What does it do? 

The Education Courses extension provides a generic course catalog system for the education sector. It was originally extracted from the EIPOS course management system and designed to be reusable across different TYPO3 projects.

The extension manages the complete lifecycle of educational offerings: from defining course templates with descriptions, objectives, and target groups, to scheduling concrete events with dates, pricing, and locations, down to individual session dates within multi-day events.

It provides four frontend plugins for listing and displaying courses and events, including full-text search and type-based filtering.

Features 

Course
  |-- Event (IRRE, cascade delete)
  |     |-- SingleEvent (IRRE, cascade delete)
  |
  |-- ContactPerson (MM relation)
  |-- SimilarCourses (MM self-relation)

Compatibility 

• TYPO3: v12.4 LTS and v13.4 LTS
• PHP: 8.2, 8.3, 8.4

Requirements 

• TYPO3 v12.4 LTS or v13.4 LTS
• PHP 8.2 or higher
• Composer-based TYPO3 installation

Composer installation 

Install the extension via Composer:

composer require davitec/dv-education-courses

Activate the extension 

After installing the package, activate the extension in the TYPO3 backend:

1. Go to Admin Tools > Extensions.
2. Search for dv_education_courses.
3. Click the activate icon if the extension is not yet active.

Alternatively, activate via CLI:

vendor/bin/typo3 extension:setup

Database update 

The extension adds several database tables. Update the database schema:

Via backend:

1. Go to Admin Tools > Maintenance > Analyze Database Structure.
2. Apply all suggested changes for tables starting with tx_dveducationcourses_.

Via CLI:

vendor/bin/typo3 database:updateschema

Include TypoScript 

The extension's TypoScript must be included in your site's template:

1. Go to Web > Template and select your root page.
2. Open the Includes tab (or Info/Modify in older versions).
3. Add Education Courses (dv_education_courses) to the list of included static templates.

Alternatively, include it manually in your site package:

@import 'EXT:dv_education_courses/Configuration/TypoScript/setup.typoscript'
@import 'EXT:dv_education_courses/Configuration/TypoScript/constants.typoscript'

Quick start guide 

After installation, follow these steps to get a working course catalog:

1. Create a storage folder

   Create a new SysFolder in the page tree (e.g. "Course Data") that will hold all course, event, type, location, and contact person records.

2. Set the storage PID

   Configure the TypoScript constant to point to your storage folder:

   plugin.tx_dveducationcourses.persistence.storagePid = 42

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   Replace 42 with the UID of your storage folder.

3. Create pages for the plugins

   Create the following pages in your page tree:

   • A page for the course list
   • A page for the course detail view
   • A page for the event list (optional)
   • A page for the event detail view (optional)

4. Configure page PIDs

   Set the TypoScript constants for the detail and list page UIDs:

   plugin.tx_dveducationcourses.settings.detailPid = 10
   plugin.tx_dveducationcourses.settings.listPid = 9
   plugin.tx_dveducationcourses.settings.eventDetailPid = 12
   plugin.tx_dveducationcourses.settings.courseDetailPid = 10

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5. Add plugins to pages

   • On the course list page, add the Course List content element.
   • On the course detail page, add the Course Detail content element.
   • Repeat for event list and event detail if needed.

6. Create initial data

   In your storage folder, create:

   • At least one Type record (e.g. "Seminar", "Workshop").
   • At least one Course record with a type assigned.
   • At least one Event record as an inline child of the course.

7. Clear caches and test

   Flush all caches and visit your course list page in the frontend.

TypoScript constants 

All settings are configured under plugin.tx_dveducationcourses. The following constants are available:

Example configuration:

plugin.tx_dveducationcourses {
    persistence.storagePid = 42
    settings {
        detailPid = 10
        listPid = 9
        eventDetailPid = 12
        courseDetailPid = 10
        itemsPerPage = 15
    }
}

FlexForm settings 

The Course List plugin provides a FlexForm with plugin-level overrides for the following settings. These values take precedence over the TypoScript constants when set:

To access the FlexForm, edit the Course List content element and switch to the Plugin tab.

Plugins (CType) 

The extension registers four content element plugins (CType). All plugins use the Extbase PLUGIN_TYPE_CONTENT_ELEMENT registration.

Caching behaviour 

The extension configures cHash exclusions in ext_localconf.php for all plugin parameters. This ensures that search terms, filter values, and detail record UIDs do not generate unnecessary cHash values that would pollute the page cache.

The excluded parameters cover all four plugins:

• tx_dveducationcourses_courselist[searchTerm]
• tx_dveducationcourses_courselist[type]
• tx_dveducationcourses_coursedetail[course]
• tx_dveducationcourses_eventdetail[event]
• All associated __referrer and __trustedProperties parameters

The CourseList and EventList plugins are registered as non-cacheable because they handle POST-based search and filter requests. The CourseDetail and EventDetail plugins are fully cacheable.

Template overrides 

The extension uses standard Extbase/Fluid template paths. To override templates in your site package, add higher-priority template paths via TypoScript:

plugin.tx_dveducationcourses {
    view {
        templateRootPaths.10 = EXT:your_site_package/Resources/Private/Extensions/DvEducationCourses/Templates/
        partialRootPaths.10 = EXT:your_site_package/Resources/Private/Extensions/DvEducationCourses/Partials/
        layoutRootPaths.10 = EXT:your_site_package/Resources/Private/Extensions/DvEducationCourses/Layouts/
    }
}

The default template paths (priority 0) are:

• EXT:dv_education_courses/Resources/Private/Templates/
• EXT:dv_education_courses/Resources/Private/Partials/
• EXT:dv_education_courses/Resources/Private/Layouts/

Managing course types 

Course types categorise your courses (e.g. "Workshop", "Seminar", "Certificate Program"). They are used for filtering in the course list.

1. Navigate to your storage folder in Web > List.
2. Click the Create new record button.
3. Select Type under the Education Courses section.

4. Fill in the fields:

   • Title -- The display name of the type (e.g. "Seminar").
   • Description -- Optional description of this course category.
   • Slug -- Auto-generated from the title. Used for URL generation.
5. Save the record.

Create at least one type before creating courses. Types enable visitors to filter the course list by category.

Creating courses 

A course represents an educational offering (e.g. "Project Management Fundamentals"). It is the top-level entity in the hierarchy.

1. Navigate to your storage folder in Web > List.
2. Click Create new record and select Course.

3. Fill in the General tab:

   • Title -- The course name.
   • Slug -- Auto-generated from the title for URL routing.
   • Type -- Select a previously created type.
   • Description -- Short summary shown in list views.
   • Content -- Full course description (RTE field).

4. Fill in the Details tab:

   • Objectives -- Learning objectives of the course.
   • Target Groups -- Who should attend this course.
   • Admission Requirements -- Prerequisites for enrolment.
5. Add Images via the file reference relation.
6. Save the record.

Adding contact persons 

Contact persons are shared records that can be linked to multiple courses via an MM relation.

1. Create ContactPerson records in your storage folder:

   • Salutation -- e.g. "Frau", "Herr".
   • Title -- Academic title (e.g. "Dr.", "Prof.").
   • First Name and Last Name.
   • Phone and Email.
2. To link a contact person to a course, edit the course record and add the contact person in the Contact Persons relation field.

A single contact person can be assigned to multiple courses. Changes to the contact person record are reflected everywhere it is used.

Adding events 

Events are concrete scheduled instances of a course. They are stored as inline (IRRE) children of the course record.

1. Edit a course record.
2. In the Events section, click Create new.

3. Fill in the event fields:

   • Title -- Name of this specific event instance (e.g. "Spring 2026").
   • Event Code -- Internal identifier or booking code.
   • Description -- Additional details specific to this event.
   • Start Date and End Date -- The overall event period.
   • Duration -- Text field for display purposes (e.g. "3 days", "40 hours").
   • Price -- Numeric value in EUR. Displayed as formatted currency (e.g. "1.250,00 EUR").
   • Location -- Select a previously created location record.
   • Booked Up -- Check if this event is fully booked. Displayed as a flag in the frontend.
   • On Request -- Check if pricing is only available on request. When enabled, the price is hidden in the frontend.
   • Slug -- Auto-generated from the title.
4. Save the course (events are saved with the parent course).

Adding single events 

Single events represent individual session dates within a multi-day event. They are stored as inline (IRRE) children of the event record.

1. Edit an event (within a course record).
2. In the Single Events section, click Create new.

3. Fill in:

   • Title -- Name of this session (e.g. "Day 1: Introduction").
   • Start Date -- Date and time this session begins.
   • End Date -- Date and time this session ends.
4. Repeat for each session day.

Single events are displayed in the event detail view, providing visitors with a detailed schedule of multi-day events.

Managing locations 

Locations are standalone records representing physical venues.

1. Create a Location record in your storage folder:

   • Name -- Venue name (e.g. "Conference Center Dresden").
   • Street -- Street address.
   • Zipcode -- Postal code.
   • City -- City name.
2. The location is then available for selection in event records.

The model provides a computed fullAddress property that combines street, zipcode, and city into a single display string.

Linking similar courses 

Courses can be cross-linked via the similar courses MM relation. This is useful for "You might also be interested in" sections on the course detail page.

1. Edit a course record.
2. In the Similar Courses relation field, add one or more other courses.
3. Save.

In addition to manual linking, the CourseService provides automatic suggestions based on matching course types. If a course has fewer manual similar-course links than desired, the service fills up with other courses of the same type.

Course list: search and filter 

The CourseList plugin renders a list of courses with search and filter capabilities.

Frontend features:

• Search field -- Visitors can enter a text search term. The search is performed on course titles and descriptions.
• Type filter -- A dropdown or selection of course types to filter results.
• Reset button -- Clears all active filters and shows the full list.
• Pagination -- Results are paginated according to the itemsPerPage setting (default: 20).

How search works:

The list action accepts searchTerm and type parameters via POST. Since the action is non-cacheable, each search request is processed fresh. The cHash exclusion configuration ensures no cHash errors occur.

Configuration per instance:

Each CourseList plugin instance can override the detail page PID, list page PID, and items per page via the FlexForm (see Configuration).

Event listing 

The EventList plugin displays events. It shows upcoming events and currently running events based on the start and end dates.

The event model provides two computed properties:

• isUpcoming -- Returns true if the event's start date is in the future.
• isRunning -- Returns true if the current date is between the event's start and end dates.

These properties can be used in Fluid templates to visually distinguish between upcoming and running events.

Course and event detail views 

The CourseDetail plugin renders all information about a single course:

• Title, description, content
• Objectives, target groups, admission requirements
• Images
• List of events with dates, prices, and locations
• Contact persons with phone and email
• Similar courses

The EventDetail plugin renders a single event:

• Title, event code, description
• Start/end dates, duration
• Price (formatted with currency symbol, or hidden for on-request events)
• Location with full address
• Schedule of single events (for multi-day events)