Would like to get a topic-list below actual topic?

I've installed the TopicListPlugin and would like to get a list of topics below "actual/calling" topic.

Has read comments, but didn't understand.

Is there another way to list topics at a dedicated place?

Background:
Using a main/menu-topic where I edit a detailed list off all topics.

   * Tools
      * Tool 1
      * Tool 2

If I open "Tools" I would like to get a list of topics - in my case "Tools 1" and "Tools 2"

-- NorbertKress - 08 Jul 2024

There are several options - via either search or plugins - to list topics related to the page being viewed. It all depends on what relationship with viewed topic you want to tract.

I first want to understand your statement "topics below 'actual/calling' topic" in more basic Foswiki vocabulary. By 'actual/calling' topic do you mean the topic current being viewed? Let's call that "base topic" (in line with the macro %BASETOPC%. And by "topics below" do you mean the "children" of the base topic? By "children" I am specifically referring to topics whose "parent" meta data points to the base topic. This is most commonly the result of the child topic being created from the parent topic. Other kinds of relationship one might want to track include 1) topics that start with the same string as the base topic, and 2) topics that have some other field beside the parent field that reference the base topic.

In regards to TopicListPlugin, I was not very familiar with that plugin so had to review it. I would not recommend using that plugin partially because it is rather old but mainly because there are better, easier options using either Foswiki's built-in search features or certain plugins that are designed to find and render topics matching the relationship your tracking. Specifically, you might look at either DBCachePlugin or FilterPlugin.

After you've help me understand further the exact kind of topic relationship you're looking to track, I can provide more help about what tool might work best.

-- LynnwoodBrown - 08 Jul 2024

Sorry for bad explanation. Had worked about 15 years ago with TWiki, and there with a "development-collegue". You're right, I would like to get a list of topics "under" base topic - all the "own" childrens (without system-topics - if possible). But child-topics are created in the path of parent-child, but from another "main menu topic" above. But I see no difference, how childs are created, if they are in the right hierarchie.

-- NorbertKress - 09 Jul 2024

Please find my example here: https://foswiki.org/Sandbox/NorbertKressSandbox with my questions. PS: it would be very helpful, if there would be a web with "best practice" where I could search for example "menu-system"

-- NorbertKress - 10 Jul 2024

I'm still having some trouble understanding your terminology so am not sure I'm going in the right direction. For what it's worth, I created a copy of your sandbox topic (NorbertKressSandboxCopy) and created a search that rendered a hierarchical list of child topics. I'm hoping this is more or less what you're asking for.

I created this example using VarSEARCH because DBCachePlugin is not installed here. However that plugin provides for a more eloquent solution with DBRECURSE macro.

-- LynnwoodBrown - 10 Jul 2024

Had looked "a little bit over it" and guess, that's what I'm looking for

- thanks so far. I will put the code in my "real life menu" and try to get it running. Looks you're a magician with Foswiki!

If you think, that DBCachePlugin is the better one - could you wright the code in Sandbox and I will install the extension at my site and copy it?

-- NorbertKress - 11 Jul 2024

Glad my suggestion fits the need! The same solution using DBCachePlugin is extremely simple: you would simply put %DBRECURSE{"%BASETOPIC%" }% in some topic and then include that topic (or section) in any page where you want to display a hierarchical outline of child topics.

-- LynnwoodBrown - 11 Jul 2024