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Joomla! 3 Beginner's Guide Second Edition
Joomla! 3 Beginner's Guide Second Edition

Joomla! 3 Beginner's Guide Second Edition: Build, develop, and manage a fully functioning, professional looking, and feature-rich website with the Joomla! CMS , Third Edition

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Joomla! 3 Beginner's Guide Second Edition

Chapter 2. Getting Joomla! Up and Running

Joomla isn't just an ordinary software package that you can install on your own computer: it needs a web server to run. If you're new to Joomla, installing a web application may seem daunting. Also, let's be honest, running the installation procedure is probably the least exciting part of working with Joomla. However, if you just follow the required steps, it's pretty straightforward. It does take some preparation, but if you've got everything ready, you can walk through the setup wizard in minutes.

In this chapter, you'll install Joomla on a web server, allowing you or anyone else with Internet access to immediately see and visit your Joomla-powered site. Your site will be accessible via your own web address (URL), such as http://www.example.com. When you build and customize the site, you'll access the site through your browser.

Tip

Don't fear the technical mumbo jumbo

Joomla will make it really...

What do you need to start?

To be able to install and run Joomla, you'll need hosting space and a few tools. Here's a full shopping list.

Hosting space

First of all, you'll need hosting space—a place on a web server where you can set up your site, making it accessible for anyone with Internet access. Your hosting account should support the PHP scripting language (as Joomla is written in PHP), it should support the type of database that Joomla uses, called MySQL, and it has to run the Apache server software. Specifically, the following are the system requirements for Joomla 3.x:

  • PHP 5.3.10 or higher: PHP is the scripting language that Joomla is written in. PHP 5.4 is recommended.
  • MySQL 5.1 or higher: The MySQL database is where Joomla stores its data (the contents of your site). The MySQL database should support the InnoDB storage engine (which is a technique to store and manage information in a database).
  • Apache 2.x or higher: Apache is the web server software that processes...

Installing Joomla! on a web server

If you have set up a web hosting account and got the tools you need, you're set to go. Install Joomla using the following steps:

  1. Download the Joomla files from www.joomla.org.
  2. Place the files on the web server.
  3. Create a database.
  4. Install Joomla itself using an installation wizard.

The rest of this section will give you a detailed walk-through of this procedure.

Time for action – downloading the Joomla! files

Let's begin by downloading the current version of Joomla.

  1. Point your browser to www.joomla.org. On the home page, click on the Download button.
    Time for action – downloading the Joomla! files
  2. You'll be taken to the download page. Select the latest release. Make sure that you download the full package (the other versions are upgrades for existing Joomla installations).
    Time for action – downloading the Joomla! files
  3. The default download file is a ZIP file. Download this file to your hard drive.
  4. Unpack the compressed file to a folder on your hard drive. If you don't have a software program to unpack files, check out http://www.7-zip.org for an open source file extraction program.

What just happened?

You've downloaded and extracted the Joomla software files. All files required to install Joomla are now stored in a folder on your computer.

Time for action – placing the files on the web server

Next, start up your FTP program (see What do you need to start? earlier in this chapter) and upload all the unzipped files in the folder to the web server. This is how you do it:

  1. In your FTP program, browse to the folder that contains the unzipped Joomla files. Select all files (do not select the folder, only its contents).
  2. Select the target directory, that is, the root directory of the web server. The root directory is often called httpdocs, htdocs, httpd, public_html, or www. If you can't find the folder, your web hosting company should be able to help you out.

    Tip

    Don't worry about the name of the root folder (httpdocs or any of the other names listed before). This name won't show up in the web address of your site. Visitors don't have to type www.example.com/httpdocs, just www.example.com will take them to your site. However, if you create a folder within httpdocs, this folder name will show up in your web...

Time for action – creating a database

The next step is creating an empty database for Joomla. If you're new to Joomla, the concept of a web application using a database may take some getting used to. The database isn't a regular file that you can create (or copy, move, or delete) on the web server. To create and manage a database, you use special software (such as phpMyAdmin, a popular tool to manage MySQL databases). Most web hosting companies offer you database access through a web interface (usually called a control panel). Popular control panels are Plesk, DirectAdmin, and CPanel. You'll find details on the control panel that's available to you in your hosting account's information.

In the following example, we'll use Plesk 8 to create a new database. If your hosting company provides another control panel, the basic procedure won't be very different. However, if you're not sure how to access your web server control panel, your web hosting...

Time for action – running the Joomla! installation wizard

You've got all the Joomla files copied to the web server and you've got a database ready to be filled. Let's finally install Joomla!

  1. Enter the URL for your site (such as http://www.example.com) in your browser. The installation screen shown in the following screenshot will come up:
    Time for action – running the Joomla! installation wizard

    Tip

    The Joomla installer will check whether your web server setup meets the installation requirements. If it does, you'll be taken to the Main Configuration screen. However, if any of the required web server settings isn't met, you won't be able to install Joomla. In that case, Joomla will display a screen of required settings and mark the ones that require attention. If there are any problems, get in touch with your web hosting company to have them correct the web server settings for you.

  2. In the Main Configuration screen, change the settings and enter the following information:
    • Select Language: Using this option, you can...

What do you need to start?


To be able to install and run Joomla, you'll need hosting space and a few tools. Here's a full shopping list.

Hosting space

First of all, you'll need hosting space—a place on a web server where you can set up your site, making it accessible for anyone with Internet access. Your hosting account should support the PHP scripting language (as Joomla is written in PHP), it should support the type of database that Joomla uses, called MySQL, and it has to run the Apache server software. Specifically, the following are the system requirements for Joomla 3.x:

  • PHP 5.3.10 or higher: PHP is the scripting language that Joomla is written in. PHP 5.4 is recommended.

  • MySQL 5.1 or higher: The MySQL database is where Joomla stores its data (the contents of your site). The MySQL database should support the InnoDB storage engine (which is a technique to store and manage information in a database).

  • Apache 2.x or higher: Apache is the web server software that processes the PHP instructions...

Installing Joomla! on a web server


If you have set up a web hosting account and got the tools you need, you're set to go. Install Joomla using the following steps:

  1. Download the Joomla files from www.joomla.org.

  2. Place the files on the web server.

  3. Create a database.

  4. Install Joomla itself using an installation wizard.

The rest of this section will give you a detailed walk-through of this procedure.

Time for action – downloading the Joomla! files


Let's begin by downloading the current version of Joomla.

  1. Point your browser to www.joomla.org. On the home page, click on the Download button.

  2. You'll be taken to the download page. Select the latest release. Make sure that you download the full package (the other versions are upgrades for existing Joomla installations).

  3. The default download file is a ZIP file. Download this file to your hard drive.

  4. Unpack the compressed file to a folder on your hard drive. If you don't have a software program to unpack files, check out http://www.7-zip.org for an open source file extraction program.

What just happened?

You've downloaded and extracted the Joomla software files. All files required to install Joomla are now stored in a folder on your computer.

Time for action – placing the files on the web server


Next, start up your FTP program (see What do you need to start? earlier in this chapter) and upload all the unzipped files in the folder to the web server. This is how you do it:

  1. In your FTP program, browse to the folder that contains the unzipped Joomla files. Select all files (do not select the folder, only its contents).

  2. Select the target directory, that is, the root directory of the web server. The root directory is often called httpdocs, htdocs, httpd, public_html, or www. If you can't find the folder, your web hosting company should be able to help you out.

    Tip

    Don't worry about the name of the root folder (httpdocs or any of the other names listed before). This name won't show up in the web address of your site. Visitors don't have to type www.example.com/httpdocs, just www.example.com will take them to your site. However, if you create a folder within httpdocs, this folder name will show up in your web address. If you create a joomla...

Time for action – creating a database


The next step is creating an empty database for Joomla. If you're new to Joomla, the concept of a web application using a database may take some getting used to. The database isn't a regular file that you can create (or copy, move, or delete) on the web server. To create and manage a database, you use special software (such as phpMyAdmin, a popular tool to manage MySQL databases). Most web hosting companies offer you database access through a web interface (usually called a control panel). Popular control panels are Plesk, DirectAdmin, and CPanel. You'll find details on the control panel that's available to you in your hosting account's information.

In the following example, we'll use Plesk 8 to create a new database. If your hosting company provides another control panel, the basic procedure won't be very different. However, if you're not sure how to access your web server control panel, your web hosting provider should be able to provide you with the...

Time for action – running the Joomla! installation wizard


You've got all the Joomla files copied to the web server and you've got a database ready to be filled. Let's finally install Joomla!

  1. Enter the URL for your site (such as http://www.example.com) in your browser. The installation screen shown in the following screenshot will come up:

    Tip

    The Joomla installer will check whether your web server setup meets the installation requirements. If it does, you'll be taken to the Main Configuration screen. However, if any of the required web server settings isn't met, you won't be able to install Joomla. In that case, Joomla will display a screen of required settings and mark the ones that require attention. If there are any problems, get in touch with your web hosting company to have them correct the web server settings for you.

  2. In the Main Configuration screen, change the settings and enter the following information:

    • Select Language: Using this option, you can select the language you want to use...

Installing Joomla! on your own computer


In the previous section, you saw how to install Joomla on a web server. Another option is to install the web server software on your computer and run Joomla on this local web server. This is also called a local installation. In this setup, your computer will act as if it were a live web server—but your Joomla site will only be accessible on your computer. If you've followed along in the previous section and you have already installed Joomla on the Web, you can skip this section and head for the next chapter.

Installing Joomla on your own computer does have a couple of drawbacks. You'll have access to your Joomla site from just one computer, and when your site is ready for the world, you'll still have to move it to a real web server. However, installing Joomla locally is a good solution when you want to install CMS for testing purposes. It makes it easy to develop sites without having access to a web server.

In this section, you'll learn more about what...

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Description

An easy to use, step-by-step guide to creating professional, mobile-friendly websites with the free Joomla CMS. The Joomla! 3 Beginner's Guide Second Edition is the ultimate guide for web developers who wish to build upon their skills and knowledge on creating websites. Even if you’re new to this subject, you won’t have any difficulty understanding the clear and friendly instructions and explanations. No prior knowledge of HTML and CSS is required.

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Jul 22, 2014
Length: 476 pages
Edition : 3rd
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781783981502
Languages :
Concepts :
Tools :

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Product Details

Publication date : Jul 22, 2014
Length: 476 pages
Edition : 3rd
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781783981502
Languages :
Concepts :
Tools :

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Table of Contents

16 Chapters
1. A New and Easy Way to Build Websites Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Getting Joomla! Up and Running Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. First Steps – Getting to Know Joomla! Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Web Building Basics – Creating a Site in an Hour Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Small Sites, Big Sites – Organizing Your Content Effectively Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Creating Killer Content – Adding and Editing Articles Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Welcoming Your Visitors – Creating Attractive Home Pages and Overview Pages Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Helping Your Visitors Find What They Want – Managing Menus Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. Opening Up the Site – Enabling Users to Log in and Contribute Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
10. Getting the Most out of Your Site – Extending Joomla! Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
11. Creating an Attractive Design – Working with Templates Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
12. Attracting Search Engine Traffic – SEO Tips and Techniques Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
A. Keeping the Site Secure Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
B. Creating a Multilingual Site Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
C. Pop Quiz Answers Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.8
(4 Ratings)
5 star 75%
4 star 25%
3 star 0%
2 star 0%
1 star 0%
KF Jan 16, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
This is an excellent book for a beginner who is new to Joomla. This book is based on Joomla v3, and is much more suitable for people who want to work on version 3.The book guide beginners through setting up of the necessary parts of a website step-by-step in a simple manner. This is a learning by doing process, and is suitable for people who wants to have a hands-on experience. However, you need to have the necessary resources to do that.Overall, it is excellent for a real beginner who wants to build his own site like me. I give it 5 stars.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Claudia D'Angelo Jan 31, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Good book for beginners
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Chris Longmuir May 25, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
As a complete newbie to Joomla this book was a great help towards me understanding how it worked, and enabled me to get a Joomla website up and running within a short period of time. It is now useful as a reference book which I can go back to regularly.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Guillaume Gaillet Feb 24, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4
Was a good read to start with Joomla. But after the first or second contact with Joomla, I didn't really needed to read it to the end as I quickly understood by myself by experimenting how this CMS is working.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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