From bca567faea70bbb0efcbd4cd71d29146bd1cbaed Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: digitalcraftsman Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2016 17:05:38 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] docs: Clarify usecase of data files Fixes #1769 --- docs/content/extras/datafiles.md | 4 +++- 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/docs/content/extras/datafiles.md b/docs/content/extras/datafiles.md index 52c6dafb0..4adb68fcb 100644 --- a/docs/content/extras/datafiles.md +++ b/docs/content/extras/datafiles.md @@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ Data Files can also be used in [themes](/themes/overview/), but note: If the sam ## The Data Folder -As explained in [Source Organization](/overview/source-directory/), the `data` folder is where you can store additional data for Hugo to use when generating your site. These files must be YAML, JSON or TOML files (using either the `.yml`, `.yaml`, `.json` or `toml` extension) and the data will be accessible as a `map` in `.Site.Data`. +The `data` folder is where you can store additional data for Hugo to use when generating your site. Data files aren't used to generate standalone pages - rather they're meant supplemental to the content files. This feature can extend the content in case your frontmatter would grow immensely. Or perhaps your want to show a larger dataset in a template (see example below). In both cases it's a good idea to outsource the data in their own file. + +These files must be YAML, JSON or TOML files (using either the `.yml`, `.yaml`, `.json` or `toml` extension) and the data will be accessible as a `map` in `.Site.Data`. **The keys in this map will be a dot chained set of _path_, _filename_ and _key_ in file (if applicable).**