Todo

• Filter data ✓
• Q lookups ✓
• Export data buttons ✓
• User pages
• Author model
• Categories
• DRF
• Admin pages
• Record approval
• PEP8 ✓

About

This project shows how to use Leaflet maps in a Django project. I use a simple Book model to illustrate different model fields and how they can be used across different parts of Django, such as views, forms, urls and templates. I will also be using additional models such as Author, Publisher and Like to illustrate various types of relations and how they can work together.

Map Data

The main goal of this project is to show how to plot items with geographical coordinates on a map using custom markers. Plotted items display additional information when clicked.

Data Filtering

Django forms is used to make a form that users can use to filter records. Filter options include:

• Keywords contained in the title, synopsis or website. This uses Django's Q lookups
• Date filtering using bootstrap-datepicker plugin

Filtered records then show up on the map. Form options are persisted with the option to be quickly changed or completely reset. Summary statistics of the filtered data are also displayed.

DataTables

DataTables is used for tabular display of data. This allows for easy sorting and further search and filtering of the data.

Exporting Data

Data can be exported into a number of formats including XLS, CSV or PDF.

Adding Records

I use Django ModelForms to build a form that allows users to add records. Geographical coordinate data can be added directly to the form and the cooresponding map marker is updated immediately. Also, when the map in the form is clicked, the form coordinate inputs are updated with values of the clicked location's coordinates.

Using Q Lookups to for searching multiple fields by mulitple keywords

idiom for searching multiple keywords

def all_books(request):
    """
    Main view for books. request.GET parameters are used to filter books
    """
    books = Book.objects.all()
    form = QueryForm(request.GET or None)
    paramDict = request.GET
    params = paramDict.keys()
    
    # data filtering
    if any(x!='' for x in request.GET.values()):

        [...other filters...]

        # this code returns records that contain all of the keywords
        if paramDict['keywords']:
            keywords = paramDict['keywords'].split()
            for kw in keywords:
                books = books.filter(
                    Q(title__icontains=kw)
                )

        # filters records that contain any of the following keywords
        if paramDict['keywords'] != '':
            kws = paramDict['keywords'].split()
            q_lookups = [Q(title__icontains=kw) for kw in kws] + \
                        [Q(synopsis__icontains=kw) for kw in kws] + \
                        [Q(website__icontains=kw) for kw in kws]
            filters = Q()
            filters |= reduce(lambda x, y: x | y, q_lookups)
            books = books.filter(filters)
[...]

If we have to search for keywords over many fields, it might make sense to search a single field that stores concatenated values of each field we want to store. To accomplish this, we could add to the

Inline Radio Buttons

{% for choice in form.status_ %}
    {{ choice.choice_label }}
    <span class="checkbox-inline">{{ choice.tag }}</span>
{% endfor %}

AJAX Map Load

$.ajax({
    type: "GET",
    url: "/books/map_data",
    success: function(data){
        var books = data["data"]
        var new_lat = books[0].loc[0]
        var new_lon = books[0].loc[1]
        mymap.setView([0, 0], 2);
        populateMap(books)
    }
    });

Deploying on Digital Ocean

Most of my projects are deployed with Heroku, but for this project I wanted to change things up and learn about deployment on another platform. For deploying on a DigitalOcean droplet, I used

Here's an overview of how to deploy this app to Ditial Ocean.

• Create a Droplet with Ubunutu 14.04
• Generate SSH Key
• Login via SSH