Creating blog category pages with Concrete5 and ProBlog

Recently we asked on twitter for suggestions of which Concrete5 guides you would like to see.

@BobRockefeller suggested we do a guide on ProBlog. After looking into this, we were pleased with the features of the module and the professionalism of the creators @goradiantweb. After contacting RadientWeb, Chadstrat suggested we do a guide on sub categorical pages and how to set them up. With that in mind, we have created the below. If you use ProBlog yourself and find this guide useful, please let us know your views in the comments below.

Creating blog category pages in your site Concrete5 Site with ProBlog

This guide was put together using Concrete5 5.6.2.1 and ProBlog version 12, the instructions should still work on newer versions but the visuals may/have changed.

Step 1 : Install problog

If you haven't already done so, upload your ProBlog folder to your packages/ directory. If you have dones this, skip to step 2.

Then from your Concrete5 dashboard, click the install link at the bottom.

Next to the ProBlog icon, click the Install button.

Once complete, you will receive a 'The package has been installed' message.

Step 2 : Creating blog category pages in your site

From your Concrete5 Dashboard, click the Full Sitemap link.

Under your parent blog page, add the categories you would like as new pages. To do this, click your blog parent page and click the 'Add Page' from the dropdown.

Choose ProBlog Post in the popup.

Enter the category name in the 'Name' field' and click 'Add Page'.

Click the page you have just added and click properties from the dropdown.

In the popup menu, click the 'Custom Attributes' tab.

From the left menu, click 'Blog Selection' and make sure 'Blog Selection' is ticked.

Using the same method above, click the 'Exclude From Page List' and tick.

Finally, do the same for 'Exclude From Search Index'.

Then click Save.

Now repeat these steps for all the category pages you would like.

Step 3 : Adding the ProBlog List blocks

Once you have added the category pages, you need to add the Problog List Block to them. To do this, click on the category page and choose 'visit'.

Move over 'edit' in the top left then click 'edit this page'.

Click the 'Add To Main' section and then click 'Add Block' from the dropdown.

Click the ProBlog List block.

In the popup box, click the 'Filters' tab then select 'beneath this page'.

Then click 'Add'.

If you want to also add ProBlog to the sidebar then do this now, otherwise move over editing and click 'Publish my Edits'.

Now repeat these steps for the other category pages.

Step 4 : Edit the parent blog properties.

Next, you need to edit the parent blog properties. To do this, go back to your site map (dashboard > Sitemap) and click your parent blog page and click 'Properties' from the dropdown.

Click the 'Custom Attributes' tab and deselect 'Blog Selection'. Then click save.

Thats it! When you go to post in ProBlog, you will see these new pages as selections under the 'Section/Location' section.

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Has this guide helped you? Have an idea for a guide or need help? Let us know below.