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Need to load dynamic CSS or JSON faster? Let VL File Generator store your dynamic templates as flat files for quicker load.

The VL File Generator extension allows you to generate a static file based on the contents of a URL for each channel. The file is generated or updated any time an entry is added or updated in the channel.

Example

We have an EE template living at /work/case-studies that has the following code:

{exp:channel:entries
  channel=“work”
  dynamic=“no”
  status=“not closed”
}
  {if work_header_css}
      @media screen and (min-width: 960px) {
        {work_header_css}
      }
  {/if}
{/exp:channel:entries}

Where work_header_css is a textarea field to enter custom CSS for the entry.

We want to generate a CSS file that lives at /assets/stylesheets/case-stories.css so we can use an add-on like Minimee to combine and minify our CSS. With the VL File Generator, you can generate or update a static file any time an entry in the channel is created/updated.

But, you aren’t just limited to CSS, you can generate any filetype.

Installation

 
1. Copy the “vl_file_generator” folder into the “third_party” folder in your ExpressionEngine installation.
2. Log in to the control panel and navigate to Add-Ons -> Extensions.
3. Click the “enable” link in the far right of the VL File Generator row.

Settings

 
1. Enter the URL and File for each channel that you want to enable the file generator for. Use relative paths from the root of your site.
2. Make sure the directory where you want to save the file is writable.

This entry was created August 2, 2012, 11:01 am.
This entry was last updated August 29, 2012, 12:26 pm.

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