Joomla
I am trying to teach myself Joomla.
First, a little background. I have been building web sites the "old fashioned way" since 1996, using JavaScript since 1998, css since probably 2003 or so & using php & MySQL for at least 8 - 10 years.
I have built a number of content management systems the "hard way"; an admin back end with php & MySQL driving the front end.
I'm tired of doing it that way, looking for a simpler way. Hoping Joomla can do the trick.
So I thought a good way to learn is to try to replicate a simple cms site I did in Joomla. The attached images show some of the site pages. I purchased two books; Joomla for Dummies & Joomla, a Visual Quick Start Guide.
Everything seems backwards in these books.
Please see the attachments. You can look at the current site index page at www.gvha.biz. I cannot provide full site access because of the private nature of the data.
It seems to me that I need several templates to replicate the current site. I'm totally confused about:
(1) How can I build Joomla templates to replicate the current. Note that the images on the left are image map components linked to other pages. The overall background is a background image on every page.
(2) Joomla seems based on this concept that all content is "Articles". As you can see, in this case I need the ability to display a member directory in a scrolling window; the directory content comes out of a database table; etc. Is there a way to do this kind of thing in Joomla? Also note the map page; uses Google map api, etc.
Or do I need a different tool?
Thanks
home.jpg
directory.JPG
forum.jpg
map.jpg
First, a little background. I have been building web sites the "old fashioned way" since 1996, using JavaScript since 1998, css since probably 2003 or so & using php & MySQL for at least 8 - 10 years.
I have built a number of content management systems the "hard way"; an admin back end with php & MySQL driving the front end.
I'm tired of doing it that way, looking for a simpler way. Hoping Joomla can do the trick.
So I thought a good way to learn is to try to replicate a simple cms site I did in Joomla. The attached images show some of the site pages. I purchased two books; Joomla for Dummies & Joomla, a Visual Quick Start Guide.
Everything seems backwards in these books.
Please see the attachments. You can look at the current site index page at www.gvha.biz. I cannot provide full site access because of the private nature of the data.
It seems to me that I need several templates to replicate the current site. I'm totally confused about:
(1) How can I build Joomla templates to replicate the current. Note that the images on the left are image map components linked to other pages. The overall background is a background image on every page.
(2) Joomla seems based on this concept that all content is "Articles". As you can see, in this case I need the ability to display a member directory in a scrolling window; the directory content comes out of a database table; etc. Is there a way to do this kind of thing in Joomla? Also note the map page; uses Google map api, etc.
Or do I need a different tool?
Thanks
home.jpg
directory.JPG
forum.jpg
map.jpg
my overview:
Joomla is the best CMS to design website easily.
1: Download a good joomla templates form internet
http://www.joomla24.com/
install it from extension manager
2: create a category
3: Article manager - this is where you can create articles to be disaplayed
4: menu manager - this defines a set of menus - each menu has a list of menu items
the menu items be either a single article, a group
5: module manager - where you can set the location where you want to show menu manager
Joomla is the best CMS to design website easily.
1: Download a good joomla templates form internet
http://www.joomla24.com/
install it from extension manager
2: create a category
3: Article manager - this is where you can create articles to be disaplayed
4: menu manager - this defines a set of menus - each menu has a list of menu items
the menu items be either a single article, a group
5: module manager - where you can set the location where you want to show menu manager
once you have joomla installed you can search the extension directory
http://extensions.joomla.org/
for a members site I use community builder extension from http://www.joomlapolis.com/
the initial bit is free but if you want add-ons its a small fee for extras
this displays members lists, a login and subscription etc..
in terms of your aim of getting the same look and feel as your existing site I would say you need to use a CMS system and see what you can design with it , not have a design and try and shoehorn a cms system into it. Saying that I've found the latest artisteer very flexible. Also web design has changed to encompass mobile and tablet devices so "responsive" websites are now the favoured to display nicely on any device, so scrolling areas inside windows look a bit old fashion (in my opinion) as it depends on the users screen size.
however, checkout the menu extensions http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/structure-a-navigation/menu-systems and you could get the same sort of look
http://extensions.joomla.org/
for a members site I use community builder extension from http://www.joomlapolis.com/
the initial bit is free but if you want add-ons its a small fee for extras
this displays members lists, a login and subscription etc..
in terms of your aim of getting the same look and feel as your existing site I would say you need to use a CMS system and see what you can design with it , not have a design and try and shoehorn a cms system into it. Saying that I've found the latest artisteer very flexible. Also web design has changed to encompass mobile and tablet devices so "responsive" websites are now the favoured to display nicely on any device, so scrolling areas inside windows look a bit old fashion (in my opinion) as it depends on the users screen size.
however, checkout the menu extensions http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/structure-a-navigation/menu-systems and you could get the same sort of look
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Also I would install Joomla with the sample data and have a play on that.
my quick overview:
Article manager - this is where you can create articles to be disaplayed - you will probably want to install a better online editor so you can create better looking articles. also you can dreate categories - this helps to disaply certain categories only in the menus.
menu manager - this defines a set of menus - each menu has a list of menu items
the menu items be either a single article, a group of articles (blog), or a function (such as a calander)
if they are articles you have to define the articles before you create the menus. (I usually create dummy articles to get going.)
for functions you have to install the extension first.(search joomla extensions for add ons)
Then in Extensions/Module manager you have to define where the menus will be displayed.
(use the sample install to play around with the settings)
in ArRtisteer faqs/installation it will explain what positions you can use for the menu or the article
Joomla also lets you have different templates for different pages.
the beauty of Joomla and wordpress is the extensioniblity of it and how easy it is to add in event managers, membership groups, editord for users to maintain the site.