Home > Store

Joomla! 1.6: A User's Guide: Building a Successful Joomla! Powered Website, 3rd Edition

Register your product to gain access to bonus material or receive a coupon.

Joomla! 1.6: A User's Guide: Building a Successful Joomla! Powered Website, 3rd Edition

Book

  • Sorry, this book is no longer in print.
Not for Sale

Description

  • Copyright 2011
  • Edition: 3rd
  • Book
  • ISBN-10: 0-13-248706-3
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-13-248706-1

Praise for Previous Edition of Joomla!: A User’s Guide

 

“A complete guide to the powerful features of Joomla! 1.5, this book takes a holistic approach to building a Joomla!-powered website–from the CMS itself to its many extensions, search engine optimization, and even building your own tableless template. The novice reader is eased into the subject and confidently guided through the basic principles and on to the more advanced features. This guide empowers the user not only to build a professional website but to also to make it a success.”

Russell Walker, CEO, Netshine Software Limited (Joomla! Development Consultancy)

“If you’ve been using or following Joomla! in the past years, you’ve most likely seen the name Barrie North or Joomlashack. Barrie has been a member of the community for a long time and, as such, my expectations for this book were pretty high. Besides explaining how Joomla! works from a usability point of view, there is valuable information for people who want to learn serious template building, and readers can stand out of the crowd by using Barrie’s steps to make their (X)HTML and CSS optimized for accessibility and SEO. All in all, this book is a great guide that comes at the right time for newcomers and more experienced Joomla! users and developers alike. Well done, Barrie!”

Arno Zijlstra, Joomla! cofounder, custom template specialist, www.alvaana.com

“In a time when solid, real-life Joomla! 1.5 information is rarely available, this book is a thirst-quenching oasis of knowledge. The abundant and clear examples in the book make Joomla! 1.5 websites within anyone’s reach. I heartily recommend Joomla! 1.5: A User’s Guide by Barrie North.”

Tom Canavan, author of Dodging the Bullets: A Disaster Preparation Guide for Joomla! Based Web Sites

“Refreshing! After reading many how-to books, this one is a step beyond the rest because of its focus on examples based on live sites. This book is well crafted for beginners to advanced users with a well-organized overview that walks you through the entire Joomla! CMS.”

Steven Pignataro, corePHP, www.corephp.com

“As a long-time Joomla! end-user and developer, I had low expectations for anything new I might learn from this book. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find it a great refresher course, especially since the book is logically organized, leading beginners from the most basic Joomla! concepts and continuing through to more complex ones, such as tableless template design and how to write a template for Joomla! 1.5. In summary, Barrie North has produced the gold-standard print reference for Joomla! 1.5. I highly recommend this book for novice and intermediate users if you want to make the most of Joomla!”

Vicor Drover, http://dev.anything-digital.com

The Best Easy-to-Use Guide to Joomla!™−The World’s #1 Open Source Content Management System

If you want to build sophisticated websites that can be easily edited and updated, you need to master Joomla. Now there’s an easy-to-read, easy-to-use guide to Joomla for every site manager, administrator, and developer. Leading Joomla consultant Barrie North covers all you need to get results: installation, administration, site organization, template development, content updates, and a whole lot more. You’ll find tips, tricks, and troubleshooting solutions, as well as three start-to-finish case studies.

New to Joomla? No problem! This book starts with the simplest design and system concepts, and builds your expertise step-by-step. You’ll rapidly master Joomla’s power, even if you have no content management, scripting, or CSS expertise. Experienced with Joomla? You’ll turn to this book constantly for its authoritative, plain-English, example-rich Joomla 1.6 reference content.


•    Understand content management, what Joomla does, and how its components fit together

•    Build Joomla sites from scratch and systematically customize them to your needs

•    Create modern, pure CSS Joomla 1.6 templates using popular grid frameworks

•    Use Joomla 1.6’s nested categories to organize content and articles

•    Create dynamic pages and effective navigation

•    Work with Joomla modules and components

•    Learn how to optimize your Joomla sites for search engines

•    Follow three start-to-finish case studies: building a school website, a small business site, and a blog

•    Identify the most valuable Joomla extensions and add-ons: find them and use them

Sample Content

Online Sample Chapter

Creating Pure CSS Templates in Joomla! 1.6

Sample Pages

Download the sample pages (includes Chapter 9 and Index)

Table of Contents

Preface     xvii

Acknowledgments     xxv

About the Author     xxvi

Chapter 1: Content Management Systems and an Introduction to Joomla!      1

What Is a Content Management System?      2

      Static Web Pages     2

      Web Pages with CSS      3

      Dynamic Web Pages     4

Open Source Software     7

History of Joomla!      8

      The Joomla! Community      9

      Third-Party Extensions Development     9

Joomla!’s Features     9

Elements of a Joomla! Website     11

      Content     11

      Templates     13

      Modules     14

Summary     14

Chapter 2: Downloading and Installing Joomla!      17

How to Install Joomla!      18

Obtaining the Latest Joomla! File Package     18

      Joomla! Package Naming Conventions     20

Creating a MySQL Database     21

Unpacking the Joomla! Package     21

      Unpacking Joomla! on a Local Desktop Computer     21

      Unpacking Joomla! on a Hosting Account     25

Running the Joomla! Installation Wizard     26

      Getting to the Joomla! Installer     26

      Step 1: Language     26

      Step 2: Pre-Installation Check     27

      Step 3: License     28

      Step 4: Database Configuration     29

      Step 5: FTP Configuration     30

      Step 6: Main Configuration     30

      Step 7: Finish     33

Summary     34

Chapter 3: Joomla! Administration Basics     35

What Are the Frontend and Backend of a Joomla!-Powered Website?      36

      The Menu Bar     38

      The Toolbar     38

      The Workspace     40

Administrator Functions in the Menu Bar     40

      The Site Submenu     41

      Users Menu     45

      The Menus Menu     48

      The Content Menu     49

      The Components Submenu     53

      The Extensions Menu     54

      The Help Menu     58

      View Site     59

Summary     60

Chapter 4: Content Is King: Organizing Your Content      63

How Does Joomla! Generate Web Pages?      64

How Joomla! Organizes Content Articles     66

      Uncategorized Articles     67

      Categories     67

      A Sample Hierarchy     69

Creating the Widget Inc. Website with Uncategorized Content     70

      Creating Content Articles      72

      Creating Menu Items     75

      The Featured Article Component     80

Creating the Widget Inc. Website with Categories      85

      Creating Categories     86

      Creating Content Article     86

      Creating Menu Items      90

      Linking to Components     92

      “Read More” Links and Individual Pages     95

Module Content     97

Summary     100

Chapter 5: Creating Menus and Navigation     103

How Menu Modules Work     104

What Menu Items Do      105

      Creating a Menu Item     106

      Where Does a Menu Item Link?      107

      What Does a Page Look Like After a Link Is Followed?      108

Blog Layout     109

      Blog Layout Parameters     110

List Layout for a Blog     114

      Category List Advanced Options     114

Managing Menu Modules in the Module Manager     . 116

      Show Title     116

      Position     118

      Access      118

      Menu and Module Class Suffixes (Advanced Options)      118

      Menu Assignment     118

Summary     119

Chapter 6: Extending Joomla!      121

Extensions     122

      Installing Extensions     123

      Managing Extensions     125

Components     126

      Core Component     127

      Third-Party Components     128

Modules      128

      Module Display      128

      Core Modules     130

      Third-Party Modules     132

Plug-ins      133

      Core Plug-ins      133

      Third-Party Plug-ins     134

Templates     134

      Core Templates     134

      Third-Party Templates     134

Summary     135

Chapter 7: Expanding Your Content: Articles and Editors     137

WYSIWYG Editors     138

      Managing WYSIWYG Editors     139

      Other Third-Party Editors     142

Creating and Managing Articles      143

Managing Content Through the Backend     144

      Adding Content from the Backend     146

      Inserting Images into Content     153

      Category Descriptions     156

Managing Content Through the Frontend     159

      Creating a Frontend User Menu     159

      Limiting Access to Menus by User Level     163

      Authors     165

      Editors     167

      Publishers      169

Article Checkin      

Summary     171

Chapter 8: Getting Traffic to Your Site     175

Start at the Beginning: Site Goals     176

Organic Traffic (SEO)      177

      Introduction to Google     180

      Creating Keywords     181

      Keywords and Domain Name     184

      Designing Your Site for Organic Traffic     184

      Advanced SEO Techniques      192

Referral Traffic     196

      Google PageRank     196

      Other Link-Building Strategies     198

      Internal Linking     199

Pay Per Click Traffic      202

      How Google AdWords Works     203

      Joomla! and AdWords     205

Email Traffic     207

      Third-Party Hosted Email Solutions     209

Joomla! SEF Extensions     210

Quick Start SEO for Joomla!      210

Summary     210

Chapter 9: Creating Pure CSS Templates      213

What Is a Joomla! Template?      214

The Localhost Design Process     216

      Localhost Server Options     217

W3C and Tableless Design     218

      Semantically Correct Code     219

      Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)      220

Creating a Simple Template: 960TemplateTutorialStep1     220

      Template File Components     221

      The Joomla! Page Body     231

Using CSS to Create a Tableless Layout: CSSTemplateTutorialStep2     234

      Default CSS     239

      Modules in Templates     241

      Menus in Templates     246

      Hiding Columns     250

Making a Real Joomla! 1.6 Template: 960TemplateTutorialStep3     256

      Slicing and Dicing      256

      Header      257

      The Banner/Message Module     257

      Column Backgrounds     258

      Flexible Modules     260

      Typography     261

Summary      263

Chapter 10: Creating a School Site with Joomla!      265

Why Do You Need a School Website?      266

      Students     266

      Teachers and Administrators     267

      Parents     267

      Potential Students and Their Parents     267

What Features Do You Need on a School Site?      268

Downloading and Installing a School Template     268

      Fresh Template Features and Positions     270

      Configuring a Logo     271

      Configuring the Search Box     271

      Configuring the Main Horizontal Drop-Down Menu     272

Organizing Content on a School Website     274

Creating the Menus     279

Building Out Content     283

Creating Subnavigation     284

      The Academics Submenu     285

      Creating News Links for a Section     287

Setting Up the Footer Area     289

Setting Up the Home Page     291

Adding Basic Functionality to a School Website     293

      User Registration     293

      Events Calendar      295

      Downloadable Documents     295

      Staff Directory     295

      Email Newsletter     296

      RSS     297

      Random Image    

      Sitemap     298

Extending the School Website Beyond the Basics     298

Summary      300

Chapter 11: Creating a Restaurant Site with Joomla!      301

Why Does a Restaurant Need a Website?      302

What Features Does a Restaurant Website Need?      302

Downloading and Installing a Restaurant Template     304

Organizing the Content on a Restaurant Website     306

Building Content Articles with Lorem Ipsum     309

Setting Up the Home Page     310

      Home Page Alternative to the Featured Article Manager     310

Creating Menus     311

      Creating Footer Content     316

      Creating Module Teaser Blocks     317

Using Stock Imagery     319

Extending a Restaurant Website     321

      Image Gallery: JPG Flash Rotator 2     322

      Email Marketing     323

      Google Maps     323

Summary     323

Chapter 12: Creating a Blog with Joomla!      325

What Is a Blog?      326

Why Have a Blog?      327

      What Options Are There for Blogging?      327

What Features Are Needed on a Blog Site?      328

Downloading and Installing a Blog Template     330

      Optimus Template Features and Positions     331

      Configuring the Logo     332

      Configuring the Main Horizontal Drop-Down Menu     334

Organizing Content on a Blog     335

      Organizing a Blog Within a Larger Site     335

      Organizing a Standalone Blog     336

      About Tagging     338

      Creating the Menus     338

      Adding Dynamic Modules      342

      Adding Static Modules     345

Adding Basic Functionality to a Blog     346

      Flexible Layout     346

      Browser-Based Editing      347

      Automated Publishing     347

      Categories     347

      Search Engine—Friendly URLs     347

      Comment Systems      348

      Syndication Feeds     348

      Email Notification     350

      Search      350

Extending a Blog Website Beyond the Basics     351

      Forums     351

      E-commerce      352

Summary     353

Appendix A: Getting Help     355

Community Forums     355

Help Sites     356

Getting Help from Google     356

Appendix B: A Guide to Joomla! 1.6 ACL     357

Appendix C: A Quick Introduction to SEO     359

Keyword Use in Title Tag     359

Anchor Text of Inbound Link      359

Global Link Popularity of Site (PageRank)      359

Age of Site      360

Link Popularity Within the Site     360

Topical Relevance of Inbound Links and Popularity of Linking Site     360

Link Popularity of Site in Topic Community     361

Keyword Use in Body Text      361

File Size     361

Clean URL     362

Utilize Your Error Pages     362

What’s Not Here?      362

Appendix D: Installing WampServer     363

Index     371

Updates

Submit Errata

More Information

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020