Difference between revisions of "Terminology"

From Joomla! Documentation

m (update to text, references and explanations to sections and categories)
m (→‎Look and Feel Terms: wikify and update text)
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==Look and Feel Terms==
 
==Look and Feel Terms==
 
===Template===
 
===Template===
These determine the way the website appears - the colours, where things are on the page etc.   
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[[Templates]] determine the way the website appears - the colours, where things are on the page etc.   
 
Templates are normally constructed / bought when the website is created. It can be changed at will - so you may not need to change the content (in the articles) to change the appearance of the page. Most of this relies on Cascading Style Sheets and technical stuff - ask your advisor(s) if you’re interested.
 
Templates are normally constructed / bought when the website is created. It can be changed at will - so you may not need to change the content (in the articles) to change the appearance of the page. Most of this relies on Cascading Style Sheets and technical stuff - ask your advisor(s) if you’re interested.
  
 
===Template Positions===
 
===Template Positions===
Joomla templates are a series of rectangular boxes - each of which can contain content and have an unique name (template position). The exception is an article which normally is shown in the part of the screen not taken up by defined positions. e.g. the centre.
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Joomla templates are a series of rectangular boxes HTML elements called a [[Wikipedia:Span and div|<nowiki><div></nowiki>]]. These boxes can call pieces of content called [[Modules]] - each of which can have a unique name and/or template position. The exception is an [[Articles|article]] which normally is shown in the part of the screen not taken up by defined positions. e.g. the centre.
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 +
===Modules===
 +
[[Modules]] are small parts of web content which can be displayed in Template Positions accomodated by the [[Template]]. It is also possible to call modules, by Template Position, in and article.
  
 
==Navigational terms==
 
==Navigational terms==

Revision as of 12:51, 31 August 2012

Content related terms[edit]

Section (depreciated after Joomla 1.5)[edit]

This the topmost “container” for content. Multiple categories can be placed into sections. The name can be appear within user friendly web addresses. So choose the names with care. You can create “blog” type formats that show articles in a tabular format.

Category[edit]

Every category lives within a section(depreciated after Joomla 1.5). Again the name can appear within user friendly web addresses. You can create blog type formats that use a tabular format. In Joomla! Joomla 1.5 categories cannot "live" within other categories. From Joomla! Version Joomla 1.6 categories can now contain subcategories making categories the topmost “container” for content.

Articles[edit]

These are where content lives. Every article is assigned to a category and section ( even if it is “uncategorised” ). Articles are only published when you decide it’s appropriate.

Most people start out creating articles in a standard desktop program - perhaps Microsoft Word. If you use this you should ensure you have filtered out the “Microsoft proprietary” HTML tags before pasting the content into the Article Editor. It can be easier to paste the content into Wordpad or Notepad, then save and then paste it onward - this has the same filtering affect. If you use the TinyMCE editor then the advanced option will show a "Paste From Word" button. Like any subject Joomla! has its own terminology - and ordinary English words may have particular meanings. If people don't understand the terminology they may fail to get the best from Joomla! - a real shame..

Look and Feel Terms[edit]

Template[edit]

Templates determine the way the website appears - the colours, where things are on the page etc. Templates are normally constructed / bought when the website is created. It can be changed at will - so you may not need to change the content (in the articles) to change the appearance of the page. Most of this relies on Cascading Style Sheets and technical stuff - ask your advisor(s) if you’re interested.

Template Positions[edit]

Joomla templates are a series of rectangular boxes HTML elements called a <div>. These boxes can call pieces of content called Modules - each of which can have a unique name and/or template position. The exception is an article which normally is shown in the part of the screen not taken up by defined positions. e.g. the centre.

Modules[edit]

Modules are small parts of web content which can be displayed in Template Positions accomodated by the Template. It is also possible to call modules, by Template Position, in and article.

Navigational terms[edit]

Menu[edit]

These exist completely independently of any page This gives considerable flexibility - there can be lots of menus. You can assign articles to one or more “menu items” at will.

Be careful to use a good naming convention; as this can really help find the article appearing at a particular web address.

Menu item[edit]

This is where the name of the page ( that appears in the web address ) is chosen, and where the layout is selected ( e.g., Blog, article, wrapper ). Some Search Engine Friendly URL systems may allow alternatives to this.

Wrapper[edit]

A page layout that allows web pages from external websites to be included without change. This can be good (because it’s quick) and bad (because the look and feel may be very different).