QUIVIS JOOMLA

To see the other pages about Joomla you need to LOGIN. The information on the other pages comprises a users' manual for this website.

CLICK the PRINT ICON  on any page for PRINTER FRIENDLY output. You may need it!

JOOMLA is a Content Management System [CMS]. ‘Conventional’ websites permit only passive viewing of ‘static’ web pages whereas JOOMLA enables websites to be ‘interactive’, making it easy for users to add their own content without knowing HTML etc. There is a great deal of information about Joomla on the internet and a good place to start is with their own website joomla.org where there are help files and tutorials as well as an active forum to seek advice. Downloadable extensions and plugins are available [installing requires ADMINISTRATOR] but beware; not all are free.

Joomla enables interaction at various levels, the main ones being AUTHOR, EDITOR, PUBLISHER, and ADMINISTRATOR. Each level of the hierarchy provides ADDITIONAL powers to those of its predecessor.

• AUTHORS can submit content which requires approval by an Administrator before publication [i.e. before appearing on the website]. Authors cannot edit content already on the website.
• EDITORS can both submit new content and edit content already published but still require approval before publication.
• PUBLISHERS have the powers of authors and editors but require NO prior approval to publish. Content appears IMMEDIATELY on the website once SAVED.
• ADMINISTRATORS and above have all these powers plus the ability to grant them to others - plus a whole lot more. If you want to be an Administrator you must either know what you are doing or be prepared to learn before doing it!

What exactly does Joomla do? Joomla assembles web pages from information held in a database. Good XHTML and CSS [the ‘normal’ way of building a website] separate style from content. Joomla sees to that separation for you using a template, so all you have to do is contribute the content - text, images etc - which Joomla automatically stores in the data base. Unless you know how to tinker with Joomla [or XHTML and CSS] and have Administrator access you will not be able to alter the basic look and feel of the website which is controlled by the template but you WILL easily be able to edit existing and add new content to the website.

Template? What’s that? A template is the basic architecture underlying the website which controls the overall appearance and display of the content. e.g. the layout, the background colour, the way images display, the size and shape of the buttons, the type and colour of font used etc. In fact basically everything other than the text and images which you input. The template can easily be altered [if you know how!] or changed for a completely different one [ditto].

When you log in, some new links will appear e.g. an EDIT icon will appear at the top of every page and a SUBMIT ARTICLE button will be added to the Main Menu. These links vanish when you log out. You should log out properly otherwise whatever pages you have been working on may remain locked and inaccessible to others. If files become locked inform the webmaster! Or see under Admin. To log out, return to the Home page and click...guess! Clicking the EDIT icon on any page will open that page in the WYSIWYG editor. Clicking the SUBMIT ARTICLE button will open a blank WYSIWYG editing pane.

How hard is it? If you have basic word processing skills or can send an email you will find it simple.

What happens if I mess things up? Don't worry; the website is backed up. Even if you are the proverbial bull in a china shop the damage can easily be undone. Just let the webmaster know! [see above.]

How do I get started? There are two ways of accessing a Joomla website; the Front End and the Back End. Don't blame me, these are Joomla terms! I'll stick to them as they are the terms used by Joomla.org and associated web pages as well as in books etc about Joomla. Both Front End and Back End access are via a browser. Essentially you alter content via the Front End and the structure, style and function via the Back End. The Front End is more user friendly than the Back End which requires Administrator level to access.

Refer to the Main Menu ‘Front End’ or ‘Back End’ pages for instructions on basic Joomla tasks, but Joomla can do MUCH more than is outlined here or there!