How to Connect Collections

Do you want to display a blog article and its corresponding author? Connect one collection to another, making your page more dynamic.

In this article

Step 1: Add a Collection

Step 2: Connect your Collections 

Step 3: Reference to your Connected Collection

Step 4: Build a Dynamic List Item

Step 5: Populate the Dynamic List Item

Step 1: Add a Collection

To connect multiple collections, you need at least two different collections in your website project:

• Create a first and second collection.

Step 2: Connect your Collections 

• Access the collection management page through the Dynamic Content drop-down menu from the dashboard upper navigation bar.
• Select the collection to which you want to connect another collection.

• Click the funnel icon to access Manage Filters. 

• Name your collection connection by filling out the label field.
• Select from the drop-down menu which type of selection you would like to establish
  
  • Default No
  • Default Yes
  • Connect Collection Name 1 (multi reference)
  • Connect Collection Name 1 (single reference)
  • Connect Collection Name 2 (multi reference)
  • Connect Collection Name 2 (single reference)

Step 3: Refer to your Connected Collection

• Navigate to the collection overview, using the bread crumb.
• Click the pencil icon to edit your collection items where you want to refer the connected collection.
• Click the gear icon to access Open Entry Setup.

• Navigate to Filters in the right column.
• Select the collection item from the collected collection.

Step 4: Build a Dynamic List Item

• Add a dynamic component element that will correspond to your connected collection item, using the Dynamic List Structure.

Although the design and structure of your connected connection item is entirely subjective and personal, you can watch a guideline example below (starting at 35m45s).

Step 5: Populate the Dynamic List Item

• Select the component element.
• With the right mouse button, select Manage Input Fields > Component Element (for example, Title).

• In the content view of the Text Input Setup:
  • Content Source: select Collection
  • Collection: select which collection you would like to connect to.
  • Data: select which connected collection you would like to retrieve content from.
• Open the Content CMS of your dynamic component by clicking the pencil icon and save.
  

  Caution: This step is less intuitive, so you may forget it. However, skipping this essential step will result in your content not being displayed. 

• Repeat this method for each component element.