How to replace Drupal core’s tracker module using views

This can be pretty handy, especially if you would like to customize it a bit more and add other tabs. Here is a simple step-by-step tutorial:

  1. Disable Drupal’s original core tracker module.
  2. Install views.
  3. Go to Site Building > Views and enable the tracker view.
  4. In the tracker view, go to the Page item, and rename it for example as « Recent posts » in Basic settings > Name and Basic settings > Title.  Make sure you click on override before saving, so that you keep the original configuration in Defaults.
  5. In the Page settings fieldset, set Path to tracker/all and the type to Default menu tab. Set Title to Recent posts and Weight to -10. Click on update and when asked for the Parent menu item, select Normal menu item, and once again type Recent posts as Title. Click on update. We are done with this page type that will display the latest nodes modifications by all users. You can now enjoy the power of views and tweak the display to precisely show what you have in mind.
  6. In the left drop-down list, select Page and click Add display. Rename it for example as « My recent posts » in Basic settings > Name and Basic settings > Title.  Make sure you click on override before saving, so that you keep a version of the original values.
  7. In the Page settings fieldset, set Path to tracker/my and the type to Menu tab. Set Title to My recent posts and Weight to 1. Click on update.
  8. In the Arguments fieldset, click on Node: User posted or commented (if it doesn’t exist, add it), and as the Action to take if argument is not present, select Provide default argumentUser ID from logged in user.
  9. That’s it! The link to your new tracker view is mysite.com/tracker; two tabs will be displayed just like in the original core module. You may for example create a menu item that links to this page.