How to approach building a new site?
-
-
- Marek Jedlinski
- Newbie
- Posts: 13
- Thanks: 0
- freelance translator
-
Complete Joomla beginner here, please be kind
I've seen the tutorials, and I have no trouble performing the installation - that's the easy part. However, the docs only say how to do things, not why one would want to do this or that, which is usually harder to figure out. So what's the least painful way to approach building a new site from existing content? For example:
1. Should I install the base Joomla package, then install my RocketTheme template? Or should I use the RocketInstaller?
2. In either of the cases above, should I install the sample content? It seems like it's going to be a lot of work just to remove the sample content. On the other hand, without it, the structure is completely empty, some layout and graphical elements of the demo are missing, and it's hard to know where to begin to approximate the "ideal" look of the demo themes. (FWIW, I'm hesitating between Synapse and Moxy).
3. Or, should I install the base Joomla first, then add my content, and install the template as the last step?
4. If I install the sample content, how do I remove the Wolverine image? ( demo.rockettheme.com/sep09/ ) And how can II put up my own image at the top?
5. Should I manually install the extensions that come with a template? Or are they automatically installed with the template package? Are they mandatory?
As I said, really basic questions. Thanks a lot in advance for any hints or pointers.
-
-
-
- Emma griffith
- Hero Rocketeer
- Posts: 465
- Thanks: 0
-
Hi Marek welcome to RT. If you are just starting out you really want to be as kind as possible to yourself. I would go as far as to install at first to a temporary location like yourdomain.com/playfolder
I would use the rocket launcher as it will give you a foundation to learn from and to see how things are done. If you have a temporary site this can be very useful to you as once you have got the hang of parts you can then take what you have learnt and apply it to the real site location.
If you use the rocket launcher the needed modules and plugins will be installed at the same time.
Get an install happening and then from there you can visit the dedicated forums on the template you have used and the extensions you are using. Furthermore you can always ask for help and it is best to post a link to where you may be stuck. A good idea is to familiarise your self with this link www.rockettheme.com/forum/index.php?f=24...36997&rb_v=viewtopic
-
-
-
- Tyndie
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 8803
- Thanks: 3
- The way i usually go about it, is to install the rockettheme launcher package locally on something like wampserver, and then install the template on your site, and follow the tutorials on the demo site, and use the launcher package as a means of reference to see how things have been done.
-
-
-
- Penn Wooding
- Elite Rocketeer
- Posts: 873
- Thanks: 0
-
Just to add a couple of comments. The rocket launcher is definitely worth while installing if you are going to utilize the functions built into that particular package. Without being able to see how it's all been put together could make life quite difficult if you want to emulate some of the functions. Deleting demo content shouldn't take very long because you can actually select all of the content and delete it all at once if you wish, rather than deleting articles one by one.
Have you got Adobe Fireworks? the majority of headings on the RT Templates have been created using Fireworks. You can use other programs to make your own headings but it is much easier if you do have Fireworks. Just something to think about when you choose your template. - http://www.Oscarfishlover.com - the website for great Oscar Fish advice and help
-
-
-
- JEM
- Preeminent Rocketeer
- Posts: 17917
- Thanks: 4
-
I always suggest creating two installs with the Rocket Launcher, one with the sample data, one without.
If you apply the template to an existing install, you will still have to install the extensions.
Using the Rocket Launcher, all the extension will be installed automatically, so the only difference between the two installs will be having the sample data in one install, and an 'empty' site in the other.
Using the install with the sample data as a reference, you will have access to all the code used in the demo.
You can then start building your site on the install without the sample data.
As others suggested, you can install the sites on your localhost, on your server in sub directories or sub domains. - Thanks,
jim
-
-
-
- Marek Jedlinski
- Newbie
- Posts: 13
- Thanks: 0
- freelance translator
-
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I've taken JEM's and Brian's suggestion and actually installed four versions locally: core Joomla with and without sample content, then the RT installer version likewise. It is indeed the best way to see how things are put together and figure out how to recreate them from scratch. And by being able to compare a core J! installation to what RT produces, I think I've found a little bug n Moxy, or maybe a mis-feature.
Oh, and I'm not the first one to spot this
Again, thanks!
-
Time to create page: 0.072 seconds