Virtual Types

Virtual Types enable you to create content from within Picturepark that adheres to a defined structure, without having to worry about the output format of the content. Common to each of these (and other) Virtual Types is a defined structure e.g. Press Release (Structure: Headline, Subhead, Body, Footer), Landing Page (Structure: Title; Overview; Details; Form Link), Job Listing (Structure: Title; Description; Requirements; Contact) or News Item (Structure: Headline, Subhead, Body). See the demo of a Press Portal with Virtual Items. See additional information on strictly structured content.

Create a Virtual Type

Open Schemas
Press + to create
Select Virtual
Select Parent, when creating a child Virtual Type.
Provide name and ID
Save

After Creating the Virtual Type

Add fields to the Virtual Type
Update Virtual Type settings "Layers" and add available Layers for the Virtual Type
1. These are the only layers that can be assigned to your Virtual Types to ensure e.g. you don’t have to provide document information for press kits.
Create Virtual Items in the Content Browser

Parent Child Setup

Parent-Child Virtual Types

Virtual Types can be nested, which enables you to think of them in a hierarchical manner. This nesting is beneficial if you use several Virtual Types that should share some information.

For example, say you use Picturepark to publish job listings, news items, and partner listings. Each Virtual Type is different, but there are a few pieces of information you want to make sure are included wherever the information is published:

Copyright Notice
Impressum Link

You add these values to "Company Publishing" Virtual Type, and when you create children, they have fields for a copyright notice and Impressum link always available. The default values included in the "Company Publishing" Virtual Type would then be included automatically with all other Virtual Types created in Picturepark.

Create Virtual Items

You create Virtual Items directly in the Content Browser.

Open Content Browser
Choose Add from Browser Toolbar
Select Create
Select Virtual Type
Provide the content and Save

VIDEO: How to Create a New Virtual Type:

Add Layer to Virtual Type

If a given piece of content requires additional metadata, Layers can be added directly to any Virtual Item e.g. Copyright Information or Event Information when a press release mentions an event.

Open Virtual Types
Open submenu "Layers"
Add Layers that can be added to this Virtual Type

VIDEO: How to Add Layer to Virtual Type:

Search and Filter Virtual Types

The Virtual Type is saved in a field called:

contentSchemaId

Therefore you can access the Virtual Type via this field in Display Pattern, Query Filters, or searches.

Case	Value
Exact Match	contentSchemaId:virtualTypeId
Contains	contentSchemaId:virtualTypeIdPart*

Layer in Sidebar Filter

Some default system fields are available for selection in the Filter editor e.g. permissionSetIds or layerSchemaIds or contentSchemaId.

Open Filters
Add a new Filter
Select Permission and/or Layers
Save

VIDEO: How to Access Layer in Sidebar Filter

Use Virtual Type Items to Publish to Portal

You can create Virtual Items for Press Kits, Partner Listings, or News. In order to publish them to a Portal Picturepark proposes the concept for Microsites.

Find more information on the website: https://www.picturepark.com/software/picturepark-content-platform/connectors/press-portal

Or start with your own Portal from the Picturepark Github account: https://github.com/Picturepark/Picturepark.SDK.Samples

Use Cases

Featured Content: Headline, Abstract, Teaser Image, Resource Link
Historic Milestone: Title, Body Text, Date, Hero Image, Gallery Image
Text Blocks: Title, Text, References
Press Kits: Headline, Release Date, Release Location, Lead, Body Text, Hero Image, Media Downloads

Virtual Type Limitations

You can export Virtual Types as .json files. However, you cannot import them back using the same name and id as an existing type (you have to rename id and name in the JSON file first).