Presets for the Moodle database activity

With the Moodle database activity many cool things can be created. In this repo I share some of my presets. Inside the subdirectories the template files of the preset are included. Other files that are in the subdirectory may contain additional data (images, metadata) so that the database activity works in the expected way.

Inside each subdirectory is an additional README.md that explains the specific preset.

Create SVG maps from the data, use Open Street Map to enter data sets.
Download Link: map-osm-and-svg.zip

Create SVG maps from the data, download the dynamically created SVG and have a QR code for the parameterized search.
Download Link: ch-place-names.zip

Improved image gallery that looks more modern than the original preset from Moodle.
Download Link: image-gallery-v2.zip

Pick one choice from a selection list. Results are displayed in a animated bar chart and can be periodically refreshes while the activity is ongoing.
Download Link: barchart-animated.zip

Answer a multiple choice question and see live results how participants answered that question.
Download Link: mc-question.zip

Kind of a voting machine, vote for one or more options in a well-designed new entry page. The result is displayed as a pie chart.
Download Link: piechart-accumulated.zip

A wordcloud built from terms entered as datasets.
Download Link: wordcloud-list.zip

A wordcloud built from texts entered as datasets.
Download Link: wordcloud-text.zip

A database activity for a project list and a possibility to assign applicants to the project. The preset demonstrates how to group several fields in different tables and has a solution for field labels in different languages.
Download Link: project-signup.zip

Show cards in a masonry layout style. Each database entry represents one card, that can be of a certain type. Depending on the type the background color is different. The cards are displayed in a grid with on e to three columns, depending on the screen size.
Download Link: cards-in-masonry-layout.zip

Collect and display information about personel. The preset also includes a print function so that the list view can be easily transferred into a PDF via the print function.
Download link: personel-list.zip

Having a list of items to select from, users should vote for their most favourite item (first choice), another item as second choice and a last item as third choice.
Download link: choice.zip

Having a list of events, users are forced to choose only so many that the selected events fit into an overall duration time.
Download link: choice-duration.zip

Any of these examples can be installed in your Moodle installation in the following way:

1. In your course, create a new database activity. Give it a name and click on "Save and display".
2. In the next screen click the button "Import a preset", select the zip file for upload and click "Import preset and apply".
3. When the import was successful you should see a list of the field definitions. To check the templates navigate in the tab to the template section and check them.

Before you see anything, start creating a few entries or import a sample dataset when provided.

Detailed instructions how templates should be applied to fit your needs are described at each readme file inside the subdirectory of the preset.

Some of the examples use additional data (such as images or json) in the templates of the database activity. This data can be stored elsewhere (e.g. public available resources such as wikipedia etc.) and then referred by the URL inside the template.

If you do not want to rely on external resources you also have the chance to upload the data into the Moodle course itself. What I find useful, is to create a new file resource, upload the file there and then use the preview link of that file inside the template. In order to hide the resource from general access, I created an additional section which is invisible in the course. The uploaded files would be invisible as well, however you can make them accessible even they do not show up in the course overview.

Note: whenever you export/import or copy the database activity these files must be copied as well and the links in the templates must be adapted to the new location. If you use external URLs then this is not necessary.

The database UI is multi-language capable like any other component in Moodle. The templates themselves are not language capable. Whatever you type in the templates, or values that are entered in the database, are returned as they are. However, there is a solution at least for the templates itself. Details are in the preset "Sign up for a project".

Florian Danger of Mebis has got a large collection of database presets and other resources for Moodle at https://fdagner.notion.site/0cfe4ce41b2d463da99e0d08c825a461

Mebis itself has a taskboard with a lot of ideas.

The Schulportal Hessen contains another collection of database ideas and preset.

From the official forum and other resources I started to create a FAQ that should answer some questions that may arise when creating custom presets.