What Is A Frontpage?

IP.Content 2.0 uses the term "frontpage" to refer to both the homepage of the Articles module, and the landing page of each individual category.  We have introduced this new navigational structure to better allow you to showcase content, while presenting it in a standardized format that your users will be able to understand and jump into without assistance.

Firstly, you will now be able to define "frontpage" templates in the ACP for the Articles module.  IP.Content 2.0 will ship with 3 defaults:

• 1x2x2 Layout
  This layout will display articles in a traditional "news" style layout.
  
• Blog format
  This format will display articles in a blog-style format.
  
• Single column
  This layout will force articles to display in a single column, one per row.

You can use one or more of these frontpage layouts, or you can create your own.  Experiment with displaying articles in different formats on your homepage to determine which layout your users like best.

Articles must be set to "Show on front page" in order for them to display on the homepage frontpage.

In addition to the homepage frontpage, each category has it's own frontpage.  The category frontpage functions identically to the homepage frontpage, except for two important factors:

• Only records from within that category (and it's subcategories) will be displayed
  
• The "Show on front page" setting is not honored for the category frontpage

You will be able to easily review and manage the articles set to display on the frontpage from a new section of the ACP labeled "Frontpage Manager".  We feel that this new area of the articles section will help showcase important articles and increase user interaction with your articles section.