Hi There - Requesting some reasurance - re modfying and uploading
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- Kola
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firstly, sad as it sound let me tell you how excited I am to have found Joomla and this template site.
I have a few Qs and hope you wouldn't mind sharing the benefit of your experience.
I have an MCSA and al though nothing to do with website design sort of proves I am IT minded so seem to be making ground here quite fast. Mite have something to also do with the fact I have given up on sleep as I cant wait to see my first project site complete ;D
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Rather than splash out on hiring a server I wanted to see how I would 'Take" to Joomla! and so found a way of keeping the site local on my XP hard drive via the excellent WAMP5. I feel WAMP5 has taken all of the strain out of this as it has allowed me to get straight on with Joomla as opposed to setting up SQL databases and messing around with PHP. Things I really have no interest in at all.
My Q here is. How easy will it be to copy the finished site from my Hard Drive and upload the EXACT same perfected site to a host? I’m guessing it will be as simple as swapping the files via FTP??
I would hate to think my recent work would have to be started again and is not transferable and just need to know for sure
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Im going through an excellently writer tutorial (Thomas Nielsen, Customizing a Template) to help make the already excellent templates more you own unique design.
I need reassuring again as I have spent days putting on my own content and have renamed all the menu links (IE what was originally Blog is now a forum etc etc) if I seriously edit my template and upload it to the live site will I destroy all of my present content and menus?
I Believe you can go from one template to another with ease and not destroy anything but am not so sure about seriously editing a template and then doing it. Can anyone just clarify these points and dispel my paranoia:]
So, to amalgamate the two points above Im concerned that the designs I create here on my XP PC may not be what can be eventually uploaded.
Seriously, I have fallen in love with Joomla and if things keep working out as they are I may well offer my services as a Web Site designer adding to my consultancy I already operate. Until now I have always sub contracted out and requests for Web Design. What a fool I’ve been
What a great start to the New Business Year
EDITED to improve grammer - Last Edit: 18 years 4 months ago by .
- SCIENTIFIC FACT - Santa's sleigh, weighed down with all those presents and traveling at supersonic speed to get to every households in one night, would encounter such massive air resistance that the entire contraption would burst into flames and be vaporised within 4.26 thousandths of a second :]
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- Dan L
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1. Yes this can be done relatively easily; in fact its how I work most of the time because you have instant-access to CSS and PHP template files. You will need to be familiar with backing up MySQL databases using PHPMyAdmin though (and need access to databases via PHPMyAdmin on the host).
All you do it FTP the entire root site to the host, back the database up, import the database tables to a new database on the host, then manually alter the configuration.php file to point to the new database and live site paths. Initially it is quite complex but once you've done it a few times it's fairly straightforward. It only becomes a real hassle when you have problems importing the database but thankfully that doesn't happen too often
2. It's interesting that in your first query you say you have no interest in PHP - but yet want to customize and make templates and offer web design services. I'd say PHP skill are a major major asset if working with Joomla - especially when it comes to modifying components for clients. Most of the off-the-shelf add-ons are fantastic but are made for the masses and almost all of them need modification. It's worth investing some time to learn the basics. For template stuff, you will need some knowledge of PHP but more importantly will need a firm understanding of CSS and how they work.
Anyway, I digress, as for your actual query - yes you can swap templates with ease and your content WILL NOT BE AFFECTED. Templates are 100% separate from the content, they will never affect it...HOWEVER they will affect the way it is displayed. Templates use different positioning code, so some content may in in the wrong place, may not fit, or may not be displayed at all. To fix this you just need to know where to tell stuff to be displayed.
So yes, what you create locally can 100% be replicated on a remote host.
Good luck to you! And welcome!
Dan - Toolbox Digital | Dribbble | Forrst
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- Kola
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Hey Dan, Top prize for the quickest detailed answer award.
Maybe I'm too hasty to say Ive no interest in PHP. TBH, I not 100% what it is. A programming language, im sure Ive heard someone saying at work??
Perhaps it would be better put if I were to say I'm only interested in the end product. I do take your point however that it will improve the end product if I improve my knowledge of PHP. I am thinking of enroling on a simple HTML course too. Any recomendations on how to imprtove my knowledge in either of these subjects?
QUOTE Yes this can be done relatively easily; in fact its how I work most of the time because you have instant-access to CSS and PHP template files. You will need to be familiar with backing up MySQL databases using PHPMyAdmin though (and need access to databases via PHPMyAdmin on the host).
All you do it FTP the entire root site to the host, back the database up, import the database tables to a new database on the host, then manually alter the configuration.php file to point to the new database and live site paths. Initially it is quite complex but once you've done it a few times it's fairly straightforward. It only becomes a real hassle when you have problems importing the database but thankfully that doesn't happen too often END QUOTE
Is it not possible just to load WAMP5 up to a server and just upload Joomla to it exactly how Ive done it with my desktop?
If I hire server space of a firm and they support Joomla wont they already have the necessary packages such as PHP n SQL already installed or is this not how it works.
Again, thanks for your reply Dan , Appreciated
- Last Edit: 18 years 4 months ago by .
- SCIENTIFIC FACT - Santa's sleigh, weighed down with all those presents and traveling at supersonic speed to get to every households in one night, would encounter such massive air resistance that the entire contraption would burst into flames and be vaporised within 4.26 thousandths of a second :]
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- Dan L
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You're welcome mate, glad to be of some help!
You are correct, first and foremost PHP is a scripting language, and one of the easiest to learn. It can be used for traditional programming but its real strength lies in creating dynamic web content...like with Joomla.
I personally don't think an HTML course would be massively beneficial, if you don't have much HTML skill then it's not really a huge problem for most tasks as you use Joomla's built-in WYSIWYG editor for much of the content. Of course, HTML would be useful but I think a PHP course would be far more useful. I think the best way to get to grips is to learn yourself, keep trying stuff out until you get it, buy a couple of books...but I can appreciate not everyone has the time for this.
"Is it not possible just to load WAMP5 up to a server and just upload Joomla to it exactly how Ive done it with my desktop?"
No. WAMP5 (I use JSAS personally) is just for a local environment really...a suitable host would have PHP and MySQL already installed, so you wouldn't need it anyway.
Cheers
Dan - Toolbox Digital | Dribbble | Forrst
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- Kola
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Hi Dan,
Ive looked into PHP and found a good site so thought I would post it here in case any other newbie like me needed to know some commands
Its probs far to basic for most on here but servers as an excellent incite to how it all works.
Best of all, its free AND its all on video as opposed text only. (makes it so much easier for me)
www.killerphp.com/
Mind you, Im still not 100% how I will benefit from understanding a little PHP, you've yet to tell me ;D - SCIENTIFIC FACT - Santa's sleigh, weighed down with all those presents and traveling at supersonic speed to get to every households in one night, would encounter such massive air resistance that the entire contraption would burst into flames and be vaporised within 4.26 thousandths of a second :]
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- Dave Goodwin
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Hi Kola,
Welcome to RT. Glad you found us. You're in very good hands with Dan. As you have seen, he knows just what you need to get you up and running. He's very pro!
Also, there are other great folks on the forums here with fantastic levels of expertise in Joomla. If you're around very long, you'll get the opportunity to meet them. They are real digital hunter/gatherers. They forge off into the cyber world and bring home the good stuff that will help us all improve, having the most kick-butt Open Source websites around.
The cool thing is, Andy, the RT Kahuna and owner of RT, is very proactive and approachable. If none of us have the answer you need (and that is rare), he'll step in and provide the appropriate guidance. You will not be long before hearing from someone.
Hope your stay at the RT Hotel is a permanent one! Enjoy!
dave
p.s. - I don't work for RT. I just pretend I do! hehe - Last Edit: 18 years 4 months ago by .
- "I'm an individual, just like everyone else."
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- Kola
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Hi Dave,
Thanks for the warm welcome!
I plan on staying around. I'm going to get my own site up on WANP5 first and then upload it (somewhere - ;D)
If all goes well I plan to offer sites commercially. This is something my company have offered for ages but we normally sub contract out. Not for much longer I hope.
Im trying to get my head around Fireworks. I downloaded the trial as recommended in the excellent tutorial series hosted here, authored by Thomas Nielsen a man I owe a big thank you too.
For me, as much as I love the templates here I need to be comfortable editing them. Im sure this will come in time. I'm considering buying a DVD tutorial to hepl me with this but there as expensive.
Dan recommends learning PHP but I wonder is fireworks just as important for my requirements. Mind you, re the link I suplied above I have already wrote a few simple scripts
If alll goes well and I really cant see why not with all the friendly advice given here so far, and Ill be upping my subscription to Pro so I can use the excellent temples for my clients.
The biggest problem with me (although Im 33 and happily married and mortgaged with kids etc etc) is I'm still a kid myself!
I want to be able to make great sites yesterday. Joomla and Rockettheme both have done nothing to help me with this condition I suffer ;D from.
EDITED to correct spelling. - Last Edit: 18 years 4 months ago by Kola.
- SCIENTIFIC FACT - Santa's sleigh, weighed down with all those presents and traveling at supersonic speed to get to every households in one night, would encounter such massive air resistance that the entire contraption would burst into flames and be vaporised within 4.26 thousandths of a second :]
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- Dave Goodwin
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- Howdy!!
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From time to time I revert to that kid too. I'm sure that you can hear the, "Oh no! There he goes again!" whenever I break into that mode. hehe
There are a number of folks here that are in various stages of offering template services - commercial and public. The good thing is that we are all in different parts of the world and don't step on anyone's toes - yet! There's a lot of expertise to glean from here.
Thomas has been a grand asset to the RT family. He has been a great source of help to me. He'll always shoot straight with you - as will others. I won't try to speak for him, you'll see.
Let me bow out of this thread so you can get back to the great help that Dan is giving you.
Talk soon, Kola!!
dave - "I'm an individual, just like everyone else."
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- Dan L
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I'd say, if you don't have a good knowledge of other image editing packages (eg Photoshop) then FW is well worth knowing...bit of an oversight on my part I guess, but it's very important to be strong with image editing, especially for modifying templates. I guess PHP & CSS will help you customize the physical layouts whilst image editing will help you with the cosmetics, that's probably a fair summary. Imagine what you can do with great skills in both!
I wish I had the time to learn FW, my strengths lie with Photoshop and I just don't have the time to learn something new right now. Not that there's anything wrong with Photoshop mind you - just that FW is a big advantage if you plan to modify RTTC template because that's what the source PNGs were created it...and 24 bit PNGs exported from FW give great file sizes vs. quality...so it is advantageous for web imaging.
I can't stress enough that dedicating time to figure stuff out is the key. I was fortunate enough to have a lot of free time when I first started out (new business = no business) so I literally had pretty much a solid month, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week (and lots of evenings) to dedicate to Joomla and how it all worked. When I first started, I had reasonable HTML skill but only a basic grasp of CSS and didn't know anything about PHP. Now here I am making templates with clever PHP coding which changes layouts according to page content - it really doesn't take too long if you stick with it...and the thing with Joomla is it's so rewarding, and very addictive. - Toolbox Digital | Dribbble | Forrst
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- Kola
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Lo dan, (and Dave of course )
I no a little re photoshop but by no means excel in it.
I may as well purchase Fireworks and stick with it. Ive downloaded the trial and to be honest there not a million miles apart.
Its good if your so busy with booming business, dont knock it I have a few contracts and so some weeks work every hour god sends and others do nowt. It really is all or nothing. Im sure the companies phone round each other and save up awful problems and then blast me at an agreed time, watches synchronism as well Dont no why I put that smiley there its true.
So,anyway, in and around my mad weeks I should be able to devote some time to getting my head around some of Joomla, Fireworks and PHP.
Did you see that site I linked to. Its gave me alot of incite to PHP in two hours. Its superb for beginners like myself and I do like learning from video. Mind texts not too bad if accompanied with descriptive pictures but text only n ill fall asleep.
I am feeling very confident about this new direction for my business. I feel Joomla is easy enough to pick up with the right help that seems to be in abundance here. Couple that with the fact as said Im quite I.T literate and I think I'll be a pro customer by the end of Feb. I no it will be a challenge but if ity wern't it would be boring - Bring it on
- SCIENTIFIC FACT - Santa's sleigh, weighed down with all those presents and traveling at supersonic speed to get to every households in one night, would encounter such massive air resistance that the entire contraption would burst into flames and be vaporised within 4.26 thousandths of a second :]
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