New Server

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Category: Blog

Published on Friday, 09 December 2011 21:55

Written by Tim D. Lane

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Since my old server didn't support PHP 5, I took the leap today and began the migration to a new server.  I set up a clean copy of the latest and greatest version of Joomla! and started setting it up.  Of course, that means I have to set up everything from scratch again, but better now then sometime down the line when I have tons of content to migrate!

The first issue I discovered was that the new version of Joomla! does not come with a theme similar to the one I was using in the old version, so my first task was to find a theme that would work for me.  What you see is what I found.  I will probably tweak it; I'm not all that crazy about the faded red menu titles, for example.  Not a big deal, it is far easier to make a few tweaks than it is to design a theme template from scratch.

Of greater concern is the fact that the blogging component I found for the old version is not compatible with the new version.  So, for now I'm using the plain vanilla blogging capability of Joomla!  Tomorrow I will look for a decent blogging component for this version.  If I don't find one, who knows, maybe I'll try my hand at updating the one from the old version.

Decisions, decisions...

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Category: Blog

Published on Friday, 09 December 2011 12:46

Written by Tim D. Lane

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I contacted my web host today and learned that they have no idea when PHP version 5 will be available on my server, but that they could move me to a new server.  That, of course, will require manually moving all my files and databases to the new server, and re-configuring all my email accounts.  Lots of fun.  But, if I want access to the current version of Joomla!, it looks like that is what I am going to have to do.  Of course, that brings up a broader question - would I be better off with a different hosting plan altogether.  Something else to mull over.

In the mean time, I downloaded a number of Joomla! extensions today that should allow me to add a little pizzazz to the web site.  Next step is to install and test them to see which ones are going to prove to be useful.  Now that should be fun, as well as educational!

Swatting flies

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Category: Blog

Published on Thursday, 08 December 2011 12:49

Written by Tim D. Lane

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The "Semi-Smart Blog" is now history.  As I mentioned yesterday, there was another blog component available that showed a lot more promise, other than the minor fact that the control panel was a blank page, making it impossible to configure it.  Fortunately, I just so happen to have experience debugging Joomla! components, so it wasn't too difficult to track down the problem - it was trying to check for an update to the component, and apparently the update site is dead.  All I had to do was disable the update check in the code and voila, it works!  Ironically, in the control panel is an option to disable update checking.

So now I have a viable blogging component, which will allow me to keep everyone updated on my thoughts and challenges.  Which brings me to today's challenge - developing more meaningful content for my site than just advertisements for Joomla!

Web site fun and games

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Category: Blog

Published on Wednesday, 07 December 2011 12:35

Written by Tim D. Lane

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Yesterday I decided it was time to overhaul my web site, and rather than mess around with the old content, I decided to start from scratch with a fresh installation of Joomla!  I downloaded the latest version of Joomla!, loaded it on my server and proceeded to run the install.  Glitch number 1.  Latest version of Joomla requires a newer version of PHP than my server provides.  Now, I'm used to working with a dedicated server, where such issues are nothing more than an inconvenience.  Just download the latest version of PHP and install it; what could be easier?  Unfortunately, my personal web site is not hosted on a dedicated server, so for now, I have installed an older version of Joomla!

It only took a few minutes and my spanking new web site was up and running.  And a fine advertisement for Joomla! it was.  Nothing surprising there; I've installed Joomla! more than a few times, and I knew exactly what to expect.  A little playing around with the GIMP and I had new logo for the new site.  Put up a little welcome message, my photo and my resume, and it started to look a little more like home.  What do I want to put on my new web site?  The first thing that came to mind was a blog; everyone has a blog, right?  That should be a quick and easy way to get started.

Glitch number 2.  Who'd have guessed that it would be a challenge to come up with a good blogging component for Joomla!?  Well, yes, there are a couple good blogging components available, but their cost exceeds the established budget for my web site, and the CFO (my wife) does not take too kindly to me going over budget, so it looks like I have my work cut out for me.  I scoured the Joomla extension site and found several free blogging components.  The first one I tried sounded pretty good, and got decent feedback, as well.  Unfortunately, when I installed it, the admin page came up blank, which definitely didn't match the screen shot on the developer's web site.  Definitely have to do a little debugging there, but for now I just want something up on my site, so "Smart Blog" will have to do for tonight.

I'm not really sure why they call it Smart Blog.  If it were really smart, it would know that I want to call it something other than Smart Blog on my site.  Sadly, there is nothing on the admin page that allows you to change the description.  I'm familiar with the Joomla! component model, and it would not be that hard to find the code and change it, but it just beats the heck out of me as to why I would have to go to that trouble to do something so basic.  So, for tonight, at least, it is Smart Blog.

Note:  I couldn't resist - it's Semi-Smart Blog for the evening!