it adds extra fields on user profiles when creating or editing a user and these can be automatically populated when configuring LDAP or can be manually populated by users when editing their user profile. For example, the Extended User Details Content Type Content Type could have a "Job Title" and a "Department" element. The additional user profile information is stored in TERMINALFOUR as content within a Section in a hidden area of the Site Structure. The content can be published onto a site using the External Content Syncer or a Programmable Layout in order to create a staff directory.

Configuration - Content Type Set Up

To check whether an Extended User Details Content Type already exists, go to Users and workflows Settings at System Administration > System Settings > Users and workflow.

If no Content Type is selected for the Extended user details content type option, then create a new Extended User Details Content Type. If a Content Type is selected, then edit an existing Extended User Details Content Type.

Creating a New Extended User Details Content Type

  1. Create a new Content Type called, for example, "Extended User Details".
  2. Add the elements/fields required to store the user information. The "Name" element from this Content Type will not be displayed.
  3. Note the Content Type ID.
  4. To convert it into a System Content Type, the person or team that manages your TERMINALFOUR database will need to run the following SQL on the database:

    UPDATE template SET template_type=30 WHERE id=<CONTENT TYPE ID>

  5. Go to System Administration > System Settings > Users and workflow and select the Content Type as the Extended user details content type.

When creating or editing a user, you should now see the extra elements you defined within the Content Type.

Edit a Section Meta Content Type

To edit an existing Extended User Details Content Type, navigate to Assets > Content Type and note the ID of the Content Type. Since it's a System Content Type, it is not editable. To edit it, you will need turn it into a non-System Content Type. This is done with a SQL statement run on the TERMINALFOUR database.  When the edits are made, another SQL statement is run to turn it back into a System Content Type.

Once the SQL to turn the Content Type into a non-System Content Type is run, the options will no longer be shown when creating or editing users..
The Content Type should be edited and turned back into a System Content Type as quickly as possible.

  1. To change it into a non-System Content Type, the person or team that manages your TERMINALFOUR database will need to run the following SQL on the database:

    UPDATE template SET template_type=10 WHERE id=<CONTENT TYPE ID>

  2. Edit the Content Type and add/edit the elements/fields that are required to store the user information.

  3. Once you have created/edited the Content Type with the desired fields, convert it back into a System Type. The person or team that manages your TERMINALFOUR database will need to run the following SQL on the database:

    UPDATE template SET template_type=30 WHERE id=<CONTENT TYPE ID>

When creating or editing a user, you should now see the extra elements you defined within the Content Type.