Content Manager: About Datasets
A dataset is the link between the elements on your page and the content in your collection.
Think of the dataset as a two-way connection. Not only does it link to the content from your collection and display it on your page, it also captures content from user inputs, such as text input and upload buttons, and then stores it in your collections.
In this article, learn more about:
Understanding datasets
Your dataset is the 'middle man' that allows you to either display content, or capture content.
A dataset controls:
- Which collection is connected to the element
- How visitors interact with the content in the collection
- Which collection items (rows) are displayed, how they are sorted and filtered
There are two main types of dataset that you can use. For displaying content on your page, use a regular dataset. For capturing content from site visitors, use a form dataset.
Once you decide what type of dataset you require, you can add it to your page, connect it to a collection, and then connect it to your elements. This makes the content in your collection available for your elements to display, or your collection available to receive content.
Note:
When you set up a dynamic page, a dynamic page dataset is added automatically. Just like a regular dataset, it is used to control how elements on your page interact with content from your collection. Learn more about using dynamic page datasets.
Note:
Datasets appear as elements in the Editor, but are not displayed on your published site. You can place datasets wherever you want on the page.
Displaying content using a regular dataset
Using a regular dataset, you can display content from your collection to:
- Showcase different items from your collection by connecting elements to a collection.
- Add a button and connect it to a dataset to create custom navigation for your visitors.
- Set up elements to display related information of a particular item in your collection.
The regular dataset comes without any predefined settings. Click the Dataset element in the Editor and click Settings to set up the dataset mode. Learn more about setting up your dataset.
The dataset mode defines how your site's visitors interact with content in your collection.
- Read-only: Visitors can view collection content displayed in an element on your page.
- Write-only: Visitors can enter information via user input elements into your collection.
- Read & Write: Visitors can view collection content displayed on your page and enter content into your collection. Use this mode to allow visitors to modify collection content.
Capturing content using a form dataset
With user input elements, you can create a custom form to collect information from your site visitors. You can then define which fields in your collection you want to use to store the content.
In order for users to write to your collection, you need to:
- Set the permissions for your collection and your dataset
- Add a submit button connected to the same dataset as your user input elements
Important:
For a deeper understanding of how collection permissions play a part in the security of your site, read this overview.
The form dataset is predefined to work with user input forms. Learn more about creating a user input form.
Click the Dataset element in the Editor and click Settings to set up the dataset mode. The dataset mode defines how your site's visitors interact with content in your collection.
- Read-only: Visitors can view collection content displayed in an element on your page.
- Write-only: Visitors can enter information via user input elements into your collection.
- Read & Write: Visitors can view collection content displayed on your page and enter content into your collection. Use this mode to allow visitors to modify collection content.
In the Dataset Settings panel, the mode is set to Write-only. This means that visitors will not view any content from your collection and instead can only enter content via user input elements. Learn more about setting up your dataset.
Using datasets with dynamic pages
When you create a dynamic page, a dataset is automatically added to your page. Like a regular dataset, a dynamic page dataset lets you connect your page elements to a collection.
The content displayed in a dynamic page is controlled by its URL. Because of this, the URL acts as a filter for your collection. You can filter the content by changing the URL. Or you can set up your dynamic page dataset to add more filters and sort the content on your page.
Important:
- You cannot change the collection that the dataset is connected to on a dynamic page.
- You cannot delete a dynamic page dataset from your page. To remove the dynamic page dataset, you need to convert the dynamic page to a regular page.
Want to learn more?
Check out the full course in Wix Learn on getting started with the Content Manager. Check out the fourth video about how to add and remove dynamic content.
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