Overview

Directory pages display collections of Person Profiles based on configurable criteria. Unlike Person Profiles, directory pages do not store information about individuals. Instead, they automatically display profiles that match the directory’s configuration.

Every directory page is built from three primary criteria:

• AU/Division/Office
• Profile Type
• Directory Listing Subset (optional)

Together, these settings determine which profiles appear on the page.

Directory Templates

The UMKC Global Framework includes two directory templates.

Profile + Initial Index

Use Profile + Initial Index when creating a site’s initial profile library.

This template creates the foundation for the site’s profile system, including the initial profile directory and index page.

In most cases, this template is used only once for each site.

Directory

Use the Directory template to create additional directory pages.

Common examples include:

• Faculty directories
• Staff directories
• Department directories
• Program directories
• Leadership listings

Directory pages may be created anywhere within the site’s content structure and are not required to remain within the /profiles folder.

Configuring a Directory

Directory Listing Title

The Directory Listing Title controls the page title displayed to visitors.

Examples include:

• Faculty Directory
• Biology Faculty
• Staff
• Meet Our Team

Choose a title that clearly identifies the purpose of the directory.

AU / Division / Office

Select the organizational unit that owns the directory.

The framework searches for profiles associated with the selected organizational unit on the current website.

Framework Note
Directory pages query profiles associated with the current site and the selected organizational unit. This allows a single profile to appear across multiple UMKC websites without duplication.

Profile Type

Select one or more Profile Types to include in the directory.

Examples include:

• Faculty
• Staff
• Adjunct Faculty
• Emeritus Faculty

Selecting multiple Profile Types creates a combined directory listing containing all matching profiles.

Directory Listing Subset

The Directory Listing Subset limits the directory to a specific department, program, office, or other organizational grouping.

This field is optional.

Leave Blank

When left blank, the directory displays all profiles matching the selected AU/Division/Office and Profile Type.

Specify a Subset

Entering a Sub-Directory value limits the directory to profiles assigned to that specific Sub-Directory.

For example:

Mechanical Engineering

Only profiles containing the same Sub-Directory value are displayed.

Important
Directory Listing Subset values must exactly match the Sub-Directory entered on Person Profiles.

Even small differences create separate groups.

Examples that do not match:

• Biology
• biology
• Biology␠ (trailing space)
• Biology Department

Because the framework compares the stored values directly, editors should always reuse existing Sub-Directory names whenever possible.

Search

Directory pages include a built-in search feature.

The search updates results as visitors type and searches the profile information available within the directory.

No additional configuration is required.

Sorting

Profiles are displayed using each profile’s Sort Field value.

For best results, enter consistent Sort Field values across all profiles, typically using the individual’s family (last) name.

Empty Directories

If no profiles match the configured directory criteria, the page displays a No results message.

When this occurs, verify:

• The Profile has been published.
• The Directory has been published.
• The Profile Type matches the directory configuration.
• The AU/Division/Office matches the directory configuration.
• The Directory Listing Subset exactly matches the profile’s Sub-Directory value.

Publishing Changes

Directory pages should be republished whenever changes affect directory organization.

Examples include:

• Profile Type changes
• AU/Division/Office changes
• Sub-Directory changes
• Directory configuration changes

Publishing the Person Profile alone does not update directory listings when organizational fields have changed.

Best Practices

• Create one profile per individual.
• Reuse existing Sub-Directory names.
• Avoid creating duplicate department names with different capitalization or spacing.
• Leave Directory Listing Subset blank when a page should display every matching profile.
• Republish directory pages after making organizational changes to profiles.