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ECAWA 2008

ECAWA 2008. Creating a school website using the Joomla 1.5 Content Management System By Chris Mawson Senior Lecturer, Coordinator of ICT, University of Notre Dame Australia Director of Edsite WA. What is Joomla?.

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ECAWA 2008

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  1. ECAWA 2008 Creating a school website using the Joomla 1.5 Content Management System By Chris Mawson Senior Lecturer, Coordinator of ICT, University of Notre Dame Australia Director of Edsite WA

  2. What is Joomla? • It is a database driven Content Management System for managing website content • It is Open Source – free to use/develop • Once installed and set up, it allows uses to add content to web pages via their web-browser (the front end) • It is managed by an administrator via a web-browser (the back-end)

  3. What is Joomla? • Design and layout is controlled by templates, some free or can be bought, eg. www.joomlashack.com • these can be further customised • It provides for a number of dynamic/interactive features, some of which are third party add-ons (components and modules) • calendar, RSS feeds, polls, random images • It evolved from the Mambo CMS, and has two versions • Version 1: the original, likely to be phased out • Version 1.5: redesigned , will be further supported

  4. Why Joomla • Open-source (see handout) – no license costs • Popular, mature and stable (in a sense) , feature rich, well supported, good choice of third party options • Easy to install/set up and supported by many hosting providers – Linux/PHP/MySQL • Easy to maintain/easy to use the front end editing features (but may require commercial third party WYSIWYG tool, eg. WYSIWYG Pro)

  5. Balcatta SHS site • Hosted by Ilysis • Created by Edsite WA • Based on Joomla 1.5, using ideas from the Joomla Shack Pack for Schools (see handout) • Emphasis on functionality and ease of use (of editing) • Uses a number of third party add-ons, some of which cost money, eg. WYSIWYG Pro • Based on a commercial Joomla template (called Weblogic) which was somewhat/quite modified • using a portal style and suckerfish menu • finished product: www.balcattashs.wa.edu.au • original template, for comparison

  6. Balcatta SHS site tour/features • Latest school news • added by authorised editors via WYSIWYG front end • automatically archived • Email newsletter subscription • automatically archived • created/managed via backend • uses a html template and emails a PDF attachment • Calendar • Authorized users can add events • Latest events and small calendar on home page

  7. Balcatta SHS site tour/features • Random images on home page • EdNA Online School News RSS feed • Polls • WYSIWYG html editor • provides for front end, browser-based editing • editing rights can be distributed • various editors/editing groups • can also upload/insert images and upload/link PDF/Word docs

  8. The process • Download Joomla 1.5.4 (or use Fantastico) • Set up hosting environment - likely options: • Develop locally on desktop/laptop – WAMP server • Upload when finished to server, need to import SQL database and change some configuration file settings • Develop remotely/on live server alongside existing website • Easy to replace existing files with new site • Adjust Joomla configuration settings via backend

  9. The process • Apply/customise Joomla template • use free template • buy commercial template • create your own • customising requires knowledge of HTML, CSS, image editing • modify layout/module positions, create menu • set up editing rights/groups • add content (basic now and more later) • Configure components/install new components • Test site, staff training

  10. The process • It is relatively easy to set up a Joomla based website on a shared hosting environment installed via Fantastico using free or commercial templates • Getting it functional requires commonsense and patience • Installing Joomla manually requires (at least) an understanding of the basics of webservers, FTP and CHMOD command/permissions, plus basics of MySQL databases/use of phpMyAdmin tool • Access to cPanel can help.

  11. Issues • Takes time to get used to administration settings/how Joomla works • Issues with hosting, particularly shared • more server resources (than a static website) • you may need to provide the support • Third party add-ons don’t always work • Security: several php issues • be careful using third party components • upgrade Joomla and components regularly (or at least keep and eye on security bulletins).

  12. Contact details • Christopher Mawson, MACSSenior Lecturer, Coordinator of ITSchool of Business/Arts & SciencesThe University of Notre Dame AustraliaTel: +61 8 9433 0913Email: cmawson@nd.edu.au • Manager: Edsite WAhttp://www.edsitewa.comemail: chris@edsite.com.auphone: 08 9418 5409 / 08 9418 8949 (a/h)mobile 0409 389361 Fax 08 9433 0640

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