Drupal 6 HowTo for new users
Drupal how-to for 'new' users
Drupal is more than a content management system, it's a community of great people.
FYI > There is a massive handbook at Drupal.org where you can find over-loads of info.
> The Support area and the Forum on Drupal.org --good info --great people.
Just starting out installing Drupal, see "First Things First" you'll be up in half one hour...
There are lots of places to learn about Drupal. 
One important thing to keep in mind, there are many different ways to accomplish a given task in Drupal. When I started in June 2008, I searched and read for weeks to find out basic 'how do I do it' stuff. I started this blog in April 2009 and is focused on those things that I ran into first with Drupal. I hope it helps at least one person a little bit !
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If your new to Drupal, Start with the last post and work up. |
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Drupal Videos
presentation DrupalConDC2009 by Dries Buytaert (must watch)
This post is a list of sites that have Drupal video tutorials. I know there has to be more and some new ones.
I can't say enough about studying the Videos 
Where are all those millions of functions 
A huge thanks to everyone that has taken the time to make Screen Casts or videos. We learn more and learn it faster by watching someone do it.. perfect. 
Enjoy the movies..!
How to update Drupal
From time to time Drupal may have a security update and you should update your site each time a new release is ready. It is very easy and painless to do.
login, goto administer > site configuration > site maintenance
change site status to off-line and save it...
I generally just stay logged in
Then-- fire up the FTP program and delete all Drupal files except the "sites" folder. (it has your stuff in it)
Then-- copy all the new Drupal files to the server except the "sites" folder(the new one has nothing in it)
Then-- run update.php
Over to the far left side of the admin_menu under the icon. click "run updates", click "continue", click "update".
--or--
Goto http://www.example.com/update.php , click "continue", click "update".
Then-- put the site back on-line. NOTE: the reason for taking the site off-line is to stop database activity...
What if it just won't work after the new files are uploaded?
Double check to see that ALL the folders and files are there. Usually if it won't work, you are missing a folder or a file.
The 'sites' folder has all your stuff in it
The sites folder has all "your" stuff in it.. It may be a Drupal folder, but in contains items that you need and want to protect. A fresh install of Drupal has the sites folder included as a place where you "will keep" all "your" stuff.
After installing Drupal and doing things like adding modules, photos, themes, custom css and other stuff, the sites folder actually holds all the things that you need to keep.
As a result: When moving an existing site, the "old" sites folder from the existing site needs to be added to the new site.(it has all "your" stuff in it)
-- IF you "copy" or "move" all the old Drupal files to the new location,, then your stuff within the sites folder will move with all the files.
-- IF you do a "fresh install" as a place to move to,,, then you would delete the sites folder(that comes with Drupal) and replace it with your old sites folder that has all your stuff...
The sites folder is like your suit case, always take it with you..
Add a photo gallery with project/node_gallery
| A great Gallery solution for New Users and Seasoned Pro's as well. BuckeyeLake.org will have it too Node_gallery is easy to install and you will be uploading photos in minutes. 2 things to do at install time is set pathauto(URL aliases, node path settings) and set the gallery storage directory(node gallery settings). Then upload your photos! I really like node_gallery because it is the core Drupal way of nodes and comments.. I helped out with the handbook, view it on this website, and it's on drupal.org here > Handbook |
 it's treasure ! |
Justintime has set up a new demo site for node_gallery with log in's.. neat! Try it.!
Sample Galleries:
• node_gallery, out of the box with a view(screen shot), imagecache, fivestar, css & custom_breadcrumbs
• node_gallery2, made with 'Add a Gallery Relationship', a view, Lightbox2, css & custom_breadcrumbs
• node_gallery3, out of the box gallery with a few little image cache adjustments
• node_gallery4, sample galleries useing the slideshows contributed by DesignWork at Drupal.org
• node_gallery5, sample password galleries, the list page is done with views and it has a few issues..
Backup, Backup, Backup
You can set up the backup_migrate module to do it automatically.. nice
lol... The title should say it all.
Every once in a while we learn the lesson.. and every once in a while we reap the benefits of having good back ups.. Like I did today(6-7-09) when i totally messed up the buckeyelake site. What should you back up?? Well,,,, The DATABASE is vital. The sites folder is important as well, but the Database is the big issue most of the time. It will help reduce the size of the backup file by clearing the cache first,, you don't need that part..
How do you make a backup? Login to your control panel, open the PHPmyadmin, and choose 'export'. When the new screen shows up,, You will see a select box someplace on the screen, click once on your database name to highlight it.. Then, Down at the bottom of the screen is a checkbox 'save as file' and then click 'go', when the box pops up, choose 'save'. that's it. Now you are covered.
If anyone needs help doing a backup, please ask me and I will walk you through it.
Same goes for restoring from a backup,, i am happy to help.
What is Taxonomy in Drupal?
Taxonomy = classification, according to natural relationships This is a real quick look at it.
When you see taxonomy in Drupal it is refering to content indexed with key-words and categories. Kinda like the contents page in a book. You can add taxonomy to any content type in Drupal and use the "taxonomy terms" to arange things the way you want.
One Drupal example: a Classified Ad is not a page, blog post, or story content type,
It is a content type "Classified Ad", it is "For sale,trade,rent",name of select list "type of ad"....
--------RESULT is a "content type" that uses "Taxonomy Terms" from a "Taxonomy Vocabulary"
read more for 2 quick walk throughs... one easy and the one above
Module and Theme info at Drupal.org
The main module page , Module useage or statistics page and the List of Modules for D 6.
Pack a lunch and bring your sleeping bag... the list is huge.
The Themes section, a huge list of contributed themes.
For people that like lots of choices and fine grained control, Drupal is your perfect pick. You have so many choices, it will make you tired. 
What are Content Types and Nodes?
This is a real easy question, but when your new-- well-- it can send you on a google search 
A Content Type is any type of content in Drupal. Such as a page, blog entry, story, webform, poll, recipe. Each one is a content type and with CCK or -content construction kit- you can make your own Custom Content Type, such as a classified ad, or a photo page, anything. Some modules will make a new content type automatically like event, poll, webform or recipe. Where do you find the content types? Goto: Content managment > Create content and you will see the list of content types that you can create.
A NODE on the other hand is a piece of content and also creates the system path for Drupal. When you create a page, you have created a node. each page = a node. Likwise for a blog entry, each blog entry = 1 node. So, with that info... your first page might be node/1 .. view the page at www.mysite.com/node/1 page 2 at www.mysite.com/node/2 ... a blog entry might be node/63 www.mysite.com/node/63
Menus, navigation primary secondary
I remember having a few speechless brain-dead moments when it came to the menus, But I like it now--
Just for a start. When you create any type of content, you can send it to a menu easily. In the top area of the page to create a piece of content is a link labeled --menu settings-- , Click it open and select the menu it is to go on and give it a name. If it is to be your home page, name it Home and send it to Primary links. You can always use the path <front> for a home page. The path can be a URL-- this site has 2. buckeyelake.org and onelakesideweb.com.
I like using Primary links for main web site links, because it's uncluttered, easy and most themes have them across the top. This site is using Primary links across the top..There's more...
Modules, adding updating removing
After the module developers or contributors do all the hard work,
the rest Is pretty basic stuff, but still I had questions about it when I started.
-----All contributed modules are in the sites/all/modules folder---
Most modules have a readme file in the folder, It's a good idea to have a look. Best to go look around on the module page (drupal.org/project/-module-name-) for good info. have a quick read in the issue que for the module. After your satisfied it will do the task, get-it install-it run it.
To Add a new module:.........
Custom Error Pages for Drupal
Custom error pages are very easy to make and serve a big purpose.
When you make your own error pages, the menu links and blocks are added to the page to help your visitors find their way. why should I care? Because the core error pages have no menus or directions for the visitors or users.
Change Drupals frontpage, Site Information & Logo
Many people ask, How do I change the front page on a drupal site?
There are a few ways to do it.
As soon as you do one of these, the welcome page will disapear like magic ! 
While we are at it, the site information needs to be entered.
Install our must-have Modules & set-permissions
All references from this point are using the Drupal admin_menu.
If you are following this from "Just after Install" we still have some modules to get running.
Just after install
I could have used this when I started with drupal
There will always be some talk about what to install and what you need. All modules are optional, but some are useful right from the start. Better to go in prepaired and not have to go back and fix stuff. You can spend a few weeks going through all the hundreds of modules at Drupal.org. ....I have a hundred favorites...
First things first
Firefox Browser and fireFTP (file transfer protocol)
This is not required, but I recommend it. Any FTP program will work. Many people like FileZilla which transfers faster but dosen't have neat features.
If you don't have Firefox yet. Go get a copy and install it. Make it your default browser, you will use it more and more- trust me-- Just as soon as you get firefox. Go back to firefox add-ons and grab fireFTP, lori, web developer, firebug and yslow. Restart firefox to make the add-ons work. Open TOOLS fireFTP and enter your server information-- try it to make sure it's workin. Most FTP programs will use-- ftp.yourdomain.com, your account username, your account password.
Get Ready to Install Drupal CMS
a Test site helps
Great to have another place where I can mess everything up till it breaks, burns and just Crashes.. 
Yep, I have a wamp and and a lamp server at home and wear them out too, but this server is the same config as the buckeyeLake.org site. So, if it works good here, it will work the same when it's added to that site. ..hopefully..lol
Modules used in the BuckeyeLake.org website
The BuckeyeLake.org website has been a huge learning experience to say the least. It doesn't have many members, maybe 60 or so, but we get quite a few anonymous visits and users. You know how it is, people just don't want to register....so the site has lots of things that anonymous users can do without logging in.. like post in forums, create events and write letters just to name a few.
I will add to this list as more are added
http://drupal.org/project/(module_name)
