Moveable Type: Sidebar "Pseudo" Blogroll

Noted on March 25, 2005, in

‹ Not Another Script... Is This A Glamorous Profession, Or What? ›

I was having trouble getting SSIs to work on this site. Usually my host is good about stuff like that, but maybe they were having an off week. Unfortunately, I really wanted to include a list of links on my sidebar, but didn't want to hardcode them in as I expect them to change fairly frequently. I needed to find a work-around.

I went looking for a solution on some of the MT sites I'd discovered, but didn't find anything that really satisfied me. I didn't want to set up another blog. SSIs weren't working. I was stumped.

Then I reread parts of the MT manual and saw the answer. Modules. Wow. I was wondering what those things were.

All I had to do was format my two lists (with <ul> and <li>, but no other code). Then I created separate module templates for each list. Finally I put the line

<$MTInclude module="NameOfMyModule"$>

on each of my templates where I wanted a list to appear. And that was it.

Now each time I want to updated a link list, I only have to change the one module and my list will be updated throughout the site.

Cool.

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According to author Ray Oldenburg, everybody needs a third place (besides home [1] and workplace [2]). In lieu of the local colesium, neighborhood bar or corner store, the Internet has become the third place for many people in America—a virtual hangout where conversation flourishes, friendships are made and citizens meet. Often in our pajamas.

I've been hanging out here since 1996, building web sites, making friends, and learning. This blog is my small contribution to the lively, never-ending dialogue.

Thanks for stopping by.

Kathy