Views Special Handlers

Drupal 7 Views Special Handlers | User Guide

This video guide to Drupal 7 views looks at some settings and options not discussed in previous editions:

The search filter, suitable for exposed filters. The search score, suitable for sorting search results.

How to sort view results in random order. The custom text view field, including placeholders. The math expressions view field.

Some words on when to use new views instead of overriding a lot of master settings. Caching in Views. The no SQL rewrites option, and when it may be useful and the 'distinct' option.

The Search Filter

Search Filter is a filter criteria. The main basic options are to search 'links from', links to' and 'term'. The Term filter is useful to use as an exposed filter to let visitors choose the term to search for. It uses the built in Drupal search API.

If using a search filter criteria, the display output can also be sorted by search results

Random Results

The Sort Criteria setting includes an option to display results in a random order. A possible use of this feature could be to display a random image in a block region, similar to a random banner ad display.

Fields Handlers

One of the more exotic field handlers is the Global Settings: 'Global custom text', 'Math expression' and 'View result counter'. These may not be used by everyone but do offer some interesting ways to display data.

Caching Views

Views can place a heavy load on the database and server, especially if the view has multiple and complex displays. Views built in caching option will help out. Available form the advanced options in the view configuration panel, select time based caching then the length of time to store the cache for queries and rendered output.

For a site that get's a lot of content added frequently e.g. a news service web site, the cache expiry period should be short. On the other hand if you only add content weekly, then choosing the six day settings would probably be better.

Query Options

• Also found in the advanced part of the configuration panel at 'Query settings'. Drupal by default runs all views queries through the access rewrite SQL function. This can be disabled.
• 'Distinct' forces views to display only distinct items, preventing the same item being shown twice.
• 'Slave server' for use in situations where the site uses master/slave database servers.

Video Credit

Learn Views with NodeOne, part 25: Some special handlers from NodeOne.se