Tool Mentoring // Drupal CMS, CollectiveResolve

Posted April 16th, 2007 by druplix
in

Tool Mentoring // How to install and customize the Drupal Content Management System

This is an overview and step by step tutorial on how to install a Drupal CMS like the one used here for CollectiveResolve.org.  

This content is also accessible on the Instructables.com site: http://www.instructables.com/id/EHVDKKOF0LKLKBM/

 

TOOL // an instrument or device used in the practice of a vocation

Drupal opensource Content Management System

View some other websites that use the Drupal CMS.

Test out a demo installation of the Drupal CMS with administrator access.

IBM has also posted an excellent tutorial on how to implement a Drupal site.

 

OVERVIEW // a general survey or summary

CollectiveResolve utilizes the Drupal Content Management System (CMS). Drupal is an opensource, community developed, CMS web installation tool.

  • Opensource: the principles and methodologies to promote open access to the production and design process for various goods, products, resources and technical conclusions or advice.
  • Content Management System (CMS): a CMS facilitates the organization, control, and publication of a large body of documents and other conten.
  • Drupal: Drupal is a free software package that allows an individual or a community of users to easily publish, manage and organize a wide variety of content on a website.
  • CollectiveResolve: CollectiveResolve is an online resource for team-based initiatives and provides a framework, space, and personalizable processes through online tools for effective local, regional, and global change.

FUNCTION // what something is used for

CollectiveResolve is a tool built for the empowerment of individuals and groups to effectively engage social problems together through online tools. It is intended to be a mashup of social network, project management, and activism for local, regional, and global change. This tool is an evolving ("perpetual beta") system which currently utilizes an instant group space creation for blogs, workbooks, discussion forums, events, and chat room capabilities. Functions for the CollectiveResolve space will be simplified or expanded based on best use practices.

A CMS was chosen due to the need for user-based content creation. The databased ascpects of the website allow for a dynamic production, editing, and commenting system for a community of users.

The Drupal CMS was chosen due to its growing development community, increasing modules (add-ons), and strong support resources. It is a popular opensource CMS, among other solid CMS tools, such as the Joomla and Xoops.

 

ACCESS // the right or means to use something

The right to use the Drupal CMS is open and free, due to the opensource basis of production and development. The means to use the Drupal CMS is limited to needing a website host (an online service for individuals and organizations to store and publish content to the internet), particularly one with the Fantastico opensource bundle (an automatic installation tool for web tools and services).

The CollectiveResolve site utilizes BlueHost with the Fantastico autoinstall. The Fantastico "one-button" installation is certainly quick and easy, but there are limitations. Drupal recommends not using the Fantastico autoinstall and should only be used with the awareness that there may be limitiations. That said, it is quick and easy for less experienced web designers and developers.

Get a webhost //

IMPLEMENTATION // the carrying out of something from concept to design

Installation

Drupal.org has a great online Installation and Configuration guide.

Also review the excellent Drupal Cookbook for New Drupallars.

The Drupal CMS needs to be installed in the main folder of your host site, or in a subdirectory/folder on your host site. As mentioned before there are two ways to install the CMS tool: 1) Fantastico Auto Install or 2) Download and install yourself.

1) BASIC, Fantastico Auto Install of Drupal

  1. Utilize a web hosting service that has the Fantastico auto installation tool
  2. Login to the managment control panel
  3. Link to the "Addons/plugins" or Fantastico section
  4. Under Content Management click "Drupal"
  5. Click "New Installation"
  6. Choose domain, choose directory, enter admin information and email
  7. Click "Install"
  8. Done. Go to the URL "www.mywebsite.com/mydrupal/" to view your new Drupal site!

2) ADVANCED, Drupal Install (04/07, most recent version 5.1)

  1. Download the most recent installation file for Drupal: http://drupal.org/drupal-5.1
  2. Unzip and read the Install.txt file (typically better read in a HTML editor for formatting) included in the download. There is a current version available here to review.
  3. How to set up a "server environment" and requirements for PHP4.3.3+ or PHP5, MySQL database, and PHP XML extension capabilities.
  4. Follow Instal.txt instructions: 1. Download, 2. Create database, 3. Run the install script, 4. Configure Drupal.
  5. Done. Go to the URL "www.mywebsite.com/mydrupal/" to view your new Drupal site!

Modules

http://drupal.org/project/Modules
Modules are plugins for Drupal that extend its core functionality. Only use matching versions of modules with Drupal. Modules released for Drupal 4.7 will not work for Drupal 5.0.

*You will need an FTP/HTML EDITOR, such as Dreamweaver or NVU to upload and install Modules

Module Installation

  1. Drupal gives a great step by step installation: Drupal steps for module installation
  2. Make sure that you open, read, and follow EVERY module's Install.txt or Readme.txt files and follow the instructions specifically. Or you may have some eventual problems.

Core Modules included in the default Drupal installation:

Recommended Additional Modules to Install:

  • Poorman's Cron - auto updates (for RSS aggregator, email subscriptions, etc.)
  • TinyMCE - graphical text editing for content input [Challenging to install two part process, follow instructions carefully]

CollectiveResolve uses the following contributed ("extra") modules (as of 04/17/07):

  • Autosave
  • Chatroom
  • Comment
  • Event & Event Repeat
  • Formbuilder
  • IMCE - image uploading
  • Organic Groups - enables users to create their own private or public group and work spaces
    • Aggregator
    • Block Visibility
    • Content Type
    • Forum
    • Galleries
    • Madatory Group
    • Roles
    • Subgroups
  • Poorman's Cron - auto updates (for RSS aggregator, email summaries, etc.)
  • Printable - Printable page styling
  • Tasks & Tasks Advanced
  • TinyMCE - graphical text editing

Themes

http://drupal.org/project/Themes
Themes allow you to change the look and feel of your Drupal site.

*You will need an FTP/HTML EDITOR, such as Dreamweaver or NVU to upload and install Themes

CollectiveResolve currently (04/17/07) uses the Amadou theme, which will either be fully redesigned or greatly altered soon.

Theme Installation

  1. Themes can be dowloaded here: http://drupal.org/project/Themes
  2. FTP/HMTL EDITOR: Unzip and save the theme folder in your Drupal site under: Yoursite/themes/. Once you save it in that folder it is then registered by your Drupal site and available for enabling its availability.
  3. Administer the themes here: Administer > Site Building: Themes
  4. Select "Enabled" for sitewide access and potential user choice of theme and "Default" for the sitewide default theme.
  5. CollectiveResolve uses only one enabled and default theme to avoid formatting issues and incompatibilities.
  6. Feel free to make a backup copy of the theme's CSS file in its directory and then customize the CSS style and design, get started with CSS , from there.

Drupal Themes Preview

DISTRIBUTION // the act of distributing, spreading, or sharing

Getting people to your site is one of the key questions many e-marketers are working to find the "easy solution" to. Here are some ideas to help distribute your site and get people using it:

  1. Personally Invite People // invite people who are comfortable with the web and have a need to use your tool to test your site and ask people you know to try it out and give you feedback
  2. Promotional Materials // create business cards, flyers, and signs describing your web site tool. Create a catchy tagline that descrbe the essence of what people can do with your site.
  3. SEO = Search Engine Optimization // "technique of preparing a website to enhance its chances of being ranked in the top results of a search engine"
    1. A great overview from 456BereaStreet on Basics of Search Engine Optimization

DEMO // a method of instruction

You should by now have a drupal installation, modules, and customized theme for your Drupal site. From here you will work on maintaining the site and potentially adding new elements or working to debug any problems that might occur during its use.

Drupal has a healthy community of developers and users that can address any questions or issues you might have on the Drupal Forums .

The Drupal handbooks offer a reference for those interested in Drupal, both novice and experienced Drupal administrators, Drupal users and Drupal developers.

Good luck and I hope to see your new Drupal site soon. Any and all feedback is welcomed!

>t.stiles

*Also accessible on the Instructables.com site: http://www.instructables.com/id/EHVDKKOF0LKLKBM/

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as much as i like drupal for

On August 18th, 2008 miket. says:

as much as i like drupal for my self my clients find it a little hard to work with so i usually get them setup with joomla for a cms and more often i'll use a ready made joomla site then customize it a bit for them.