SPIP is a content management system, meaning that it structures the information so that it can easily be manipulated: list the sections in this language, list the articles in this section, search the articles for a specific term, etc.

In order to allow websites with different needs to efficiently adapt SPIP to their needs, SPIP uses "templates" which dictate where and how should be displayed the information it manages.

Because creating new templates for your specific needs is an exhaustive process for the new user of SPIP, the templates used on NGO-bg sites have been created so that site administrators can modify their behaviour from the private area of their site.

Here are two examples of this result:

1- How to impose an order in a list of articles or sections

If you put numbers in the title of your articles, they will be numerically sorted when listed in the section. If there are no numbers, articles are listed in reverse date order (latest first).

Here is an example of the ordering in the private area:

It gives the following result on the website:

Everytime there is a list (menu of sections, list of articles, etc.) this rule applies. The only exceptions are list of authors on an article and the list of translations, which are always in alphabetical order.

For more information, read ( ... add future article when ready...).

2. How to change the default appearance of a section

The default way to present a section is to show the main description of the section in the center of the page, then list the articles of the section on the left-hand side of the screen. If there are sub-sections, they are also shown on the left-hand side.

This is convenient for presenting a theme with a short text, then providing a list of articles or sub-sections that are related to this theme.

Now, what if you prefer to list articles in the centre of the page, such as in the following example?

.... image here ....

This means that a completely different "template" is used. To do this, you must the keyword "SpecialSectionShowLatest" to the section that you wish to modify the layout.

... image here ...

How to create and add keywords is explained in greated detail (... future article ...).