Acknowledgments...v Introduction... xxi Part I: Getting Started with Joomla!.....................1 Chapter 1: Introducing the Joomla! Content Management System...3 Chapter 2: Obtaining and Installing Joomla!...15 Chapter 3: Taking a Look at Joomla!...35 Chapter 4: Getting the Most from Site Configuration...55 Part II: Working with Content and Users................ 69 Chapter 5: Managing Content...71 Chapter 6: Working with Editors and Media...119 Chapter 7: Employing Advanced Content Management Techniques...137 Chapter 8: Working with the Menu System...155 Chapter 9: Managing the Front Page of Your Site...227 Chapter 10: Working with the User Manager...245 Chapter 11: Working with the Language Manager...269 Part III: Working with Components, Modules, and Plugins... 279 Chapter 12: Using the Banner Manager...281 Chapter 13: Working with the Contact Manager...301 Chapter 14: Using the News Feeds Component...317 Chapter 15: Using the Polls Component...331 Chapter 16: Using the Web Links Component...341 Chapter 17: Working with the Site Modules...355 Chapter 18: Working with the Administrator Modules...419 Chapter 19: Working with Plugins...453 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Part IV: Customizing and Extending the System.......... 495 Chapter 20: Customizing Joomla! Templates...497 Chapter 21: Customizing Joomla! Functionality...543 Chapter 22: Extending Your Site...575 Chapter 23: Implementing e-commerce with VirtueMart...599 Chapter 24: Creating a Community Site with JomSocial...653 vi
Part V: Site Maintenance and Management............. 683 Chapter 25: Keeping Your Site Secure and Up to Date...685 Chapter 26: Managing Performance and Accessibility...701 Chapter 27: Making a Site Search Engine Friendly...721 Part VI: Appendixes............................... 729 Appendix A: The Directory Structure of a Joomla! Installation...731 Appendix B: A Guide to the Location of Key Files...733 Appendix C: Installing XAMPP...737 Appendix D: Installing MAMP...739 Appendix E: Additional Online Help Resources...741 Index...745 vii
Acknowledgments...........................................v Introduction.............................................. xxi Part I: Getting Started with Joomla! 1 Chapter 1: Introducing the Joomla! Content Management System......3 Discovering Open Source Content Management...3 Deciding to use a CMS...4 Deciding to use open source...5 Discovering Joomla!...7 Deciding to use Joomla!...8 The Joomla! open source license...10 The Joomla! architecture...11 Programming languages used...11 Finding out how the community works...12 Participating in the community...13 Summary...13 Chapter 2: Obtaining and Installing Joomla!...................... 15 Getting the Installation Files...15 Exploring the JoomlaCode site...16 Determining which files you need...17 Technical Requirements...19 Server requirements...20 Site visitor and administrator requirements...21 Installing Joomla!...21 Creating a local development site...21 Installing on a web hosting service...23 Running the Joomla! installer...24 Sample data...33 Summary...34 Chapter 3: Taking a Look at Joomla!............................. 35 Introducing the Front End (The Public Interface)...35 Understanding content organizational structure...36 Understanding menu structure...42 Modules and module positions...42 ix
x Introducing the Back End (The Admin Interface)...46 Exploring the admin interfaces...46 The Site menu...50 The Menus menu...51 The Content menu...51 The Components menu...51 The Extensions menu...52 The Tools menu...52 The Help menu...53 Summary...53 Chapter 4: Getting the Most from Site Configuration................ 55 Exploring the Global Configuration Manager...55 Working with the Site Tab...56 Site settings...57 Metadata settings...58 SEO settings...58 Using the System Tab...60 System settings...60 User settings...61 Media settings...61 Debug settings...63 Cache settings...63 Session settings...63 Managing Server Tab Options...64 Server settings...64 Locale settings...65 FTP settings...65 Database settings...65 Mail settings...66 Summary...67 Part II: Working with Content and Users 69 Chapter 5: Managing Content................................. 71 Understanding the Joomla! Content Hierarchy...71 Creating Content Hierarchies...72 Working with sections and categories...73 Understanding the role of uncategorized content...86 Creating typical content structures...87 Working with Articles...91 Using the Article Manager...91 Creating articles...94 Setting the parameters...96 Controlling intro text...103 Creating multipage articles...105
Managing Existing Articles...107 Publishing and unpublishing articles...107 Modifying articles...108 Copying articles...108 Moving articles...109 Deleting articles...111 Archiving articles...115 Global Check-in...118 Summary...118 Chapter 6: Working with Editors and Media...................... 119 Using WYSIWYG Editors...119 Using the TinyMCE editor...120 Using the XStandard editor...125 Working with the No Editor option...128 Overview of the Media Manager...129 Working With Media Files...133 Viewing file information...133 Uploading files...133 Organizing files...134 Adding files to articles...135 Summary...136 Chapter 7: Employing Advanced Content Management Techniques... 137 Using Content Display Modules...137 Using the Custom HTML module...138 Using the Newsflash module...139 Placing modules inside articles...140 Bringing External Content into Your Site...142 Using wrappers...142 Displaying syndicated content...143 Managing Content from the Front End...144 Understanding advantages and limitations...144 Enabling user-created content...145 Workflow options...148 Syndicating Your Articles...152 Summary...153 Chapter 8: Working with the Menu System...................... 155 Introducing the Menu Manager...155 Creating and Managing Menus...157 Understanding the relationship between menus and modules...157 Creating a new menu...158 Copying a menu...159 Editing and deleting menus...161 Introducing the Menu Item Manager...161 xi
Creating and Managing Menu Items...164 Creating new menu items...164 Menu item types...168 Creating multitiered menus...219 Editing and deleting menu items...220 Controlling Access to Menus and Menu Items...225 Summary...226 Chapter 9: Managing the Front Page of Your Site.................. 227 Controlling Front Page Layout...227 Understanding the default content layout options...228 Using a distinct template for the front page...234 Publishing Articles on the Front Page...236 Working with the Front Page Manager...236 Working without the Front Page Manager...239 Publishing Component Output on the Front Page...240 Publishing Modules on the Front Page...240 Summary...243 Chapter 10: Working with the User Manager..................... 245 Introducing the User Manager...245 Understanding the Joomla! User Hierarchy...248 Classifying public front-end users...249 Classifying public back-end users...250 Adding Users to the System...250 Creating a new user...251 Working with the New User dialogue...251 Managing Users...254 Editing user accounts...254 Deleting users...255 Forcing a user to log out...255 Blocking users...257 Creating User Registration...257 Using the Login module...257 Configuring user registration...258 The Username Reminder function...259 The Password Reset function...260 Creating a Login page...261 Redirecting users after login or logout...262 Controlling Access to Content and Functionalities...263 Default access levels...263 Restricting access to content items...265 Restricting access to menus and menu items...266 Restricting access to components, modules, and plugins...266 Summary...267 xii
Chapter 11: Working with the Language Manager................. 269 The Function of the Language Manager...269 Installing New Language Packs...272 Modifying a Language Pack...273 Editing the default language files...273 Creating a new language pack...273 Specifying the Language Used...274 Changing the default language...274 Setting the language for users...275 Setting the language for specific articles...276 Summary...277 Part III: Working with Components, Modules, and Plugins 279 Chapter 12: Using the Banner Manager......................... 281 Introducing the Banner Manager...281 Understanding Banner Parameters...284 Managing Clients...284 Exploring the Banner Client Manager...285 Creating clients...286 Editing and deleting clients...288 Managing Categories...288 Exploring the Banner Category Manager...288 Creating categories...290 Editing and deleting categories...292 Managing Banners...293 Creating banners...293 Copying banners...296 Editing and deleting banners...296 Using the Banners Module...297 Module parameters...298 Creating additional Banner modules...299 Summary...300 Chapter 13: Working with the Contact Manager.................. 301 Introducing the Contact Manager...301 Setting Contact Parameters...304 Contact parameters...305 Advanced parameters...305 E-mail parameters...306 Managing Contacts and Categories...306 Creating a new category...308 Editing and deleting categories...311 Adding a new contact...311 Editing and deleting contacts...314 xiii
Creating Contact Forms...314 Summary...315 Chapter 14: Using the News Feeds Component................... 317 Introducing the News Feeds Manager...317 Understanding News Feed Parameters...320 Managing Feeds and Categories...321 Creating a new category...323 Editing and deleting categories...326 Adding a new feed...326 Editing and deleting feeds...329 Summary...329 Chapter 15: Using the Polls Component........................ 331 Introducing the Poll Manager...331 Creating and Managing Polls...333 Creating polls...333 Editing and deleting polls...335 Displaying Polls...336 Using the Polls module...336 Displaying poll results...338 Summary...340 Chapter 16: Using the Web Links Component.................... 341 Introducing the Web Link Manager...341 Setting Web Links Parameters...344 Managing Links and Categories...345 Creating a new category...347 Editing and deleting categories...349 Adding a new link...350 Editing and deleting Web Links...352 Summary...353 Chapter 17: Working with the Site Modules...................... 355 Reviewing the Module Manager...355 Creating new modules...358 Copying modules...359 Editing and deleting modules...360 Introducing the Site Modules...360 Archived Content module...362 Banner module...365 Breadcrumbs module...368 Custom HTML module...371 Feed Display module...373 Footer module...376 Latest News module...378 xiv
Login module...381 The Menu modules...383 Most Read Content module...388 Newsflash...390 Poll...394 Random Image...396 Related Articles...400 Search...402 Sections...405 Statistics...408 Syndicate...411 Who s Online...413 Wrapper...415 Summary...418 Chapter 18: Working with the Administrator Modules.............. 419 Reviewing the Module Manager...419 Creating new modules...422 Copying modules...422 Editing and deleting modules...423 Reviewing the Administrator Modules...424 Admin Menu module...426 Admin submenu...428 Custom HTML module...429 Feed Display module...431 Footer module...433 Item Stats module...435 Latest News module...436 Logged In Users module...438 Login Form module...439 Online Users module...441 Popular Articles module...443 Quick Icons module...444 Title module...446 Toolbar module...447 Unread Messages module...449 User Status module...450 Summary...452 Chapter 19: Working with Plugins............................. 453 Introducing the Plugin Manager...453 Editing and deleting plugins...455 Reviewing the Default Plugins...456 Authentication plugins...458 Content plugins...462 Editor plugins...469 xv
Editors XTD plugins...474 Search plugins...477 System plugins...483 User - Joomla! plugin...491 XML-RPC plugins...492 Summary...494 Part IV: Customizing and Extending the System 495 Chapter 20: Customizing Joomla! Templates..................... 497 Discovering How the Templates Work...497 Exploring the Default Templates...498 Beez...498 JA_Purity...501 RHUK_Milkyway...504 Khepri...505 Knowing the Parts of a Template...509 Directory structure...509 The key files...509 Introducing the Template Manager...515 Editing templates...516 Setting the default template...521 Assigning templates...521 Customizing Templates...522 Working with template parameters...522 Changing the logo...524 Modifying the CSS...526 Controlling the Appearance of Menus...528 Using the default options...529 Creating drop-down menus...529 Working with Module Chrome...530 Overriding Pagination Formatting...533 Creating a New Template...535 Creating the structure...535 Creating the index.php file...535 Creating the template.css file...537 Creating the templatedetails.xml file...537 Creating the component.php file...538 Packaging the template files...539 Working With the Admin Template...539 Summary...542 xvi
Chapter 21: Customizing Joomla! Functionality................... 543 Understanding Basic Principles...544 Using the Right Tools...544 Tools you need to customize a Joomla! site...544 Useful extensions that aid customization...545 Discovering the Joomla! API...546 Working with Components...547 Knowing the elements of a component...547 The anatomy of a typical component...548 Overriding component output...550 Creating a new component...555 Working with Modules...557 Understanding the elements of a typical module...557 Overriding module output...563 Creating a new module...566 Working with Plugins...569 Plugin architecture...569 Creating a new plugin...570 Summary...574 Chapter 22: Extending Your Site............................... 575 Finding Extensions...575 Working with the Extension Manager...582 Introducing the Extension Installer...582 Going over the Extension Packages dialogue...583 Installing extensions...585 Uninstalling extensions...586 Finding the Right Extension for the Job...587 Improving content management...587 Improving administration...590 Enhancing search...590 Enhancing menus and navigation...591 Building complex forms...591 Adding a gallery...592 Adding a directory...593 Adding a forum...594 Adding a file exchange...594 Managing multilingual content...594 Enhancing SEO...595 Extending user management...596 Adding Web 2.0 functionality...596 Improving Ad Management...598 Summary...598 xvii
Chapter 23: Implementing e-commerce with VirtueMart........... 599 Introducing VirtueMart...599 Features...601 Finding an appropriate use for VirtueMart...602 Obtaining and Installing VirtueMart...603 Creating a fresh installation...603 Integration with an existing site...607 Reviewing the VirtueMart Control Panel...612 Configuring VirtueMart...614 Global Store configuration...614 Setting the Store Information...630 Working with products and categories...634 Administering the Store...649 Tracking orders...649 Generating reports...651 Summary...652 Chapter 24: Creating a Community Site with JomSocial............. 653 Introducing JomSocial...653 Figuring out features for visitors...655 Features for site administrators...656 Installing the JomSocial component...657 Installing the JomSocial modules...659 Installing the JomSocial apps...660 Overview of the JomSocial Control Panel...662 Configuring JomSocial...664 The Site tab...665 The Media tab...668 The Layout tab...670 The Network tab...672 The Facebook Connect tab...673 Administering the Community...675 Working with users...676 Working with groups...680 Summary...682 Part V: Site Maintenance and Management 683 Chapter 25: Keeping Your Site Secure and Up to Date.............. 685 Security Best Practices...685 Securing the Joomla! core...686 Securing third-party extensions...689 xviii
Keeping Up With Security Notices...690 Managing Site Maintenance...692 Taking a site offline...693 Backing up your site...694 Restoring from a backup...695 Regaining access to your admin account...695 Upgrading a Joomla! Installation...697 Summary...699 Chapter 26: Managing Performance and Accessibility.............. 701 Understanding Cache Management...701 Setting the Site cache...702 Setting the System cache...703 Setting the module cache...704 Cleaning the cache...706 Purging the expired cache...708 Improving Content Performance...709 Avoid large files...709 Save images in the right format...710 Don t resize images...710 Keep your code clean...710 Avoid tables...711 Use image rotators conservatively...711 Use wrappers (iframes) reluctantly...711 Limit use of animation...711 Limit use of flash...712 Don t stream video until requested...712 Tuning Joomla! Performance...712 Use server-side compression...712 If you don t use it, disable it...712 Minify your CSS and JavaScript...712 Be careful with Google Analytics...713 Be selective about your template...713 Be selective about extensions...713 Skip live stat reporting...713 Disable SEF URLs...714 Optimize your database...714 Enhancing Accessibility...714 Joomla! and accessibility...714 Improving template accessibility...716 Creating accessible content...718 Summary...719 xix
Chapter 27: Making a Site Search Engine Friendly................. 721 Creating Search Engine Friendly URLs...722 Creating Custom Error Pages...724 Working with Metadata and Page Titles...724 Setting the metadata...725 Setting the page titles...725 Summary...727 Part VI: Appendixes 729 Appendix A: The Directory Structure of a Joomla! Installation........ 731 Appendix B: A Guide to the Location of Key Files.................. 733 Appendix C: Installing XAMPP................................ 737 Appendix D: Installing MAMP................................ 739 Appendix E: Additional Online Help Resources.................. 741 Index................................................... 745 xx