The Dashboard

The Dashboard if the first page you access when using Catalog. It currently displays some useful links as well as version information.
This page will be extended in the future to support custom widgets.

Toolbar

The Dashboard Toolbar gives you access to several operations.

Import Articles - import articles from regular Joomla! content.
Import Configuration - import the configuration settings that were previously exported.
Configuration - edit the configuration settings.

Linkbar

The Linkbar is the horizonatal menu under the Toolbar. This gives you access to the various administrative functions of Catalog. These are:

Dashboard - allows access to the importing artilces wizard and configuration settings.
Publications - allows you manage the list of publications and put a publication in edit mode.

At the end of the Linkbar is a dropdown select list of all the publications. This provides you a quick way to place a publication in edit mode. Select one of the publications from the list and click the Go button to place that publication in edit mode.

Import Configuration

Following an upgrade of the Catalog Extensions, and if you have previously exported your configuration settings, you will need to import your old configuration settings manually.

Click the Import Configuration icon in the Dashboard Toolbar.

If you saved your configuration settings to a file then click the Browse button and find that file, then click the Import button at the top of the configuration panel.

Alternatively you can manually enter setting in the Import From String box in a regular INI format.

Configuration

Configuration allows you to manage the global settings for the extension. The configuration settings are inherited by views but the settings in the Menu Item will override the Global setting. Where a setting also appears in an item (for example an article or category), this value will generally (there are some exceptions) override both the Menu Item and Global settings.

The configuration panel is separated into several parts. When you are finshed making adjustment click the Save button, otherwise click the Cancel button to abandon any changes. To export the configuration settings to a file (for example, before you upgrade Catalog to a new version), click the Export button and save the file in a safe location.

Component Configuration

Debug Mode - Displays additional information and functions in the administrator which may be useful in tracking down certain problems.
Enable Comments - Show or hide comments on all articles by default (if JXtended Comments is installed).
Enable Social Bookmarks - Show or hide social bookmarks on all articles by default (if JXtended Comments is installed). To alter the types of social bookmarks that are displayed, change the Preferences in the Comments component.
Enable Ratings - Show or hide ratings on all articles by default (if JXtended Comments is installed).
Google Maps Key - The Google Maps key for the site (front-end). This allows you to display maps on your site. You can apply for a Google Maps key at maps.google.com. Keys are free to obtain.
Admin Google Maps Key - The Google Maps key for the administrator. This allows you to use the map search tool. Google Maps requires a unique key for each sub-directory so you need to apply for a key for your site and the administrator.
Show Accessibility Links - Show or hide links that jump to various locations on the page to with accessibility.
Show Action Print - Whether to display "print this page".
Show Action Email - Whether to display "email to friend".
Show Action Icons - Whether to display the print and email actions as icons (otherwise they are display as text links).

Node Configuration

Show Node Subtitle - Whether to display the subtitle.
Show Node Owner - Whether to display the name of the user that is assigned as the owner.
Show Node Date - Whether to display the node date field.
Show Node Start Date - Wheter to display the start date field.
Show Node Finish Date - Whether to display the finish date field.
Show Abstract - Whether to display the abstract.