[Zope] Auto Cataloging my ZCatalog

[Jonathan]

>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "kamal hamzat" <hamzat at dnetsystems.net>
>> To: <zope at zope.org>
>> Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 12:51 PM
>> Subject: [Zope] Auto Cataloging my ZCatalog
>>
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a ZCatalog that my users use to catalog there news articles which 
>> are (DTML Documents). I have already explained it to them to always input 
>> the id for the new DTML Documents under "with ids" section on the Find 
>> Objects tab on the ZMI to catalog new articles. But most time they will 
>> not and they end up cataloging the entire articles which runs to 13,000 
>> records.
>>
>> What i want is either to be able to display error when the "with ids" is 
>> missing on Find Objects form or to be able to automate it. For example 
>> use a python code. I am new to python but very eager to learn.
>>>
>>
>> One possible approach:
>>
>> - I would not allow end-users access to the ZMI.
>>
>> - Have users interact with the application through a menu driven 
>> interface
>>
>> - Use a series of forms to collect data, then use python scripts/external 
>> methods to create/store objects (eg. your DTML Documents) and update the 
>> ZCatalog(s).
>>
>
> This sound interesting, but i do not have an idea of how to use python/ 
> external method to create/store objects.
> I will appreciate if you can point me to links or articles that have 
> treated something similar.

You should read the ZopeBook chapters on scripting: 
http://plope.com/Books/2_7Edition/view

If you can make do with existing Zope object types (eg. DTML Documents, etc) 
then you can develop your application without having to create your own Zope 
Product, which means that DTML, ZPT and scripts will give you everything you 
need.

If you have to define your own object types (classes) then you will need to 
create your own Zope Product. Here are some links to product examples:

http://www.zope.org/Members/gtk/Boring
http://www.devshed.com/c/a/Zope/Creating-Zope-Products/

There is another way to create Zope classes called ZClasses (they are 
mentioned in the ZopeBook), but I would not recommend using them for a 
long-term applications as they are officially deprecated as of Zope 2.10. 
However, for 'quick & dirty' prototyping or for applications that have a 
limited lifetime they may be useful.

hth

Jonathan

http://www.zope.org/Members/gtk/Boring