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By NancyDru on
I guess I'm just pretty dense. The documentation is not really helping me much. Maybe Drupal is not what I need.
I already have a web site running, but using frames, which the search engines apparently don't like. I could easily switch to a table form, but then I have to add the navigation to each and every page, then update every page when I add to the menu. I don't think so!
So I'm looking at CMS solutions to get around all this stupid stuff.
While I agree that I should eventually read all the docs, what I really need is a book that says, add this page this way, update the menu that way, code your title bar like this... I don't want to add any functionality at the moment, and I will live with a basic template for the moment.
Is that asking too much? Just a simple "Converting Your Current Site Guide."
Here are three examples of what I'm trying to convert:
My Resume
My Informational Site
A group website that I maintain
Comments
Hang in there
My first recommendation would be to not give up hope. Personally, I came to Drupal from the PHP-Nuke and e107 systems. I was extremely comfortable with what I already knew, and knew it was going to be a struggle to finally make the move.
Drupal is written in the PHP programming language. You will have a slight disadvantage if you do not know some essentials of PHP. This language, along with others, does away with your need to update every page on your site when you need to change a menu item, or a simple adjustment in the layout. One change to Drupal's template file will make the change across the entire site instantly.
Menu items are also managed through the administration. Drupal 5 is substantially more user-friendly, for both front-end and back-end users. My recommendation would be to wait until the final release of Drupal 5 is available. Unfortunately, many of 4.7's rough edges turn people away. Hopefully, 5 will remedy this problem.
Drupal 5 will feature the new and great "Garland" theme. You will be able to update the colors, among other aspects, of the theme right from the administration. This should eliminate any need to obtain knowledge of PHP, HTML or CSS.
So, to put it bluntly, just wait for Drupal 5 before making any moves.
Getting Started
I really would at least like to start learning my way around the basics. Can't I do that with 4.7?
I do know HTML and CSS fairly well. I'm learning PHP. I started switching my site to PHP, but that means a PHP modlue plus a content page for everything that used to be a single page.
My sites are all done in native HTML, with some help from Dreamweaver.
Who knows when my hosting provider will update to 5.
NancyDru
The problem is the
The problem is the substantial difference between 4.7 and 5. The administration is almost completely different. You would almost have to learn everything all over again, which is why I strongly recommend waiting for the final version of 5. If you have the capability, set up another test-site for Drupal 5 RC1 where you can explore and make changes, without worrying about others seeing what you're doing. Or, to be risky, just use Drupal 5 RC1 and upgrade it to the official release when its available.
Getting started
My hosting site installs these things automatically. I am not conversant enough with Unix (I'm a Windows girl) to try installing myself with a version they do not support. Currently they will install 4.7.4 and that's it.
NancyDru
Go for it girrll.... Dont
Go for it girrll.... Dont need to wait for the latest technology to start ..... 4.7.4 will be fun to work with
The only gritty stuff you will need to do is creating a new MySQL and settings.php to connect with Drupal, and `import the basic Drupal table
If they have auto install, then it saves you the hassle of installing manually
I suggest you install Drupal 4.7.4 in a folder (as a subdomain eg http://mydomain.com/drupal) then when you want to have Drupal 5.x full fledge, you can transfer your data and users to the latest
It's Going -- Sort of
I've only got a couple of pages set up so far, but it's getting there Here's the link
NancyDru
For that kind of sites you
For that kind of sites you could use a much simplier CMS ... Drupal is too powerfull for this, imo. :)
Simpler CMS
Such as what? Keep in mind that I would probably eventually like add a FAQs and links module, and one of my sites does use WebCalendar. Way down the road, possibly we would convert from Yahoo groups to a forum module. The group site could also use a polling module for election of officers (Yahoo is terrible at that). The other two sites will probably stay on the simpler side, especially my resume site.
You may contact me privately, if you wish.
NancyDru
The only thing Drupal can be
The only thing Drupal can be considered too powerful for (IMHO) is a single page site that is static. If you intend to use modules and such as described in your post above. Drupal is right for you.