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CityTools lists are cool and unusual. You can use them to create ranked lists on any topic or, even use them to create how-tos (this how-to is a list!)
They're simple to create and powerful. Here's how....1Click on the "make lists" link on the left hand menu
When you click on the "make lists" link (or click on the title of this item) you will be taken first to a page where you'll select the topic for your list.
Once you select a topic for your list, you'll be taken to the list description page.
Once you select a topic for your list, you'll be taken to the list description page.
2Create the basic description for your list
The list description is where you can write an introduction to the list items and it's the text that will be shown on the list pages.
The controls on the list description page are nearly identical to the basic controls used for writing a story -- so please refer to the the story howto if you need help with the controls.
The story how to is linked from the title of this item -- so simply click that to visit that how to.
The controls on the list description page are nearly identical to the basic controls used for writing a story -- so please refer to the the story howto if you need help with the controls.
The story how to is linked from the title of this item -- so simply click that to visit that how to.
3Once you create the description, you're ready to add items
When you have saved the description, you'll find a link at the top of the page that reads "add/edit list items."
Click that link and you'll be taken to the page where you may add, edit or delete list items.
There are three elements to list items that you will find on the "edit list items" page -- the item name, the url and comments.
Of these three elements, only the item name is required -- it's marked with an asterisk.
If you add the optional URL to a list item, when readers see the list they can click on the item title to go where the URL points.
And of course you may add comments to any list item.
Click that link and you'll be taken to the page where you may add, edit or delete list items.
There are three elements to list items that you will find on the "edit list items" page -- the item name, the url and comments.
Of these three elements, only the item name is required -- it's marked with an asterisk.
If you add the optional URL to a list item, when readers see the list they can click on the item title to go where the URL points.
And of course you may add comments to any list item.
4Managing list items -- ordering, editing, deleting
On the "edit list items" page, you'll find a box at the bottom of the page that allows you to manage your list items.
Let's say you have a list of your favorite songs on your ipod.
When you first make the list, you decide that David Grisman's "Clinch Mountain Windmills" is the tops on your list. Afterall, there's nothing not to like about Dave, right?
Then about a week after you make the list you start listening to Erik Friedlander's "Block Ice and Propane" and you decide that he's a genius (he is) and you want to put his "Rushmore" at the top of your current list.
It's easy -- just add an item for Friedlander's "Rushmore" and then when it appears in the edit list items box, just keep clicking "up" on it until it reaches the top!
You can go back and change the order of your lists as often as you like -- they're living documents.
The "up" and "down" links in the ordering box move the selected item up one spot or down one spot.
The "edit" link for each item allows you to edit that item.
The "delete" link INSTANTLY deletes the item. Unlike other places on CityTools, there is no confirmation of the deletion, so be careful and don't hit it by accident.
Let's say you have a list of your favorite songs on your ipod.
When you first make the list, you decide that David Grisman's "Clinch Mountain Windmills" is the tops on your list. Afterall, there's nothing not to like about Dave, right?
Then about a week after you make the list you start listening to Erik Friedlander's "Block Ice and Propane" and you decide that he's a genius (he is) and you want to put his "Rushmore" at the top of your current list.
It's easy -- just add an item for Friedlander's "Rushmore" and then when it appears in the edit list items box, just keep clicking "up" on it until it reaches the top!
You can go back and change the order of your lists as often as you like -- they're living documents.
The "up" and "down" links in the ordering box move the selected item up one spot or down one spot.
The "edit" link for each item allows you to edit that item.
The "delete" link INSTANTLY deletes the item. Unlike other places on CityTools, there is no confirmation of the deletion, so be careful and don't hit it by accident.
5Once you are finished with your list, don't forget to publish it!
Once you're done with your list, remember to go back to the "edit list description" page and make sure that the list's status is set to "publish" otherwise, people can't see it.
Also, remember that because of the in-memory caching we do to maintain performance on CityTools, sometimes it can take a newly published story up to five minutes to appear on the site.
Also, remember that because of the in-memory caching we do to maintain performance on CityTools, sometimes it can take a newly published story up to five minutes to appear on the site.
6About geography and teams and languages
Like anything else on CityTools, all lists can be assigned a geography, or they may be collaboratively edited by teams or they may be in multiple languages.
We strongly encourage you to add geographic information to all lists -- it will help people find the things you've written!
We strongly encourage you to add geographic information to all lists -- it will help people find the things you've written!
