Foundation Drupal 7: Learn How to Use the Drupal Framework to Quickly Build Feature-rich Websites

by Robert J. Townsend

Drupal is a content management framework that powers web sites from simple online brochures to more advanced sites including social networking sites, blogs, e-commerce sites, business portals, and more. It is free, open source software that allows anyone to quickly and easily build web sites. Its full range of modulesincluding user permissions, security mechanisms, JavaScript menus, image uploaders, WYSIWYG editors, and more helps you easily create the foundation for a powerful web site. With its templating system (and a few tips and tricks), any graphic design file can be used to create a Drupal web site.

Foundation Drupal 7 covers all the topics necessary to quickly build Drupal-powered web sites, explaining in simple terms how Drupal works and providing you with concepts, tips, and code snippets for every step of the development process. From setting up a Drupal-ready web host and installing Drupal to using the administrative interface and configuring a site from start to finish, there is something here for everyone. In addition to thoroughly discussing all of Drupal's core modules, this book reviews more than 50 contributed modules, including WYSIWYG HTML editors, JavaScript drop-down menus, web forms, and even the powerful Views module. Stephanie Pakrul, creator and maintainer of the Fusion theme, coauthors a chapter on how to lay out and add graphics to a site through Drupal's administrative section. After reading this book, you will walk away with everything you need to know to quickly and successfully build a Drupal-powered web site.

Whether you're an experienced Drupal site builder looking to expand your skills, a web developer or designer interested in learning Drupal, or a weekend hobbyist looking to build your first site, Foundation Drupal 7 will give you the knowledge and inspiration you need to bring your ideas to life. What you'll learn Significantly decrease the amount of time it takes you to code a feature-rich website. Understand how Drupal works and learn best practices to quickly integrate Drupal into every website you design. Learn how to configure a server and manage multiple websites and staging environments using popular server administration software (cPanel). Learn practical techniques to place Photoshop or Illustrator design files on a Drupal content management system. Who this book is for

The primary audience for this book is web site designers throughout the world interested in using Drupal to build web sites. The audience may have previous experience using Drupal but do not consider themselves proficient. They are familiar with coding a basic HTML/CSS web site, although these skills are not required to benefit from the book.

The secondary audience for this book is freelance Drupal developers who actively use Drupal to build web sites. They are proficient developers interested in reducing development time and learning Drupal best practices. Table of Contents An Overview of Drupal Setting Up a Web Host and Installing Drupal Configuring a Basic Drupal Web Site Adding Content Types and Fields People, Roles, and Permissions Enabling and Configuring Core Modules Essential Contributed Modules Theming a Drupal Website Designing for a Browser Going Live Maintaining and Updating a Drupal Site Translating Business Requirements to Drupal Functionality Drupal and Search Engine Optimization Drush, the Command-Line Shell for Drupal 50+ Contributed Modules to Spice Up Any Site Views Recipes "

Genres: Reference

330 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2010

Reviews

[Chris Chinchilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Drupal is a content management framework that powers web sites from simple online brochures to more advanced sites including social networking sites, blogs, e-commerce sites, business portals, and more. It is free, open source software that allows anyone to quickly and easily build web sites. Its full range of modules—including user permissions, security mechanisms, JavaScript menus, image uploaders, WYSIWYG editors, and more— helps you easily create the foundation for a powerful web site. With its templating system (and a few tips and tricks), any graphic design file can be used to create a Drupal web site.

Foundation Drupal 7 covers all the topics necessary to quickly build Drupal-powered web sites, explaining in simple terms how Drupal works and providing you with concepts, tips, and code snippets for every step of the development process. From setting up a Drupal-ready web host and installing Drupal to using the administrative interface and configuring a site from start to finish, there is something here for everyone. In addition to thoroughly discussing all of Drupal’s core modules, this book reviews more than 50 contributed modules, including WYSIWYG HTML editors, JavaScript drop-down menus, web forms, and even the powerful Views module. Stephanie Pakrul, creator and maintainer of the Fusion theme, coauthors a chapter on how to lay out and add graphics to a site through Drupal’s administrative section. After reading this book, you will walk away with everything you need to know to quickly and successfully build a Drupal-powered web site.

Whether you’re an experienced Drupal site builder looking to expand your skills, a web developer or designer interested in learning Drupal, or a weekend hobbyist looking to build your first site, Foundation Drupal 7 will give you the knowledge and inspiration you need to bring your ideas to life.

What you’ll learn Significantly decrease the amount of time it takes you to code a feature-rich website. Understand how Drupal works and learn best practices to quickly integrate Drupal into every website you design. Learn how to configure a server and manage multiple websites and staging environments using popular server administration software (cPanel). Learn practical techniques to place Photoshop or Illustrator design files on a Drupal content management system. Have a reference manual and cookbook at your fingertips for help with CSS, popular Drupal modules, website recipes, code snippets and more. Who this book is for

The primary audience for this book is web site designers throughout the world interested in using Drupal to build web sites. The audience may have previous experience using Drupal but do not consider themselves proficient. They are familiar with coding a basic HTML/CSS web site, although these skills are not required to benefit from the book.

The secondary audience for this book is freelance Drupal developers who actively use Drupal to build web sites. They are proficient developers interested in reducing development time and learning Drupal best practices.

Table of Contents An Overview of Drupal Setting Up a Web Host and Installing Drupal Configuring a Basic Drupal Web Site Adding Content Types and Fields People, Roles, and Permissions Enabling and Configuring Core Modules Essential Contributed Modules Theming a Drupal Website Designing for a Browser Going Live Maintaining and Updating a Drupal Site Translating Business Requirements to Drupal Functionality Drupal and Search Engine Optimization Drush, the Command-Line Shell for Drupal 50+ Contributed Modules to Spice Up Any Site Views Recipes From the Author

This book originally started out as an idea to provide my clients with a training manual for Drupal, an "everything you wanted to know but afraid to ask" book. I was cautious about submitting the book to publishers, because a lot of what I wanted to cover are the types of things I don't want my competitors to know; the modules I use, the techniques I practice, the basic stuff I do every day. I'm very happy with the results; the book is not for hard-core Drupal developers (get Pro Drupal Development for that) but for people new to Drupal who are looking to build and administer awesome sites without the need to code. I try to explain not only how Drupal works, but how you can expand core Drupal and think in "Drupalish" terms. This book is the perfect resource for someone who is new to Drupal and needs help administering and maintaining a Drupal site. If you are a developer or small business owner (like me), this book is perfect for your clients.

About the Author

R.J. Townsend is an entrepreneur, small business owner, and overall techy (borderline geeky) guy who enjoys using technology to bring value to businesses. He is the managing partner of Cultivate Technologies, a Philadelphia-based technology consulting and development firm, which specializes in Open Source Software such as Linux and Drupal. Some of his current projects include CodeMyDesigns.com and FoundationDrupal7.com. R.J. earned his master's degree in quantitative psychology from California State University, Fullerton and worked towards a Ph.D. at the University of Delaware studying Industrial/Organizational psychology. He has published several articles on integrating research and technology and won an award for his research in 2004.

[Brian Altenhofel · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book is obviously aimed at absolute beginners, I wanted to read it to make sure that I didn't miss any of the new stuff in Drupal 7. I must say that I am very satisfied with the thoroughness of this book, even with a few captions that were a little off (blame the editor).

I definitely recommend this book to anyone thinking about getting involved on a Drupal website.

[Jeff]

Just started it, Looks like it will be a good overview.

[Grant Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of an overview. Doesn't go deep into theming or creating modules.