Drupal 7x InstallationIntroduction to Drupal concepts basic configurations and modules

Presentation by: Michele (Micky) Metts

5 Labs, 1 Quiz

Extra Credit Pop QUIZ....

This course is for people who are new to Drupal. I will cover the most basic level of installing the software and setting up your site to allow users to register. We will also install a few modules.

You should have some experience with Web site development concepts and a basic working knowledge of HTML and FTP.

Caveats

There are many ways to do things in Drupal

I am not a Database Administrator

I am not a System Administrator

This is not an in-depth study of Drupal Administration

This is not an in-depth study of Drupal 7 ConfigurationsThis Webinar is an overview of Drupal concepts and a walk through the Drupal 7 Installation process, with basic configuration of some core and contributed modules, with an introduction to the Administration screens.

1. FTP access to a Unix/Linux Web Server with your hosted domain and PHP52. Access to cPanel with phpMyAdmin or any utility that allows you to create a MySQL database*3. A Text Editor (nice if it has FTP ability)* --- not a deal breaker if you don't have one... I use Jedit.org's editor

Preparations To begin, you will need:

This course is for people who are new to Drupal. I will cover the most basic level of installing the software and setting up your site to allow users to register. We will also install a few modules.

You should have some experience with Web site development concepts and a basic working knowledge of HTML and FTP.

Knowledge of advanced HTML, PHP or CSS is not required for this course. A clear idea of how you want your site to work and some idea about the features you want are helpful, but not necessary - yet.

Preparations To begin, you will need:

1. FTP access to a Unix/Linux Web Server with your hosted domain and PHP52. Access to cPanel with phpMyAdmin or any utility that allows you to create a MySQL database*3. A Text Editor (nice if it has FTP ability)* --- not a deal breaker if you don't have one... I use Jedit.org's editor

REMINDER

Drupal is a PHP framework that can be used as a content management system. A large community of independent developers and people like yourself create modules that add features to Drupal.

What is Drupal?

Is Drupal Right for Me?

Drupal is the right choice if you want a dynamic platform for a community or a user based Website that can grow and remain adaptable in today's fast paced technology market.

Yes Drupal

SEO - Drupal has many proven benefits

Add features without writing code

Revisions - control of the history

Allow users to Tag and Upload Content

Permissions control at multiple levels

Social or Community features, blogs, forums

Multiple customizable user roles

Custom access levels

Context sensitive content

Community of developers for customization

Is Drupal Right for Me?

No Drupal

Brochure Website

Static content no updates

No Login or Registration

None, or very few Forms

No site Administrators

No User Interaction

What we will do:

Download Drupal

Server Configuration

Create Database

Installation - settings.php

Choose Modules Install - Enable

Configuration Permissions - Roles

Navigate the Admin Screens

Adding Content

Project

Create a basic Drupal Website Allow users to registerInstall community contributed modules.

The Overview - What is Drupal?

Drupal Concepts (Nodes,Taxonomy etc.)

How Drupal and MySQL Work Together

Introduction to Drupal Websites

Hosting Requirements

3 things are necessary to run a Drupal installation:

1.Web Server - Drupal has been deployed successfully on both Apache and IIS. Recommended: Apache2. Database Server - Recommended: MySQL 5.0.15 or higher3. PHP - Recommended: PHP 5.2

An in-depth list of requirements follows...

Hosting Requirements

These are basic hosting requirements for people that are not system administrators.*Must Have *Nice to have1. Control panel and FTP access for database setup2. PHP Memory Limit: 128MB or more3. PHP access to edit php.ini file4. Rewrite Module Enabled -clean URLs5. Access to setup cronjobs6. mySQL 57. Shell account direct access to edit the files on your server

There are several concepts fundamental to a Drupal site: nodes, content types, regions, blocks, views, CCK, themes, taxonomy, users, roles and permissions.

Drupal Concepts

Most pieces of content on a Drupal Website are considered "nodes." A node is any post, page, poll, story, forum text, or blog entry.

Comments are not considered nodes, although they are always related to a node. Node content is stored in the database.

Nodes

Offering "content types" is a way Drupal allows you to have different kinds of nodes for different purposes. For example, an "Article" is one kind of node, a "Basic page" another, and a "Blog entry" yet another. You can also create new content types of your own.

Content Types

Labeling all pieces of content as nodes allows for flexibility when creating different types of content.

You can select new and different features individually for each type of content, or add features globally to all content types.

You can create menus based on content types and set access limits for individual content types: example premium or standard.

Nodes and Content Types

Thank you for your patience. I will do my best to answer all of your questions.To stay on schedule, a limited amount of time is designated for Q + A

Q + A

Regions are areas of the page where content may be displayed usually in a Block or a Box. Regions are defined within the theme, usually in the .info file. Most themes allow you to create custom regions.

Regions

Blocks are usually located in the sidebars, but can also be used to display content within a page, or within any region in your theme. Some modules come with pre-configured blocks. Blocks work with Views and may be themed independently of the page. Blocks can be displayed based on user roles and permissions.

Blocks

What is an Install Profile?

Define your site - Social Network, Media, News, Educational etc.

Review Install profiles Lab: Download Drupal and upload to server

Drupal Installation

Thank you for your patience. I will do my best to answer all of your questions.To stay on schedule, a limited amount of time is designated for Q + A

Q + A

Creating a Database

Connecting to the Database Server with Drupal

Drupal settings.php, htaccess and PHP.iniLab: Create a Database and Configure Server settings

Introduction to the Drupal Database

3 Steps:Log into your cPanel account and choose MySQL databse.Create database

Create database user

Add database user to your new database

Installing the Drupal Database

Thank you for your patience. I will do my best to answer all of your questions.To stay on schedule, a limited amount of time is designated for Q + A

Q + A

Navigate to your site folder/sites/allSee 2 folders inside the /all folder named:modulesThemes

These folders will hold your contributed modules and themes.

Location of Folders for Contributed Modules and Themes

PHP Settings

Your memory_limit variable, in php.ini needs to be at least 128M, but 220M is recommended.

Max settings:max_execution_time = 120 realpath_cache_size = 2M.max_input_time = 120.

This will need to be implemented if you run into WSOD issues (white screen of death) while trying to render pages such as the Modules list.

Editing the php.ini File

Sample php.ini file settings:

register_globals = Off upload_max_filesize = 30Mpost_max_size = 30Mmemory_limit = 220Mupload_tmp_dir = 300Mmax_execution_time = 120max_allowed_packet = 80Mrealpath_cache_size = 2Mmax_input_time = 120

Create this file in a text editor and upload it to your root HTML directory on your server. Most hosting services will read from this file however, your host may not. In this case, you will have to contact your host and ask them to help you add the changes to your php.ini file.

Clean URLsEditing the .htaccess File

By default, Drupal uses and generates URLs for your site's pages that look like "http://www.example.com/?q=node/83." This style of URLs can be hard to read, and can prevent some search engines from indexing all the pages of your site.

If your server is configured correctly, you should be able to enable Clean URLs. If not, see the handbook for setting up Clean URLs here:http://drupal.org/node/15365

A sample .htaccess file for Drupal can be found here.http://code.google.com/p/drupalgooglecode/source/browse/trunk/.htaccess

Built-in, or Core Drupal Modules

Enabling Optional Core Modules

Configuring Core ModulesLab: Enable and configure Core required and optional modules

Drupal Core Modules

Thank you for your patience. I will do my best to answer all of your questions.To stay on schedule, a limited amount of time is designated for Q + A

Q + A

Most helpful Modules for Administrators

Cleaning up the Administration UI

Installation of Administration Module

Basic Configuration of Administration Module

How to navigate the Administration MenuLab: Install and configure Administration module

Installation of Drupal Modules

Q + A

Extra Credit Pop Quiz to be answered at end of program:

How do you add content to the front page of your Website?

Overview of the Administration Menu

Overview of Roles

Overview User Settings

Logged In vs, Logged out QUIZ: Find the Modules

Navigating the Admin Screens

Extra Credit Pop Quiz to be answered at end of program: How to add content to your Website

Q + A

Summary

Download Drupal

Server Configuration

Create Database

Installation -

Choose Modules Install - Enable

Basic Configuration Permissions - Roles

Navigate the Admin Screens

Adding Content

Extra Credit Pop QUIZ

Adding Content

How do you add the main pages to your site?

My 10 Favorite Modules for AdminIf I could only choose 10...

1. Admin Menu - http://drupal.org/project/admin_menu RRRRR

2. Views - http://drupal.org/project/views RRR 3. Masquerade -http://drupal.org/project/masquerade RRR 4. Global Redirect - http://drupal.org/project/globalredirect RRRRR 5. Token - http://drupal.org/project/token RRRRR 6. Taxonomy Manager - http://drupal.org/project/taxonomy_manager RRR 7. Pathauto - http://drupal.org/project/pathauto RRRR 8. Backup and Migrate - http://drupal.org/project/backup_migrate RRRRR 9. Link - http://drupal.org/project/link RRR10. Filter Permissions - http://drupal.org/project/filter_perms RRRRR

Must HaveNice to HaveWant to Have

Some Free Drupal Resources

1. drupal.org

2. groups.drupal.org Drupal Group threaded discussions 3. drupalchat.net live community support chat 4. youtube.com great tutorial videos 5. drupal2u.com -Free Themes 6. drupal.org/project/themes Free Themes 7. Google Drupal error message debugging

Join the Drupal community Give Help, Get Help.

Happy Drupal Hacking -Do not hack core.

For more information contact:Michele (Micky) Mettsmicky@drupalconnection.com

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