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Using external links with database publishing

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ssargam

Feb 12, 2013 @ 04:50 PM

Hi,

I am working on a search system using database publishing and was wondering if there is a way I can publish some of our external links to the database and hence perform operations on them same way as CMS pages, as these links do have metadata associated with them ?

1. 1 Posted by Ryan Griffith on Feb 12, 2013 @ 07:09 PM

   

   Hi,

   Currently, this would not be possible via database publishing because the External Link Assets are not publishable. Feel free to suggest something on the Idea Exchange if you feel this would be a good feature to add to Cascade. Let me know if you need access to the Idea Exchange and I'll send over an invitation.

   I did have a thought; however, on how you might be able to accomplish this. If you have a Folder containing the External Links, you could use a Web Services script to read the Folder and get all of the External Links within it. Then, you can loop through each of them and insert each of them into a custom table in the database you are using for publishing.

   Another, less technical option, could be to use a Folder Index Block of the Folder containing the External Links and generate an XML file to be published somewhere. You could them have a script that runs through the XML and inserts into the database. Or, perhaps your search system uses that XML file instead.

   Please let me know if you have any questions.

   Thanks

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2. 2 Posted by ssargam on Feb 12, 2013 @ 07:28 PM

   

   Thanks Ryan;

   Really appreciate your ideas and help. I'll definitely share if we have any other suggestions.

   Thanks again.

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3. 3 Posted by Ryan Griffith on Feb 12, 2013 @ 07:46 PM

   

   Not a problem at all. Definitely let us know what you come up with.

   Have a great day!

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4. Ryan Griffith closed this discussion on Feb 12, 2013 @ 07:46 PM.

5. ssargam re-opened this discussion on Feb 22, 2013 @ 03:11 PM

6. 4 Posted by ssargam on Feb 22, 2013 @ 03:11 PM

   

   Hi Ryan;

   Just wanted to update you on this.
   We ended up using your second approach and used an index block to publish out a xml file. My search was ajax and jquery based and reading an xml using ajax worked perfectly . Now I just have to publish the xml page that uses the index block containing all the external links.

   It would be nice though, if we are able to publish external links using database publishing. I would definitely like to add this to Cascade's Idea Exchange.

   Once again, thank you so much for your help. Really appreciate it.

   Shruti

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7. 5 Posted by Ryan Griffith on Feb 22, 2013 @ 03:29 PM

   

   Thank you for following up, Shruti.

   Glad to hear one of the solutions worked out for you. Definitely create a suggestion on the Idea Exchange, we always welcome new ideas. Let me know if you need access and I'll send over an invitation.

   Have a great day!

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8. Ryan Griffith closed this discussion on Feb 22, 2013 @ 03:29 PM.

9. ssargam re-opened this discussion on Feb 22, 2013 @ 03:36 PM

10. 6 Posted by ssargam on Feb 22, 2013 @ 03:36 PM

    

    Yes, please send me an invitation.

    Thank you.

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11. 7 Posted by Ryan Griffith on Feb 22, 2013 @ 04:21 PM

    

    Hi Shruti,

    You should receive an invitation from the Idea Echange shortly. Please let me know if you have any issues accessing the website.

    Have a great day!

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12. Ryan Griffith closed this discussion on Feb 22, 2013 @ 04:21 PM.