Create Application or Content

This page is used to add a new or edit an existing Content App. Each application or content is associated with database table to store records. Articles or items in the application are called Rows or Records.

This extension gives you more power and control over the data. You can use it to create almost any custom application.

Joomla! Articles vs TF Content

There are four key differences:

1. All Joomla articles or content is stored in one database table organised into different categories. In TF Content, the articles or items are stored in different database tables. This makes it easier to manage and transfer data.

2. Joomla articles are extended by custom fields. In TF Content, you can create columns in the database table to store custom fields. Custom fields can be used to display or store different types of data.

3. In TF Content, you can also set the viewing access level to self only or to specific users. This means, the records created at the front-end can be viewed by the creator only.

4. Events are handled by simple Tasks. For example, you can send an email notification whenever a record is submitted.

Use Cases

The component can be used to create from simple to complex web applications.

  1. You only need to store data and manage from the back-end. For example, logs, references, transactions.
  2. You need to create data in the back-end and display in front-end - either in list view or with item view.
  3. Users (Registered or Public) can create records from the front-end. For example, contact form.
  4. Users can create and manage records from the front-end. For example, job applications.
  5. Connect two or more tables. For example, hotel rooms, reservations and users.
  6. Use API to connect with third-party applications.

Step 1: Create New Content Application

To create a new database table for your application, click "New". To edit an existing Content App, click on the title From the list of Content Apps.

Title (Required): This is the title of the application. For example: Events, Directory, Contacts, Movies.

Alias: The Alias will be used as part of the URL. Normally, you can leave this blank and Joomla will fill in a default value Title in lower case and with dashes instead of spaces.

Content App Tab

Description: This is the description of the application. It can displayed at the front-end list of records layout.

Database Table Name (Required): This is used to create new database table. The name should be short, in small letters and without any spaces or special characters.

Other settings will appear after Saving the Content App.

Icon: The icon class for the back-end views of the application. You can also add from font awesome icons. For example fa-solid fa-home.

Access Own: Enable this option to allow only authors or record creators to view their own records.

Access: Select the view access level for the database table.

Click "Save" to proceed further.

Columns Tab

After a new table is created, this tab will show all the columns (or fields) and their datatype in the table.

When you create a new database table or application, 14 default columns are automatically created. You can extend the functionality by adding custom columns as per your requirement.

Default Columns

  1. id
  2. title
  3. alias
  4. description
  5. published
  6. created
  7. created_by
  8. modified
  9. image
  10. ordering
  11. access
  12. hits
  13. language
  14. note

You can add additional columns to the database tables to extend its functionality. For example, if you are creating Movies database, you can add columns for release date, director, story and so on. Columns are also called "custom fields" or just "fields".