Mind map of Joomla website structure

Joomla - structure of website

Joomla is a content management system. It organises information as follows:

Sections
Categories
Articles

The basic unit is the Article.Articles are then grouped into Categories. Categories are grouped into Sections.

Lastly, nothing appears on the website until it has a Menu. The Menu is created and then linked to an article.Once the Menu has been linked, the Article appears on the site.

The acronym SCAM summarises the sequence: Section, Categorie, Article, Menu.

So, a site plan is required, and this should show the structure of the site in terms of sections, categories and articles.I will be using a mind-mapping package Freemind , for this.

Joomla - progress

I have installed Joomla on a local server on my laptop.The local server was setup using Xampp.Xampp provides: the Apache server, the MySQL database and PHP.

The Apache server - this is a server on your local PC. It sets up a localhost installation.
When it is working, opening a browser and typing http://localhost in the address bar results in the display of the home page.
The name Apache comes from 'a patchy server' apparently.

MySQL database - this database stores all of the content e.g. Joomla articles, images ,etc.

PHP is a scripting technology. The PHP language allows the web page to interact with the database , change content, send content from the database to the web page etc.

Database security - Solving the 'cannot connect to database' problem

Using the security console,

1. I changed the password for MySQL database.
2. I set the user name and password for the Xampp directory protection.

Afterwards, I could not access localhost in the browser.

The solution is to modify the configuration file, configuration.php-dist.


In htdocs/joomla_1_5_14 , open configuration.php-dist and save as configuration.php.

To edit the con figuration, open configuration.php in Dreamweaver or other text editor.

See Lines 39 to 48.

Because I have changed the user names and passwords, I need to make changes to the configuration file, as follows:




* Database configuration section
* -------------------------------------------------------------------------
*/
/* Database Settings */
var $dbtype = 'mysql'; // Normally mysql
var $host = 'localhost'; // This is normally set to localhost
var $user = 'root'; // MySQL username
var $password = '#########'; // MySQL password , not shown
var $db = 'joomla###'; // MySQL database name , not shown
var $dbprefix = 'jos_'; // Do not change unless you need to!


Save the file.
==========================

Try localhost. It works ! the page displays correctly.

So , after changing the user name and password etc, you must modify the configuration file accordingly.

Security on Xampp

I used the Security console to set passwords for:

1. The MySQL section

2. The Xampp Directory

Starting work with Joomla

I have installed Joomla on a local server and am now going to work through the book 'Joomla Start to Finish' by Jen Kramer.

http://www.amazon.com/Joomla-Start-Finish-Maintain-Programmer/dp/047057089X

When I am proficient I hope to then install Joomla on a hosted site, hopefully at www.brendanlong.ie

Install Joomla 1.5.14

Joomla setup:

Step 1. Go to http://localhost/joomla_1_5_14
Step 2. Language, Next.
Step 3. There is one red item , as before, namely 'display errors'.Will proceed anyway.
Step 4. License, ok

Step 5. Database Configuration

type: mysql
Host Name: localhost
user name: root
password: <--(blank, as per p8 Quickstart Guide settings)
Database Name: joomla15 <--(as per Quickstart Guide)

Step 6: skip step 5 , press Next to proceed to Step 6. ok
Step 7: Enter site name - Landscape Smart ! ,
email address: manager@landscape01.com
admin pw:
confirm pw:

'Congratulations! ..installed' . Screen is at ............/installation/index.php

Step 9: Delete Installation Directory from C:\Xampp\htdocs/joomla_1_5_14.
Done

Step 10> return to installer (tab) , and click on 'site'.


Joomla screen appeared, showing that it has successfully been installed.
(Browser show address : http://localhost/joomla_1_5_14/ )

Job done.