Using Joomla 1.7.x, XML-RPC, MetaWeblog and ScribeFire - Part 2

Introduction

As I've mentioned in a previous post remote blogging via XML-RPC and Joomla can be a real time saver as well as eliminate the need to remember how to use all those quirky online editors. But with the advent of the Joomla 1.6.x and now the 1.7.x/2.5.x release the previous method for setting up remote blogging needs some updating.

Customizing a Template

Introduction

This part of the tutorial is a continuation of the customization of a template for displaying the product(s) created in the previous part of this tutorial. In part III we added the Product fields for the clone of the default FlexiContent template now we're going to customize it to fit the aesthetics of our site. This part of the tutorial requires you to modify PHP source code, XML and CSS files, so if you're familiar with these types of modifications let's dig in...

Automatically Display Your YouTube Videos on Your Website

Introduction

This little tutorial will walk you through adding your YouTube channel videos to your website using the Zend Framework. Some might say that this is easy, all you have to do is copy and paste the code from YouTube into your HTML. That's true, but this basic script does it AutoMagically and that's why we build these bloody machines in the first place. Copying and pasting is so 90's :). Join the 21^st century and code a bit.

Creating a Template

Introduction

This part of the tutorial will walk through the customization of a template for displaying the product(s) created in the previous parts of this tutorial. In part one we created a clone of the default FlexiContent template now we'll customize it.

Creating a Product

Introduction

This part of the tutorial will walk through the creation of a product using our previously created fields. Once we create a product we'll add the fields to the display in the template to see what it looks like. In Part 3 we'll rework the template to make it look the way we want it to.

Part 1 - Creating the Book Type and Fields

Introduction

This series of tutorials assumes you've successfully installed Joomla 1.5.x and FlexiContent 1.5.3c. It also assumes you've got at least one menu item setup and can access FlexiContent from the front-end of your site. For one of the fields you'll also need a download plugin, I used PhocaDownload but others will do fine. I also used another plugin for social bookmarking in a field called SexyBookmarks.

An alternative to CLI and phpMyAdmin

Introduction

You can develop a MySQL database from phpMyAdmin or from a shell account but there is another alternative offered by the MySQL WorkBench. Using this tool you can remotely develop a MySQL database on a Dreamhost server as well as other hosted accounts. The same limitations in the DreamHost MySQL installation apply of course, you can't fully create/delete a database from the tool. You have to do it from the control panel.

The Horse Before the Cart Syndrome

or How to Lose a Couple Dozen Customers in a Month

I've blogged in the past about a shopping cart product, 1ShoppingCart/WebMarketingMagic, I have to use for a site I maintain. Marketing Guru's sing it's praises all over the net but for the life of me I don't see why.

Using Joomla, XML-RPC, MetaWeblog and ScribeFire

Introduction

Blogging can be a real pain in the neck, especially if you have to deal with the supplied editor in a CMS system. Seems like every other site I've ever written a blog post for had some quirky little editor with special codes and conditions I needed to worry about. But you can avoid having to use the default editor if the site is setup for remote blogging via XML-RPC. This article will step you through setting up Joomla for remote blogging.

The Back Story

For the past couple weeks I've been struggling with Network Solutions (NetSol) and the nsHosting package for several database driven websites. According to NetSol the problem is MySql latency. They said I had incorrectly configured Joomla to use the IP rather than the internal server name they supply. Ok mea culpa. But hold on a minute as I look through the MySql database administration of the control panel what do I see? A helpful little tip staring back at me and I quote, "You will get the best performance from your database if you use the "Server IP" in your scripts and code that calls it." Hmm, me thinks the left hand knowest not what the right hand doeth. So I shoot off a request for clarification and the answer is: Use the internal NetSol Server Alias.

Video Tour of Joomla Media Manager

Introduction

In this installment of Zen and the Art of Joomla video series, we'll take a basic tour of the Control Panel administration applications for media including the Media Manager. This is the same demo available at http://demo.joomla.org/1.5/administrator

Video Tour of Joomla User Manager

Introduction

In this installment of Zen and the Art of Joomla video series, we'll take a basic tour of the Control Panel administration applications for users including the User Manager and Contact Manager. This is the same demo available at http://demo.joomla.org/1.5/administrator

Video Tour of Joomla Control Panel

Introduction

Next in the series of videos about this great Content Management System(CMS) is a brief tour of the Joomla Control Panel, a look at the Global Configuration settings, the Language Manager and the System Info area. This is the same demo available at http://demo.joomla.org/1.5/administrator

Video Tour of Joomla Demo

Introduction

Next in the series of videos about this great Content Management System(CMS) is a brief tour of a localhost install with the default content. This is the same demo available at http://demo.joomla.org/1.5/ but without half the world editing and changing it :)