Web Building With Drupal

Web Building With Drupal

• 1.
  Web Building WithDrupal
• 2.
  ObjectivesWhat is aCMS?Why Drupal?Is there a learning curve?How did MRRL set up the new site?What modules were used?How did the process work?Was it a success?What lessons were learned?
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  What Is ACMS?Content Management SystemDatabase – with a fancy User InterfaceSeparation of content and “look”Lots of ‘em for freeDrupalJoomlaWordpress(lots of very expensive options, too)
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  Why Drupal?‘Cause everybodyelse is doing it?http://drupalib.interoperating.info/library_siteshttp://drupalib.interoperating.info/node/88Lots of library-specific modules?http://drupalib.interoperating.info/library_modulesIt’s free?It has a very active developer community?http://drupal.org/project/Modules
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  Is there alearning curve?Yes.Lynda.com – online training videosDrupalcon – conference with LOTS of learning opportunitiesDrupaltrainer.comDrupal handbook – community-created help for every part of Drupal, core to modules
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  How did MRRLset up the new site?LSTA Grant (thank you, State Library!)New server, hands-on training & graphic designInstalled Drupal, set up after trainingInstalled modulesThemed the siteTrained content providersPopulated the contentReleased Nov. 17th, 2009
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  What modules wereused?LOTSFirst – Views, CCK, Administration MenuNext – Webform, Panels, Themekey, MailExtras – Embedded Media, Nice Menus, Tabs, Twitter, Flickr, etc….More modules = more functionality + slower response times
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  How did theprocess work?TrainingI went to hands-on administrator trainingI trained content managers both in groups and one-on-oneEach subject expert got a user name & password and access to their “role”ContentEntered content from old siteCreated new features possible with DrupalEasy feed aggregation, custom front page, Decisions – blocks, pages, panels or views?
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  How did theprocess work?ThemeGraphic designer gave me HTML/CSSI transferred that to Drupal PHP themeUsed Themekey and Taxonomy to determine which pages get Main, Teen or Child themesMaintenanceWeekly updates to Drupal & modulesDatabase backups – VERY IMPORTANTOngoing content training to staff
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  Was it asuccess?ABSOLUTELY42% sustained growth in website visitors
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  What lessons werelearned?No tech support – you have to find the answers yourselfSeek training – there is a learning curveBe flexible – some things work, some don’t; be willing to drop stuff that doesn’t workSeek opinions – get input from staff, patrons, random folks on the streetBe creative – Drupal offers a LOT of ways to do things & a lot of things to do!