A common request is for a "latest blog entries" list for the core BLOG module.  We'll see how to quickly make such a list for free using the core REPORTS module...
 
 
Latest Blog Entries
The current version of the core BLOG module lacks a "Latest Blog Entries" list.  Such a list is useful on a homepage (such as the Blog entries list found on this site's homepage) on in a sidebar.  Fortunately we can easily create such a list using the core REPORTS module.  There are a few considerations we'll want to consider, but first let's jump right to making that list...
 
Step 1 -- Add the REPORTS module to a test page
When using the REPORTS module, always try your new queries out on a test page before using the module on a "production" page.  If your test query goes horribly, horribly wrong you will then have the option of simply deleting the test page using the ADMIN -> TABS module.  If you'd placed the test module on a "production" page then you'll have a little more trouble removing the module without altering the rest of the page.  Trying things out on a test page (or test website) is just good practice.
 
So...add the module to a test page.
 
Step 2 -- Set the SQL query field in the module's SETTINGS
Go into the REPORTS module SETTINGS.  Under the "REPORT SETTINGS" section, add the following to the QUERY field and then click "Update":
 
  select top 5 Title 
  as [Latest Blog Entries]
  from blog_entries
  where Published = 1
  order by AddedDate desc 
 
Done.  You now have a list of the five latest blog entry titles.

Well, actually.....we're not done.  The list is nice but we want a clickable list so users can click the title and be taken to the blog entry.  Also, this query returns the latest blog entries from all portals in our DNN instance.  We want to insure that we only include the Blog entries for the current portal.
 
EDIT 5/21/2009  Dario Rossa of the DNN Blog project team has pointed out that we should consider whether a blog is marked "public" or not.  That is, we should include entries only for blogs intended for public view.  This is a point I'd overlooked in my initial post.  I've added the appropriate clause recommended by Dario to the SQL below.  Thanks, Dario!

We need a better (and more complex) query.  Go back into the module SETTINGS and replace your original query with this one:

  select top 5
    '<a href="'+PermaLink+'">'+ble.Title+'</a>' 
  as [Latest Blog Entries]
  from blog_entries ble
  inner join blog_blogs bb on bb.Blogid = ble.Blogid
  where ble.Published = 1
  and bb.Portalid = @portalID
  and bb.public = 1
  order by ble.AddedDate desc 
 
Ahhh.....that's better.  We now have a clickable list thanks to the handy "PermaLink" URL the Blog module has already created for us.  Notice that the REPORTS module allows us to insert HTML right into our query results -- very handy if you only need a small bit of HTML for a task such as we needed for our clickable links.
 
 
Other Considerations
Ok, now that the fun part is over it's time to put on our "serious" faces.  What do we have?  A list of the five most recently-published blog entries.  Simple, right?
 
Well.....perhaps you have your site set up to allow individual users to create their own blogs.  In such a case you may not want to list the latest blog entries from just any user, but only from a select group of "preferred bloggers".  You'd need to extend the query to filter out any entries for users who are not part of a custom-added "preferred blogger" user role (or user group).
 
Another variation would be that you only want to include the latest blog entries under a particular parent blog.  Or perhaps you'd like a list of each of the three latest blog entries from EACH blog on your site.  Your need may be even more specialized than a simple "latest entries" list -- for instance, we previously explored one means of providing a clickable list of the "most-commented" blog entries.
 
All this is to say that one "blog entires" query certainly does not fit all needs.  Thankfully the REPORTS module is often capable of delivering what we need as long as we're clever enough with our SQL to grab the required data.
 
 
Related Entries
Here's a list of other blog entries where we've quickly created an easy (and free) solution with a single SQL query (except for the "Tag Cloud" which also required a helper function):

• Create a Tag Cloud 
   
• Create "Login Redirection" based on User Role
   
• Create a "Most-Commented" Blog Entries list
   
• Create an EVENTS module event status table 
   
• Create a "Most-Recently Registered Users" list

 
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