Hey, I'm pretty new with SS, so I'm still trying to figure out the data model and how best to put it work. So far I've worked with pages which I understand as objects quite okay, but the moment I need to work with DataObject classes, I get a bit stuck.

Here's what I'd like to do:

I have a ProjectPage that uses DataObjectManager for two has_many properties: Reviews (Review class)and Media (for images etc).

The ProjectPage:

class ProjectPage extends Page
{
	static $db = array(
		'Category' => "Enum('Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional, International')"
	);
	static $has_one = array(
	);
	static $has_many = array (
		'Resources' => 'Resource',
		'Reviews' => 'Review'
	);
	
	static $defaults = array(
		'ShowInMenus' => 0,
		'ShowInSearch' => 0
	);
	
	public function getCMSFields()
	{
		$f = parent::getCMSFields();
		$photoManager = new ImageDataObjectManager(
			$this, // Controller
			'Resources', // Source name
			'Resource', // Source class
			'File', // File name on DataObject
			array(
				'Name' => 'Name', 
				'Description' => 'Description', 
			), // Headings 
			'getCMSFields_forPopup' // Detail fields (function name or FieldSet object)
			// Filter clause
			// Sort clause
			// Join clause
		);

		$reviewManager = new DataObjectManager(
			$this, // Controller
			'Reviews', // Source name
			'Review', // Source class
			array(
				'Date' => 'Date', 
				'Author' => 'Author', 
				'Link' => 'Link', 
				'Quote' => 'Quote', 
				'Image' => 'Image'
			), // Headings 
			'getCMSFields_forPopup' // Detail fields (function name or FieldSet object)
			// Filter clause
			// Sort clause
			// Join clause
		);



		$f->addFieldToTab("Root.Content.Reviews",$reviewManager);		
		$f->addFieldToTab("Root.Content.Media",$photoManager);		
		$f->addFieldToTab("Root.Content.Main", 
			new DropdownField('Category','Pick a category',singleton('ProjectPage')->dbObject('Category')->enumValues())
		);
		
		$f->renameField("Content", "Project Description");
		$f->renameField("Title", "Project Name");
		$f->removeFieldFromTab('Root', 'Behaviour');
		return $f;
	}	
}	

...and here is the Review class:

class Review extends DataObject
{
	static $db = array (
		'Date' => 'Date',
		'Author' => 'Text',
		'Link' => 'Text',
		'Quote' => 'HTMLText'
	);
	
	static $has_one = array (
		'Image' => 'File',
		'ProjectPage' => 'ProjectPage'
	);
		
	public function getCMSFields_forPopup()
	{
		return new FieldSet(
			new CalendarDateField('Date'),
			new TextField('Author'),
			new TextField('Link'),
			new TextareaField('Quote'),
			new FileIFrameField('Image')
		);
	}
}

Questions:

1. I would like to create a ReviewPage that will, upon clicking just display the content of a Review (I guess based on some kind of ID?). I don't know how to access a particular Review instance from the DB, especially if I'm not on a ProjectPage.

2. On the ProjectPage, I need to cycle through the Reviews and also Resources that apply to the particular ProjectPage and display them. Can I just use Control for that? How would I do that?

3. This is the biggie. I will need a ReviewHolder that will display a list of all Reviews that I've added to ProjectPages, but this time grouped by the ProjectPage Category. I'm totally in the dark here for that :)

4. Just generally. There is a particular methodology that I'm not getting quite yet - e.g. creating a custom data class that's not part of the SiteTree, and then a particular Page type that will somehow display the info (I'm guessing through the controller?) If you have any tips on the whole approach or if there's a good book / tutorial that builds a similar site like this, please let me know.

Thanks a lot for any help - and a happy new year!! :)

Well for your first question look at this post

http://silverstripe.org/data-model-questions/show/257660

For question 2 using a <% control Reviews %> and <% control Resources %> will give you access to those data object

3rd question: You'll need to create your ReviewHolder page and add function to get all the Project Pages

Something like:

function Projects() {
  return DataObject::get("ProjectPage");
}

Then in the ReviewHolder template you just need to do

<% control Projects %>
$Title
<% control Reviews %>
...
<% end_control %>
<% end_control %>

I'd suggest picking up the SilverStripe book, I've found it really helpful in learning SS especially for a PHP newbie