Augmenting index pages

[zeigerpuppy]

I noticed that docbook will automatically generate a summary of sub-pages if the content of _index.md is left blank. (see https://drugsinmind.net/23.treatment_services/ for instance)

This is a really nice feature which would make sense to document a little better. I was wondering if it's also possible to retain this behaviour while inserting an introductory paragraph to the _index.md page?

[tarpdalton]

You can put parameters in the children shortcode so that it gives a description of every child page. Is this the functionality you're looking for?

[zeigerpuppy]

It would be nice to have the current formatting that auto-generates with the blank _index.md pages. Also, it seems that the {{% children description="true" %}} shortcode doesn't properly generate summary descriptions (maybe because some of the subpages are blank at the moment). I guess the codes for the current summary will be in the templates so I'll have a look there.

Ideally, I'd like to be able to put a simple intro text and image in the _index.md page and then have the rest of the page autogenerate as it does now on a blank index page.

[tarpdalton]

This is what your _index.md page might look like

---
title: Section title
---

Intro text

![image](https://gohugo.io/apple-touch-icon.png)

{{% children description="true" %}}

You're right, it will show nothing if there is no description front matter and no content in the md file. The {{% children description="true" %}} shortcode will put whatever is in the description front matter, and if it doesn't have that parameter then it will take the first few lines from the page's content.

[zeigerpuppy]

I tried that but there are no descriptions at all if any of the child pages are blank. I guess it must be returning an error when it constructs the description array.

[vjeantet]

Hello, The current behavior is what @tarpdalton explained.

@zeigerpuppy, I don't really undestand your expectation, can you elaborate on this ?

The children shortcode is complex, i don't really want to touch it without being sure about the waited improvment.