feat(core): configurable titleField and dateField per collection

.changeset/collection-display-date-fields.md

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+"emdash": minor
+"@emdash-cms/admin": minor
+---
+
+Adds `displayField` and `dateField` optional collection options to choose which field is used as an entry's title and which date the content list shows and sorts by.

packages/admin/src/components/ContentEditor.tsx

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import type {
 } from "../lib/api";
 import { getPreviewUrl, getDraftStatus } from "../lib/api";
 import { fromDatetimeLocalInputValue, toDatetimeLocalInputValue } from "../lib/datetime-local.js";
+import { getEntryTitle } from "../lib/entryTitle.js";
 import { formatFileSize, getFileIcon } from "../lib/media-utils";
 import { usePluginAdmins } from "../lib/plugin-context.js";
 import { contentUrl, isSafeUrl } from "../lib/url.js";
@@ -512,6 +513,11 @@ export function ContentEditor({
 
 	const urlPattern = manifest?.collections[collection]?.urlPattern;
 
+	// The editor header shows the entry's display title (honoring displayField)
+	// for existing entries (#1133).
+	const displayField = manifest?.collections[collection]?.displayField;
+	const entryTitle = item ? getEntryTitle(item, displayField) : "";
+
 	const handlePreview = async () => {
 		if (!item?.id) return;
 
@@ -648,7 +654,7 @@ export function ContentEditor({
 								</Button>
 							)}
 							<h1 className="text-2xl font-bold">
-								{isNew ? t`New ${collectionLabel}` : t`Edit ${collectionLabel}`}
+								{isNew ? t`New ${collectionLabel}` : entryTitle || t`Edit ${collectionLabel}`}
 							</h1>
 							{i18n && item?.locale && (
 								<Badge variant="outline" className="uppercase text-xs">

packages/admin/src/components/ContentList.tsx

@@ -28,15 +28,20 @@ import { Link } from "@tanstack/react-router";
 import * as React from "react";
 
 import type { ContentAuthor, ContentDateField, ContentItem, TrashedContentItem } from "../lib/api";
+import { getEntryTitle } from "../lib/entryTitle.js";
 import { useDebouncedValue } from "../lib/hooks.js";
 import { contentUrl } from "../lib/url.js";
 import { cn } from "../lib/utils";
 import { CaretNext, CaretPrev } from "./ArrowIcons.js";
 import { LocaleSwitcher } from "./LocaleSwitcher";
 import { RouterLinkButton } from "./RouterLinkButton.js";
 
-/** Sortable content list columns. Maps to the server's order field whitelist. */
-export type ContentListSortField = "title" | "status" | "locale" | "updatedAt";
+/**
+ * Sortable content list columns. The named values map to the server's system
+ * order fields; a collection's configured displayField/dateField slug is also
+ * accepted (#1133), which the server validates against the collection.
+ */
+export type ContentListSortField = "title" | "status" | "locale" | "updatedAt" | (string & {});
 export interface ContentListSort {
 	field: ContentListSortField;
 	direction: "asc" | "desc";
@@ -83,6 +88,10 @@ export interface ContentListProps {
 	onLocaleChange?: (locale: string) => void;
 	/** URL pattern for published content links (e.g. `/blog/{slug}`) */
 	urlPattern?: string;
+	/** Collection field slug powering the Title column (falls back to the title chain). */
+	displayField?: string;
+	/** Collection field slug (datetime) powering the Date column (falls back to updated date). */
+	dateField?: string;
 	/**
 	 * Controlled sort state. When `onSortChange` is also provided, the column
 	 * headers become sort controls that invoke it. Uncontrolled sort keeps
@@ -139,15 +148,19 @@ type ViewTab = "all" | "trash";
 
 const PAGE_SIZE = 20;
 
-function getItemTitle(item: { data: Record<string, unknown>; slug: string | null; id: string }) {
-	const rawTitle = item.data.title;
-	const rawName = item.data.name;
-	return (
-		(typeof rawTitle === "string" ? rawTitle : "") ||
-		(typeof rawName === "string" ? rawName : "") ||
-		item.slug ||
-		item.id
-	);
+const DATE_ONLY_RE = /^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/;
+
+/**
+ * Parse a dateField value for the Date column. Returns null if missing or
+ * unparseable (so the caller falls back to a system date instead of showing
+ * "Invalid Date"). Bare `YYYY-MM-DD` is read as local midnight to avoid a
+ * previous-day shift in negative-UTC timezones.
+ */
+function parseListDate(value: unknown): Date | null {
+	if (typeof value !== "string" || !value) return null;
+	const normalized = DATE_ONLY_RE.test(value) ? `${value}T00:00:00` : value;
+	const parsed = new Date(normalized);
+	return Number.isNaN(parsed.getTime()) ? null : parsed;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -173,6 +186,8 @@ export function ContentList({
 	activeLocale,
 	onLocaleChange,
 	urlPattern,
+	displayField,
+	dateField,
 	sort,
 	onSortChange,
 	total,
@@ -217,7 +232,7 @@ export function ContentList({
 	const filteredItems = React.useMemo(() => {
 		if (serverSearch || !searchQuery) return items;
 		const query = searchQuery.toLowerCase();
-		return items.filter((item) => getItemTitle(item).toLowerCase().includes(query));
+		return items.filter((item) => getEntryTitle(item, displayField).toLowerCase().includes(query));
 	}, [items, searchQuery, serverSearch]);
 
 	// The query the current `items` reflect: server-side filtering lags behind
@@ -498,8 +513,10 @@ export function ContentList({
 											/>
 										</th>
 									)}
+									{/* The Title/Date columns sort by the collection's configured
+									    displayField/dateField when set (#1133) */}
 									<SortableTh
-										field="title"
+										field={displayField ?? "title"}
 										sort={sort}
 										onSortChange={onSortChange}
 										label={t`Title`}
@@ -519,7 +536,7 @@ export function ContentList({
 										/>
 									)}
 									<SortableTh
-										field="updatedAt"
+										field={dateField ?? "updatedAt"}
 										sort={sort}
 										onSortChange={onSortChange}
 										label={t`Date`}
@@ -575,6 +592,8 @@ export function ContentList({
 											onDuplicate={onDuplicate}
 											showLocale={!!i18n}
 											urlPattern={urlPattern}
+											displayField={displayField}
+											dateField={dateField}
 											selectable={bulkEnabled}
 											selected={selectedIds.has(item.id)}
 											onToggleSelect={toggleOne}
@@ -671,6 +690,7 @@ export function ContentList({
 										<TrashedListItem
 											key={item.id}
 											item={item}
+											displayField={displayField}
 											onRestore={onRestore}
 											onPermanentDelete={onPermanentDelete}
 										/>
@@ -943,6 +963,8 @@ interface ContentListItemProps {
 	onDuplicate?: (id: string) => void;
 	showLocale?: boolean;
 	urlPattern?: string;
+	displayField?: string;
+	dateField?: string;
 	selectable?: boolean;
 	selected?: boolean;
 	onToggleSelect?: (id: string) => void;
@@ -955,13 +977,18 @@ function ContentListItem({
 	onDuplicate,
 	showLocale,
 	urlPattern,
+	displayField,
+	dateField,
 	selectable,
 	selected,
 	onToggleSelect,
 }: ContentListItemProps) {
 	const { t } = useLingui();
-	const title = getItemTitle(item);
-	const date = new Date(item.updatedAt || item.createdAt);
+	const title = getEntryTitle(item, displayField);
+	// A configured dateField drives the Date column; fall back to the
+	// last-updated / created date when it's unset, empty, or unparseable.
+	const customDate = dateField ? parseListDate(item.data[dateField]) : null;
+	const date = customDate ?? new Date(item.updatedAt || item.createdAt);
 
 	return (
 		<tr className={cn("hover:bg-kumo-tint/25", selected && "bg-kumo-tint/40")}>
@@ -1071,13 +1098,19 @@ function ContentListItem({
 
 interface TrashedListItemProps {
 	item: TrashedContentItem;
+	displayField?: string;
 	onRestore?: (id: string) => void;
 	onPermanentDelete?: (id: string) => void;
 }
 
-function TrashedListItem({ item, onRestore, onPermanentDelete }: TrashedListItemProps) {
+function TrashedListItem({
+	item,
+	displayField,
+	onRestore,
+	onPermanentDelete,
+}: TrashedListItemProps) {
 	const { t } = useLingui();
-	const title = getItemTitle(item);
+	const title = getEntryTitle(item, displayField);
 	const deletedDate = new Date(item.deletedAt);
 
 	return (

packages/admin/src/components/ContentPickerModal.tsx

@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ import { MagnifyingGlass, FolderOpen, X } from "@phosphor-icons/react";
 import { useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import * as React from "react";
 
-import { fetchCollections, fetchContentList, getDraftStatus } from "../lib/api";
+import { fetchCollections, fetchContentList, fetchManifest, getDraftStatus } from "../lib/api";
 import type { ContentItem } from "../lib/api";
+import { getEntryTitle } from "../lib/entryTitle.js";
 import { useDebouncedValue } from "../lib/hooks";
 import { cn } from "../lib/utils";
 
@@ -22,17 +23,6 @@ interface ContentPickerModalProps {
 	onSelect: (item: { collection: string; id: string; title: string }) => void;
 }
 
-function getItemTitle(item: { data: Record<string, unknown>; slug: string | null; id: string }) {
-	const rawTitle = item.data.title;
-	const rawName = item.data.name;
-	return (
-		(typeof rawTitle === "string" ? rawTitle : "") ||
-		(typeof rawName === "string" ? rawName : "") ||
-		item.slug ||
-		item.id
-	);
-}
-
 export function ContentPickerModal({ open, onOpenChange, onSelect }: ContentPickerModalProps) {
 	const { t } = useLingui();
 	const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = React.useState("");
@@ -48,6 +38,15 @@ export function ContentPickerModal({ open, onOpenChange, onSelect }: ContentPick
 		enabled: open,
 	});
 
+	// Reuse the cached manifest (same query key as the rest of the admin) to
+	// resolve the selected collection's displayField for entry titles (#1133).
+	const { data: manifest } = useQuery({
+		queryKey: ["manifest"],
+		queryFn: fetchManifest,
+		enabled: open,
+	});
+	const displayField = manifest?.collections[selectedCollection]?.displayField;
+
 	// Default to first collection when collections load
 	React.useEffect(() => {
 		if (collections.length > 0 && !selectedCollection) {
@@ -87,7 +86,9 @@ export function ContentPickerModal({ open, onOpenChange, onSelect }: ContentPick
 	const filteredItems = React.useMemo(() => {
 		if (!debouncedSearch) return allItems;
 		const query = debouncedSearch.toLowerCase();
-		return allItems.filter((item) => getItemTitle(item).toLowerCase().includes(query));
+		return allItems.filter((item) =>
+			getEntryTitle(item, displayField).toLowerCase().includes(query),
+		);
 	}, [allItems, debouncedSearch]);
 
 	// Reset state when modal opens or collection changes
@@ -104,7 +105,7 @@ export function ContentPickerModal({ open, onOpenChange, onSelect }: ContentPick
 		onSelect({
 			collection: selectedCollection,
 			id: item.id,
-			title: getItemTitle(item),
+			title: getEntryTitle(item, displayField),
 		});
 		onOpenChange(false);
 	};
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@ export function ContentPickerModal({ open, onOpenChange, onSelect }: ContentPick
 											"focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-kumo-ring focus:ring-offset-2",
 										)}
 									>
-										<div className="font-medium">{getItemTitle(item)}</div>
+										<div className="font-medium">{getEntryTitle(item, displayField)}</div>
 										<div className="text-sm text-kumo-subtle flex items-center gap-2">
 											<span
 												className={cn(

packages/admin/src/lib/api/client.ts

@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ export interface AdminManifest {
 			supports: string[];
 			hasSeo: boolean;
 			urlPattern?: string;
+			displayField?: string;
+			dateField?: string;
 			fields: Record<
 				string,
 				{

packages/admin/src/lib/entryTitle.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+/**
+ * The title to show for a content entry. Uses the collection's `displayField`
+ * (#1133) if set and non-empty, otherwise falls back to `title → name → slug → id`.
+ * Shared so every surface (list, picker, editor) shows the same title.
+ */
+export function getEntryTitle(
+	item: { data: Record<string, unknown>; slug: string | null; id: string },
+	displayField?: string,
+): string {
+	const preferred = displayField ? item.data[displayField] : undefined;
+	const rawTitle = item.data.title;
+	const rawName = item.data.name;
+	return (
+		(typeof preferred === "string" ? preferred : "") ||
+		(typeof rawTitle === "string" ? rawTitle : "") ||
+		(typeof rawName === "string" ? rawName : "") ||
+		item.slug ||
+		item.id
+	);
+}

packages/admin/src/router.tsx

@@ -337,10 +337,15 @@ function ContentListPage() {
 
 	// Controlled sort state — passed to the list, and included in the query
 	// key so changing direction invalidates the current cursor chain.
-	const [sort, setSort] = React.useState<ContentListSort>({
-		field: "updatedAt",
+	// Default sorts by the collection's dateField (#1133), else last-updated.
+	// `sortOverride` is the user's explicit choice (null until they click a
+	// column), keeping the default reactive as the manifest loads and per-collection.
+	const [sortOverride, setSortOverride] = React.useState<ContentListSort | null>(null);
+	const sort: ContentListSort = sortOverride ?? {
+		field: manifest?.collections[collection]?.dateField ?? "updatedAt",
 		direction: "desc",
-	});
+	};
+	React.useEffect(() => setSortOverride(null), [collection]);
 
 	// Server-side search term (debounced inside ContentList). Part of the query
 	// key so a new term restarts the cursor chain from a filtered first page.
@@ -598,8 +603,10 @@ function ContentListPage() {
 			activeLocale={activeLocale}
 			onLocaleChange={handleLocaleChange}
 			urlPattern={collectionConfig.urlPattern}
+			displayField={collectionConfig.displayField}
+			dateField={collectionConfig.dateField}
 			sort={sort}
-			onSortChange={setSort}
+			onSortChange={setSortOverride}
 			total={total}
 			onSearchChange={setSearchTerm}
 			statusFilter={statusFilter}

packages/core/src/api/handlers/content.ts

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import { isSqlite } from "../../database/dialect-helpers.js";
 import { BylineRepository } from "../../database/repositories/byline.js";
 import type { ContentBylineInput } from "../../database/repositories/byline.js";
 import { CommentRepository } from "../../database/repositories/comment.js";
-import { ContentRepository } from "../../database/repositories/content.js";
+import { ContentRepository, isSystemOrderField } from "../../database/repositories/content.js";
 import { RedirectRepository } from "../../database/repositories/redirect.js";
 import { RevisionRepository } from "../../database/repositories/revision.js";
 import { SeoRepository } from "../../database/repositories/seo.js";
@@ -447,13 +447,29 @@ export async function handleContentList(
 			where.useFts = await canUseFtsForListFilter(db, collection, where.searchColumns);
 		}
 
+		// Sorting by a non-system field (a collection's displayField/dateField,
+		// #1133) needs the collection's *actual* sort fields resolved server-side,
+		// so the orderBy set stays closed. Only query when it's not a system field.
+		let sortableExtras: string[] | undefined;
+		if (params.orderBy && !isSystemOrderField(params.orderBy)) {
+			const coll = await db
+				.selectFrom("_emdash_collections")
+				.select(["display_field", "date_field"])
+				.where("slug", "=", collection)
+				.executeTakeFirst();
+			sortableExtras = [coll?.display_field, coll?.date_field].filter(
+				(slug): slug is string => !!slug,
+			);
+		}
+
 		const result = await repo.findMany(collection, {
 			cursor: params.cursor,
 			limit: params.limit || 50,
 			where: Object.keys(where).length > 0 ? where : undefined,
 			orderBy: params.orderBy
 				? { field: params.orderBy, direction: params.order || "desc" }
 				: undefined,
+			sortableExtras,
 		});
 
 		// Hydrate SEO data if the collection has SEO enabled

packages/core/src/astro/types.ts

@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ export interface ManifestCollection {
 	supports: string[];
 	hasSeo: boolean;
 	urlPattern?: string;
+	displayField?: string;
+	dateField?: string;
 	fields: Record<
 		string,
 		{