How to Use Your CMS (Content Management System) Web Site

Welcome to the new world of open source content management system web sites. If you are reading this article you have probably built or had built a new web site using one of the various CMS available. At High Tide Design we primarily use Joomla, a very advanced system that has been used in various guises for years and as Mambo years before.

We will primarily talk about Joomla in this article since it is the foundation for the sites we design and build. Based on the PHP programming language Joomla offers many new and advanced features for your website that have only been available to those who spent many thousands of dollars for a scratch-built web portal. A comprehensive control panel that allows you, the site owner or administrator, full control over content, design features, extensions, database criteria, and other significant web site tools and features, is included with your new web site. You can change the content or add, subtract, or edit any of the content of your site with no HTML or other programming skills. If you are able to use a word processor such as Microsoft Word, or Word Pad, you will be right at home with Joomla’s page editor.

While a CMS Site is relatively easy to use, there are a lot of features and a lot of systems, sub-systems, and modules available to use with Joomla. It may very daunting to look at for the first time, but with some simple rules and guidelines, the learning curve is manageable. Remember first, that whatever you do can be undone, and as long as you don’t change the permissions in the global areas or in the server, mistakes can be fixed easily.

There is a very comprehensive operator’s manual for Joomla at http://help.joomla.org. It is long, but searchable, and is the Bible for maintaining and using your system to it’s fullest potential. Go and download it now. It will take you through the whole system step by step. You don’t have to worry about the installation parts, we assume we have already installed that for you, built a template or converted one for your use, and set up the admin panel for you to use.

We normally make the global configuration un-write able after we set it up for your site. It controls dates, times, and how your site shows up to search engines and how it displays your web site features. Should any of that need maintenance or changing it is best to contact us High Tide Design, or your site administrator to change permissions in that area.

The rest of the administration panel is very straightforward and easy to use after some learning and use. Remember that with Joomla, that you have a site with unlimited expansion capabilities, and there is a system to follow. Instead of thinking of your site as an amalgamation of web pages, think of it like a complete system of content sections, categories and pages. Once you have decided what sections you need, then it is easy to make categories that your content will fall into. Joomla makes keeping your site organized very easy. It is like having kitchen cabinets. The lower cabinets are for pots and pans with the big pots on the left, small on the right, glasses up top, and plates and dishes in another cabinet. Pick easy to identify names for your sections and categories. Two years from now it may be hard to remember why you made a category with an obscure name, and start putting new content in other categories that aren’t really suitable. Also too many sections or categories may be counter-productive, so sit down with pencil and paper and make a logical concise plan for the content of your site.

A big point to remember about using the editors in your admin panel is this; when you are in an editing screen, always remember to save or close the document. Using your browser back button to get out of an editor will leave that document checked-out and you will not be able to use or edit that document again. It has to be checked back in. It is easy to check in a document so don’t worry. Go to the next to last menu item at he top, “System” and click on “Global Check-in.”  That automatically checks in every document or extension that has been left checked out. You can use the back button out of that screen. Remember whenever you are in a screen that has buttons on the upper right that say "save" or
cancel", those are the screens you must save or cancel. Once you have left a few docs checked out, it becomes easier to remember.

The Joomal manual will show you how to set up sections, categories and content pages. It will also tell you how to add the new content you make to the menu or menus. The menus are very important. They determine the order and hierarchy of your site. They are also good tools to keep track of your content. You can make multiple menus, like if you have a section for different plants, you may want a menu that lists all of the articles you have on various plants. That could be a long list so you might want to have a separate menu that only shows up on the plant section contents, and not show up in other areas of your site.

Everything about your Joomla system is easy to expand or edit. Should you decide to add completely new areas to your site, just add a new section and start building again. Advanced users can even change templates for different look on certain sections.

Read the manual, it’s the best way to learn. There is so much to Joomla, we couldn’t even begin to explain everything in a face to face training session. Help is always a click away at the Joomla forum. Sign up there, it’s easy and free. If you question is not answered anywhere already just start a new discussion and ask your question. Someone will answer soon. And if that doesn’t clear it up call us at High Tide Design 831-535-8977