Quincy School District Joomla Overview August 24, 2009

2 What is Joomla? Open Source Software Content Management System (CMS) –Database-driven –CSS Styled (tableless) –Content is focus –Dynamic page build Licensed by the Joomla Foundation – Over 2% of sites on the worldwide web

3 What is Content for QSD? Articles – text, but can include images, links, video, audio, etc. Events – calendar entries Documents – PDFs and MS Word Articles are preferable to PDF/Word, unless the end user requires download

4 Where Does Content Live? Articles – in standard JOS (Joomla Operating System) database; entered through editor from the front-end or Administrator –Front-end demo –Administrator demo Events – in JCal Pro database; entered via “Add Event” on front-end or Admin

5 Where Does Content Live? (cont) Documents – in DOCman database; entered by: –Uploading files via FTP and using Auto- Populate (Admin only) –Uploading files and creating documents Front-end demo Admin demo –Difference between files and documents

6 Where Does Content Live? (cont) Contacts – in JOS; entered in Admin Console only through Contacts Links – in JOS; entered in Admin Console through WebLinks, or can be submitted by users (later)

7 How is Content Displayed? What type of content? –Main body content area –Modules –In very few cases, loaded directly onto template background (such as QSD name, logo, and tag line) What position? Review template user positions & “?tp-1”

8 Template & Positions JoomlArt – JA Lead ub_portfolio/ja_lead.html Coloration - Grass Positions JA Slideshow JA TopSL Left Right User 1 User 2 User 3 User 4

9 User Management – CB Community Builder – replacement for JOS User Manager Extends registration form To self-register or not? Basic requirements for accounts User group types & relation to access groups User menu (self-management)

10 Editing & Creating Articles Easiest to edit through registered access Easiest to create in Administrator Console Using JCE –Formatting text –Inserting images –Inserting links Copying from other sources – HTML detox and cleanup

11 Editing & Creating Articles (cont) Parameters –Access –Author –Start/Finish publish date Nature of titles and headers “Hands off” styling – let the CSS do the work Occasional use of tables

12 Organizing Articles Sections –Main containers for site information –Infinite number, but keep it simple Categories –Must reside in section –Infinite number, but keep it simple –Articles can only live in a category Relationship to menus

13 Organizing Events Calendars Categories Access Relationship to menus Special Module – Upcoming events

14 Organizing Downloads Categories Sub-categories Placing documents Access Special modules –Latest Documents –HOT Documents

15 Displaying Content - Menus Creating menus in Menu Manager Populating menu items in Menu Manager –Menu types –Parameters Displaying in a module via Module Manager –Location – position –Pages

16 Displaying Content - Modules Types of modules Association with plug-ins Parameters Module class suffix

17 Decisions Next training CB registration form – what additional fields? Contact lists Who gets access to what? Self-registration? Can others submit articles, documents, events, links? Outstanding for Go Live