Advice on Joomla

Oli R C

Oli R C

Messages
1,753
Edit My Images
No
Hi,

Just looking for some words of wisdom on how to go about setting up a nice layout with Joomla.

I'm used to setting up websites, and forums, but this is too mind boggling for me. The layout is at it's default after installation, with all it's examples pages and info pages. Should I delete all these (except the main menu) and start from scratch?

Just finding it difficult to know where to start...

Cheers,

Oliver
 
Yes, I deleted everything I didn't need (most of it) except the menu pretty much!!

From there, just look in the CSS files and the main html file I think it is, and pick apart where each bit lies....maybe edit some of the CSS and see what effect it has on the site and so on! Generally play around so you know what's what before embarking on your own vision of the site. At least that way, if it goes wrong you can always reinstall the template :) Or work from a backup to begin with!!

My site is Joomla based, and has over time, developed from the original template to what it is today!!
 
Thanks purpleclouds,

Advice noted! At least at the moment, if I make any mistakes at the minute, a re-install is quite simple. And once I start to make progress, I'll be sure to make regular back-ups.

Glad to see another example up and running too. I've been searching for TP users that use Joomla, and had only found 1 site so far, as a result!

Thanks again :thumbs:
 
No problem, good luck :D There are so many free plugins for it too, for pretty much any website functionality you might want so have a play around with them too! Keep us updated of progress :)
 
Yeah, I'd been looking at all the plug-ins. There's rather a lot!

I can see my head exploding soon, but yeah, if it doesn't, I'll keep ya informed :thumbs:
 
Firebug (plugin for firefox) is a good tool for something like this as it lets you see the HTML and CSS for an individual element which you can pick with the built in "Inspect Element" feature.
 
Ho Oli

Joomla is great but as I have said in previous threads make sure you have gone through the security to prevent the site being hacked (One of mine was).

I use Joomlart templates as I like the modules, typography and menu elements that ship with them - a very lazy way to create a decent website. :thumbs:
 
MattF said:
Firebug (plugin for firefox) is a good tool for something like this as it lets you see the HTML and CSS for an individual element which you can pick with the built in "Inspect Element" feature.
Click to expand...

Cheers MattF. Although I use Safari :thinking:

Steep said:
Have a look at some of the templates on http://www.rockettheme.com/
Click to expand...

Thanks Steep. Looks good :thumbs:

HIMUPNORTH said:
Ho Oli

Joomla is great but as I have said in previous threads make sure you have gone through the security to prevent the site being hacked (One of mine was).

I use Joomlart templates as I like the modules, typography and menu elements that ship with them - a very lazy way to create a decent website. :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Hi Gary. Hope you've enjoyed your hols!

Thanks for the info. I'll be sure to keep up to date with the security side of things. And Joomlart looks very interesting so I'll see if I can find something I like the look of.

Progress is very slow for me though. I'm just still not grasping it, and I'm waiting for the eureka moment, when it all falls in to place. I keep having mini break through's, but I can spend hours on working on one tiny thing (like getting my contact page to show, despite following several video tutorials)

:bang: :bang: :bang: :gag: :bang: :bang: :bang:

But I'll keep at it...
 
Oli R C said:
Progress is very slow for me though. I'm just still not grasping it, and I'm waiting for the eureka moment, when it all falls in to place. I keep having mini break through's, but I can spend hours on working on one tiny thing (like getting my contact page to show, despite following several video tutorials)

:bang: :bang: :bang: :gag: :bang: :bang: :bang:

But I'll keep at it...
Click to expand...

Same here, just spent about an hour wondering why the menu had disappeared :bang:
 
dod said:
Same here, just spent about an hour wondering why the menu had disappeared :bang:
Click to expand...

Yep, that sounds familiar. But beat this, my session timed out, 'cos I'm getting drawn into SawII on TV, and I've just tried signing back in, and it won't let me!

Quite what I'm meant to do know is far beyond my comprehension :shrug:

Maybe time to give up...
 
Ah well. By all accounts, what seems to have happened is that my Joomla site, which has been set up barely 24 hours, with the latest version, and has hardly any content, has already been hacked.

I've set up a temporary password within PHPmyadmin, and it still won't let me in. And I know the password change was successful, because it does something slightly different, when you enter the correct details.

What point is there in using Joomla?
 
Bummer :(

What steps are you supposed to take to secure it properly? That's putting me right off it.
 
dod said:
Bummer :(

What steps are you supposed to take to secure it properly? That's putting me right off it.
Click to expand...

Well I dunno really. As far as I know, it's just keeping the software up to date, and backing up regularly.

I'm giving it another go, but I'm getting so frustrated even just trying to get it back to how I had it (which wasn't very advanced). At the minute, I'm having difficulty just trying to build a menu, which contains what I want, and not the random content that it contains without me asking!!!!!!

Needless to say, I'm getting rather annoyed. Like we've already said, it can take hours to carry out what should be the simplest of tasks. :thumbsdown:
 
Oli R C said:
Well I dunno really. As far as I know, it's just keeping the software up to date, and backing up regularly.

I'm giving it another go, but I'm getting so frustrated even just trying to get it back to how I had it (which wasn't very advanced). At the minute, I'm having difficulty just trying to build a menu, which contains what I want, and not the random content that it contains without me asking!!!!!!

Needless to say, I'm getting rather annoyed. Like we've already said, it can take hours to carry out what should be the simplest of tasks. :thumbsdown:
Click to expand...

Oli

There is a real attack on Joomla sites out there at the moment. You will find that every file is now infected so unless you can upload a clean set COMPLETELY then you will have to delete the content AND the database and start again.

I am mucking about at home today so maybe we can have a chat on the phone regarding this if it is of any help?

Gary.
 
HIMUPNORTH said:
Oli

There is a real attack on Joomla sites out there at the moment. You will find that every file is now infected so unless you can upload a clean set COMPLETELY then you will have to delete the content AND the database and start again.

I am mucking about at home today so maybe we can have a chat on the phone regarding this if it is of any help?

Gary.
Click to expand...

Thanks Gary. I have done a complete new install, and new datatbase, which sounds like a good thing, but for how long?????

Just off to work now, but if I do run into more problems, I'll give you a ring.

Chow 4 now :D
 
Good work.

Now change your ftp and site hosting admin passwords too. Do not use the same passwords as previous.

If you ftp'd any of these files on to your local machine run at least two virus scans (different vendors) on this machine. Key logging viruses are common on web attacks so your new passwords could be compromised before you start.
Think worse case scenario and plan accordingly.

Cheery b****r in the mornings aren't I! :D
 
Guys, do you think Drupal is a better option than Joomla! from security point of view? :thinking:
 
If you are techy or want strong community tools on your site then yes Drupal wins over. Joomla is easier to come to terms with and with A GOOD HOSTING SERVICE (I need to stress that one as this is often the main reason Joomla gets hacked) is quite amazing what it can do.

That said if starting at scratch and you will be the only one adding content (One of the reasons I use Joomla is I get others to add content very easily) then there are other CMS systems out there.
Just like there are other makes of camera :lol: ;)
 
Thanks for the info Gary.

I don't have my FTP details within the Global Config section in Joomla (is this why I should change them?), but will change anyway. As it happens, and it may be a useful tip, I've never typed my password, 'cos I copy and paste it from my host's website (mainly 'cos it's a completely random series of letters).

Since my problems arose I've not downloaded any files to my comp, so hopefully alright there too, and I'm on a Mac, which MAY make me a little less vulnerable.

I'm still wondering if this Joomla thing is a good idea :thinking:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top