I need to create thousands of screens... Using the gui is slow for massive content tasks. I can edit the json file then recompile it, but can i make it so it enters it into the control panel also? so i dont have to deal with json snippets. Basicly a fast method to input data, by editing the json and then having buzztouch read it? Thanks guys!

Thousands of screens? Without knowing much about your proejct, I would suggest looking into using dynamic scripts to create these on your backend and connecting them using the dataURL property in the advanced settings. Example: A menu (or a bunch of menus) that load hundreds of "things" - the menu could be powered by a script on your backend that provided the rows / items for each selection. Each item in the list could load a screen that is dynamically created too.

@David, man, BT is one powerful tool.

David's right on target with this one, as usual. That many screens warrants use of a customized script to do the job. If you don't need to update it, you could even have the script be on a local machine (such as with AppleScripts on a Mac). Then just host the file somewhere like Dropbox and point the dataURL to the file. If you need help, send me a PM

I think these answers address half of his original question, but it doesn't indicate how the "thousands of screens" can be automatically added to the control panel. My guess is that they cannot, and that they'll have to be maintained elsewhere. Mark

Ah - yes if he's wanting them to be added to the control panel in the sense that they show up, each with their own custom control panel screen on the "screens" page, then no, using the dataURL wouldn't work. BUT - there is a way to do it if one is skilled enough with php and is using self-hosted. Basically the control panel just looks through the database and pulls the records out and shows them as screens. So, if you write a script that can generate the json and all the appropriate sql table fields, it could be done. You would need a really good handle on php and sql, though.

@GoNorthWest: "but can i make it so it enters it into the control panel also" For sure I missed this. You're right, these approaches don't consider that idea. Dynamic scripts wont' add anything to the control panel. The buzztouch.com panel won't allow this. If you're self hosting, it's very very doable. Instead of powering menus with dynamic content, use the same logic (that we discussed) to do a big-ole-loop and enter each item in the self hosted database. Each item would end up in the bt_items table (in the database). The values for each field in this table will depend on a few things. Probably best to look at some existing "screens" in this table before adding 10,000 more so you're sure what you're doing. Preparing for webinar in :45

Sweetness! I figured it was possible on self-hosted...tons of great things are! Mark

Yeah - this will be the year of Buzztouch I think. There's already some really cool and powerful plugins in the review stages, and it will just keep getting better. We all will have better apps in shorter time than 90% of what's on the market.

Nice thanks guys! Just another few questions. I dont know a lot of PHP or other webscripting, and would it be possible to use phpmyadmin to add items that way?

A little more information on the application i am working on. This is a reference guide that contains a lot of items. Each one uses the custom html screen. I will need to also add them to menus. Etc

sure - but what a pain that would be if you have 1000's of screens! If you really have that many screens, you probably don't want them all in your control panel anyway - that would be overwhelming to look at. Instead I would go with the dataURL method. If you need help with php, there are some of us on here that will help you out for a small fee. ;)

Hello @Auggnet, Have you looked in to some of the tools Stobe has developed? He is the king of "screens from spreadsheet" using data that is easy to create and update. I think his website is www.idevdepot.com this may give you a new perspective for consideration. Good luck, Mike