How to add URLs in apage without using edit mode

Question

Hello everybody.
We have Portal 9.0.4.1 under Solaris, and we are just beggining using it :-)
We created a section for links (to urls) in the home page of each user. We would like our users to add links to their most used pages (for example, metalink.oracle.com), but we do not want them to enter in edit mode, we would like some functionallity like the "add portlet" in the customize option.
Any help will be very apreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Lisandro

Answer 1

The example is generic and not hardcoded to any region on the page ... but has the same "warning" that Mark mentioned about this example not working in future versions if Oracle changes the URL structure:
The Add Item example shows how to create a new item type ...adding an item of this type to any region allows you to add content to that region
The Edit Item example show how to show a edit link or icon next to the item in view mode.
Add Item
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This code sample shows how to create an item allows the content contributor to add items to the page group/page/region that the sample item is placed in.
If you want your content contributor to add items to multiple regions on a page, add the sample item to all regions that you wish to expose this functionality in.
Step 1: Create a PL/SQL procedure
Create the following procedure:
Create or Replace Procedure <schema>.ADDITEM_URL
p_itemid IN VARCHAR2,
p_pageid IN VARCHAR2,
p_siteid IN VARCHAR2)
as
v_url varchar2(2000);
v_region varchar2(2000);
v_looplink varchar2(2000);
v_host varchar2(2000);
begin
select folder_region_id into v_region
from portal.wwsbr_all_items
where id = p_itemid and
caid = p_siteid;
if instr(portal.wwctx_api.get_host, ':') = 0 then
v_host := portal.wwctx_api.get_host;
else
v_host := substr(portal.wwctx_api.get_host,
1,
(instr(portal.wwctx_api.get_host, ':')-1))
|| '%3A'
|| substr(portal.wwctx_api.get_host,
(instr(portal.wwctx_api.get_host, ':')+1));
end if;
v_looplink := 'http%3A%2F%2F'
|| v_host
|| '%2Fportal%2Fpage%3F_pageid%3D'
|| p_siteid
|| '%2C'
|| p_pageid
|| '%26_dad%3D'
|| portal.wwctx_api.get_dad_name
|| '%26_schema%3D'
|| portal.wwctx_api.get_product_schema
|| '&p_containerpageid='
|| p_pageid;
v_url := portal.wwctx_api.get_base_url
|| 'portal.wwv_additem.selectitemtype?'
|| 'p_cornerid=' || p_pageid
|| '&p_siteid=' || p_siteid
|| '&p_regionid=' || v_region
|| '&p_looplink=' || v_looplink;
htp.p('<a href="' || v_url || "><img src="/images/additem.gif"</a>');
exception
when others then
htp.p('error');
end;
Once the procedure has been created, grant EXECUTE permission to PUBLIC.
Step 2: Create a custom item type
This custom item type will be associated with the PL/SQL procedure created above. Placing an item of this type on a page will give the content contributor something to click on while the page is in view mode to call the add item wizard.
Go to the Procedures tab of the new item type and associate with PL/SQL procedure.
Ensure the “Display Procedure Results With Item” checkbox is checked.
Step 3: Add item of type “Add_Item” to a page.
1.     Configure the Page Group to allow items of your new type to be added
2.     Add an item of type “add_item” to your page.
3.     For the region containing your new item, in the properties, ensure the “Associated Functions” attribute is in the Displayed Attributes list.
Edit Item
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This code sample draws an Edit icon for content contributors to click on while the page is in view mode to edit the item with the default Edit Item wizard.
Step 1: Create a PL/SQL procedure
Create or Replace Procedure <schema>.EDITITEM_URL
p_itemid IN VARCHAR2,
p_pageid IN VARCHAR2,
p_siteid IN VARCHAR2)
as
v_looplink varchar2(2000);
v_url varchar2(2000);
v_subtype varchar2(2000);
v_itemtype varchar2(2000);
v_catid varchar2(2000);
v_catcaid varchar2(2000);
v_parentid varchar2(2000);
v_host varchar2(2000);
begin
select subtype
,itemtype
,category_id
,category_caid
,parent_item_id
into v_subtype
,v_itemtype
,v_catid
,v_catcaid
,v_parentid
from portal.wwsbr_all_items
where id = p_itemid and
caid = p_siteid;
if instr(portal.wwctx_api.get_host, ':') = 0 then
v_host := portal.wwctx_api.get_host;
else
v_host := substr(portal.wwctx_api.get_host,
1,
(instr(portal.wwctx_api.get_host, ':')-1))
|| '%3A'
|| substr(portal.wwctx_api.get_host,
(instr(portal.wwctx_api.get_host, ':')+1));
end if;
v_looplink := 'http%3A%2F%2F'
|| v_host
|| '%2Fportal%2Fpage%3F_pageid%3D'
|| p_siteid
|| '%2C'
|| p_pageid
|| '%26_dad%3D'
|| portal.wwctx_api.get_dad_name
|| '%26_schema%3D'
|| portal.wwctx_api.get_product_schema
|| '&p_containerpageid='
|| p_pageid;
v_url := portal.wwctx_api.get_base_url
|| 'portal.wwv_edit_tab.edititem?'
|| 'p_thingid=' || p_itemid
|| '&p_cornerid=' || p_pageid
|| '&p_siteid=' || p_siteid
|| '&p_subtype=' || v_subtype
|| '&p_itemtype=' || v_itemtype
|| '&p_topicid=' || v_catid
|| '&p_topicsiteid=' || v_catcaid
|| '&p_cornerlinkid='
|| '&p_parentid=' || v_parentid
|| '&p_action=update'
|| '&p_currcornerid=' || p_pageid
|| '&p_language='
|| portal.wwctx_api.get_nls_language
|| '&p_looplink=' || v_looplink;
htp.p('<a href="' || v_url || "><img src="/images/ed-item.gif"</a>');
exception
when others then
null;
end;
Step 2: Associate Procedure with Item Types
For every item type that you wish to supply an edit icon to show while the page is in view mode, call the EDITITEM_URL procedure created in the step above.
Step 3: Show Associated Function attribute
In order for the procedure associated with the item type to execute, you must ensure the region properties are set on the Style/Attributes tab have the Associated Function listed as one of the Displayed Attributes.