J1.5:Getting Started with Joomla!

The "J1.5" namespace is an archived namespace. This page contains information for a Joomla! version which is no longer supported. It exists only as a historical reference, it will not be improved and its content may be incomplete and/or contain broken links.

Content is Incomplete

Find a brief definition of Joomla!

Introduction

Who is the Manual intended for

An initial introduction to Joomla! must be appropriate for complete beginners as well as those with various levels of experience.
This long list will be replaced by a shorter list in due course.

• Novice: someone with no previous experience of adding content to a web site but has some basic email and editing skills. They need to know how to edit and add content. They have enough previous experience to follow step-by-step, hands-on instructions.
• An experienced author - used to laying out text, but has not previously added content to a Joomla! Web site. They need to know how to do as much as possible with the editing facilities available on their web site and may move on to managing the structure of the site. This could include multi-lingual content
• Beginner: A person with some computing background and has added to a static web site but is not familiar with HTML, scripting or CSS. They need to know how to do as much as possible with the editing facilities available on their web site. They may want to manage the site and even be able to develop an 'out-of-the-box site themselves.
• Inexperienced with a CMS: Someone with previous experience with managing a static web site, has used HTML or a scripting language, but not a lot of background knowledge. They need to be familiar with the editing facilities but their focus is likely to be on managing a site and to develop an 'out-of-the-box site themselves.
• Experienced: Someone who has used a CMS previously and needs to maintain a Joomla! site. They need a braod awareness of Joomla! and may move towards doing more developpment.
• Advanced:A person with experience of programming with PHP and can cope with modules and templates. They also need to be able to do backups, installations and upgrades.
• Advanced: Someone with wider programming experience and who is technically aware. Experienced with Operating systems, files installing software and much more. Needs to be able to get started with Joomla! in order to develop and manage complex sites.

There are indications of the intended audience at the head of each article.

What is in the Manual

• Part 1 introduces Joomla! with practical instructions about how to do crucial things, such as editing articles and anaging some of the content. It starts with the assumption that you want to become familiar with editing and adding articles to an existing or sample site. It continues by showing how a Web site can be created, using the basic appearance and features that come with Joomla!
• Part 2 is about doing more and learning more. Some of this is how to manage a Joomla! site in greater detail. In addition, Joomla! allows a lot of extra development which makes it valuable for developers of complex and commercial sites. Features not available in the core Joomla! installation can be found amongst a large number of 'extensions'.

Get a Joomla! site for the tutorials

You must have the use of a Joomla! Web site to use the 'hands-on' instructions, which make up most of the first part of the Manual. There are three possibilites. The one you choose depends on your experience and what you need to learn. If you are going to be adding content to an existing site and do not have much computing experience, then the first option is best. Joomla! localhost is good if you have enough experience to install it.

1. Use a site that has already been set up. You are likely to want to do this if you are going to be adding content to an existing site and do not have much computing experience.
2. Install a copy of Joomla! on your own computer. This is sometimes referred to as a 'localhost' installation.
3. Use the Demo on the Joomla! site - Not written yet. This for if you don't have access to an existing site.

What does a Joomla! site look like

• Key charactoristics of a Joomla! web site. An introduction to what you might expect to see on typical Joomla! sites. (the concept is to introduce some terms and ideas)

Part 1: Introducing Joomla!

Mostly hands-on - most focus on the inexperienced but useful for everyone.

How to edit and create articles

Articles are the building blocks of any Joomla! site and are the main way that content is organised and displayed. Everyone needs to know the basics of how to edit and create articles - so start here no matter what your previous experience.

• How to edit an article - aimed at helping everyone to use the editor and understand what articles look like and where they are stored.
• How to create an article - with simple layouts and content - aimed at helping everyone to know how to add new a new article to a web site
• More on editing articles - adding tables, links, pictures and changing layouts - aimed at helping everyone who wants to try any of these.

How to manipulate articles

Say what this means at the getting started level - keep them in the right place - get the right layouts for the content - the right permissions for publishing - on the Front-end

• How articles are published and managed using the Front-end
• Sections, categories and menus

Setting up a Joomla! site

Assume Joomla already installed and this uses the one of the templates that ships with Joomla

The design of the content structure

• Sections, categories and menus
• More about managing articles using the Back-end of Joomla!

Appearance and layout

• Appearance use templates

Part 2: Doing more and learning more

There is more to learn about Joomla. This second part of the Manual does not have so many 'hands-on' sections. It introduces more aspects of Joomla! with links to further, and sometimes much more advanced, documetation.

General administration

The administrator pages - Back-end

Brief description - and then references to other material because this is covered in admin manual. From the view point of looking after the site

Other things here that are useful for the experienced - links

Links to useful docs

Links and references

This will have:-

• Links to other helpful pages at different levels of user skill - with comments
• List of links referred to in various places

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--Lorna Scammell December 2010