Events module - How it works
Easily create a calendar or list of events on your website using the Events module.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
How to create an event
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Drag and drop the Events module onto the page
Navigate to the page on which you would like the event to appear. Then, click Add Content > Core Modules, then click to drag and drop the Events module onto the page.
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Events vs. Calendar: What's the difference?
The Events module and the Calendar module both function in essentially the same way. The difference between the modules is the format in which events are displayed.
- Events module: Displays events in a list format
- Calendar module: Displays events in a calendar format
Once you add either module to your website, you can easily change the display format in the module settings.
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Add an event
Once the Events module has been added to the page, it will be empty. The next step is to add an event to the module.
- Click on the (+) icon that appears when you hover your cursor over the module.
- Add the event details to the Basic Event Settings dialog that appears (e.g., Event Name, Date, Time, Location, Summary, etc.). Once you’ve added all the appropriate information, click Save.
Once you click Publish, the event will appear in the Events module on your website.
How to edit events
Hover your cursor over an individual event and click on the settings icon to access the event settings detailed below. There are four tabs within the Event Settings dialog: Basic, Advanced, Facebook, and Pages.
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Basic event settings
Here's a breakdown of all basic event settings:
- Event Name
- Date
- Start Time / End Time
- Repeating
- Off - Select this option for a one-time event.
- Weekly - Select this option for an event that occurs on the same day each week.
- Monthly - Select this option for an event that occurs on the same day each month.
- Location - Add frequently used locations + location details (including a Google Map). Get instructions
- Summary - Write a summary of the event (visible in the module without requiring visitors to click on the event).
- Full Details - Use the WYSIWYG editor to add full details for the event (visible on the event's page, which appears after visitors click on the event's name).
- Link - Instead of adding full details, you can choose to direct your visitors to a specific internal or external URL, or a document hosted in your File Manager, upon clicking on the event's name.
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Advanced event settings
Here's a breakdown of all advanced event settings:
- Alias - Edit the event's alias (i.e., the URL that points directly to the event's page).
- Picture - Add a thumbnail image to display next to the event's name and summary within the module.
- End Date - Enter an end date to create a multi-day event or specify the final date of a repeating event.
NOTE: The thumbnail image for each event will be cropped to 128 x 128 pixels.
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Social Media settings for events
In the Social tab, you can customize the way the event appears on Facebook or Twitter if the event's URL is shared. Here's a breakdown of the types of metadata you can customize for Facebook:
- Share Image - Upload the image you want to appear in the Facebook Newsfeed when the event's URL is shared (must be at least 1200 x 628 pixels in size).
- Article Title - Enter the headline you'd like to appear with the shared URL in the Facebook Newsfeed (keep it under 60 characters to ensure it won't get cut off on Facebook).
- Article Description - Enter the brief details you'd like to appear with the shared URL in the Facebook Newsfeed (keep it under 160 characters to ensure it won't get cut off on Facebook).
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Tagging pages for events
Within the Pages tab, click the green arrows to tag specific pages on which you'd like the event to appear. A single event can be tagged to appear on multiple pages; however, you'll need to ensure the Events module has been added to each of the tagged pages for the event to be visible.
NOTE: Each event is tagged to appear on the homepage by default. Click the red X to remove a tag to a specific page.
Duplicating an event
To create a copy of an individual event, hover your cursor over the event and click on the Copy icon ( illustrated below). This will open the Event settings dialog. Make the necessary modifications, then click Save to create the duplicate event.
Deleting an event
Hover your cursor over an individual event and click the event's trash can icon to delete it.
The Events page
Every eCatholic website has a built-in Events page. This page automatically lists all events added to any Events module on your site. It is located under the News/Events tab by default; alternatively:
- Go to yoursite.com/events to view a list of all your site's events.
- Go to yoursite.com/calendar to view all your site's events in a calendar format.
The Events page is a "one-stop-shop" that allows your visitors to view all your events in one place. You can add events directly to the Events page if you’d like; or, you can add them to any specific page as outlined in the steps above.