ContentID vs NodeID in vB CMS Question

[Mrajp]

Hey guys!

Currently, we host a knowledge base inside of long list of forums. With the new vB CMS, I would like to convert these threads into CMS articles. I feel that CMS articles would be more professional than forum threads.

I'm running into a bit of a conundrum though. With the threads, I can easily display ThreadID in the threadbit or postbit. Also, I have an input box where the users can specify a ThreadID and it will execute a javascript redirect to /showthread.php?t={threadid}.

However with the CMS, I now see that there is a NodeID and a ContentID. I can display the ContentID in the article title, but content.php takes a NodeID. I'd like to create a widget that the user could type in a value and be directed to that KB article.

So I'm kinda stuck. These KB IDs should be permanent, which I don't think the NodeID provides (but I'm still kinda new to vB 4.0, so I really don't know). I know the NodeID and ContentID have a relationship in the database, but programming all of that in may be a little over my head.

Sorry in advance if this post seems to be a little all over the place. I'm trying to relay all of my thoughts here. I'm looking for advice, suggestions, and/or examples on any of the above. As always, help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
MrAJP

[Dead Eddie]

Node IDs should be permanent (as you point out, the URLs are based on them -- changes there would make google hate you)

Content IDs are not unique within the Node table. You need a combination of content id AND content type id in order to get a node id back (fortunately, the content type id should remain static, so you don't need the user to enter it if you want to go down that road).

[Mrajp]

Thanks Eddie. I used {vb:raw node} in my vbcms_content_article_page template to get the NodeID to display.

On a side note, Is there a resource somewhere that lists all of the raw variables available to the templates? With the new Object Based PHP programming that vB is using, I'm having a hard time following their code.

[Dead Eddie]

Sorry, I'm not sure.

[Mrajp]

That's alright. Thanks again for your help.

[Alfa1]

Could you post when you find out and when you have completed the CMS content type?

[Mrajp]

Oh my! I'm not creating a CMS Content Type. That's a way too far over my head :-)

I'm using the "Article" Content Type and modified the templates assigned to that section to display a KB number (which is the NodeID). I wrote a small Javascript widget that the customer can input a NodeID, and have it take them directly to the article.

[Dead Eddie]

That was to me. ;)

The variables appear to be exposed in vB_Template::render_output (includes/class_core.php). You should be able to hack it there to inspect them or pass them into the template as a variable.

Alas, no hooks exposed there, so it'd be a code modification.

Not sure if there's a more official way of doing it...