Getting my head around multi-layered taxonomies

mouse77e's picture
This is my first post here on the site so I hope this works out for me. I am converting an old site to Drupal and I am trying to make the site more efficient using this fine tool. The issue I have is with registration of members and classifying them. Perhaps I should explain. I have run a reunion/contact site for a while. All the members are ex co-workers and most of us had lost touch over the years so I made it my mission to reunite them all. To do this successfully for a large and varied group I would like to use a layered, multi-level system of taxonomies. (though I am open to suggestions) So in example: Office London New York Paris- Department Marketing Accounts- Team Revenue Expenses- Position Manager Clerk Teaboy- Started 1998 1999 2000- Left 2000 2001 2002 I would like to de able to add the details to their profile page as… “Robert Millar Worked in London, as a tea boy in the Accounts Expenses team between 2000 & 2001” Using taxonomies then I could find bob either by looking at all the London employees, or by the tea boy list etc. I hope this makes sense to you… if not please let me know! I am looking for practical help, either a tutorial, a hands on code monkey what ever… please any help or advice is always most welcome.

Multiple taxonomies?

Hi, it sounds to me like you need three or four taxonomies - Office, Position, Started and Left. Each of those would be a separate drop-down when a user is added, and could each be used in searches (or maybe some cool View thing, though I've not got to them yet). Cheers, m-t.

I think taxonomies can only

I think taxonomies can only be applied to nodes. Users are not, by default, nodes. However there is a modules which "converts" them - check out the modules list on drupal.org.

Alternatively you may be able to do everything you want just by using the core "profile" module. You can set the possible values for each profile field (e.g. department) and there are ways of filtering user lists by a particular field value. Check out the documentation ...

gpk

Giles Kennedy --> www.gelst.com

BOZMAN's picture

taxonomy speed issues

i have a highly structured taxonomy access structure and i am sure it is creating white screens of death and or slowing the site down. shortly i will be cutting back on terms/roles to hopefully speed things up. would appreciate comments about this.