I got started by writing answers to questions from my university students, my friends, associates, clients, and prospects. Anytime someone asked me a question that involved a detailed answer, I published a blog post.

Projects are completed within two weeks of receipt of all content and media files from the client and/or two weeks after LAST CALL period ends.

The minimum time allowed for project completion is two weeks after all content arrives from you, the client. Last Call is announced by SLO Bake when the project is ready to be completed. Last Call is announced when SLO Bake is:

1. Within two weeks of completion.
2. Waiting on material from client.

SLO Bake Requests:

• All content should be contributed* within FIVE DAYS of LAST CALL.
• All photos and other media must be ready to load to your site. This includes special icons, videos, audio recordings, photos, and all other media files.

read more

1) Core updates: security updates are released about once a month. They require that we:

• back-up the database tables
• back-up the files and file structure
• disable all contributed modules (includes about 500 files)
• site is placed in maintenance mode
• latest Drupal core files are uploaded to server
• database is updated
• updates are tested
• trouble shooting if necessary
• contributed modules are enabled
• entire system is checked
• site maintenance is turned off

read more

Updates vary based on the programs. For Drupal:

• Drupal Core - about every six weeks.
• Drupal Contributed modules - consider there are about a dozen modules, each of which are updated about four times a year. That means you are updating at least about four modules monthly.

I am often asked "What is a blog? How is it different than a Web page?"

Blog, blogs, blogging, and bloggers.
Finding a definition of a blog is easy. Defining it in a way that is understandable, is not easy.
1) Blog = Web Log
2) Articles or information = A collect of writings that are typically in chronological order.
3) Think = printing press + radio station + television station + store + freedom of speech + millions of readers

Web pages and Web sites
Web sites are built with many software tools and take on a variety of forms. Some Web sites are simple "online brochures" and others have tremendous capabilities such as online banking. Many Web sites have blogs (Web logs) with collections of writings. As an example, Bakersfield.com is part newspaper and part community blog.

I recently received a question from a professional in Long Beach California who asks "Can I use a CMS like Joomla or Drupla to make a site searchable and easily updatable? Any suggestions?"

My answer is YES! Drupal and Joomla are clearly great programs that make a site easy to update and search. Here are some thoughts.

1) Joomla is easy to update and with the help of RocketTheme Template Club (and other clubs) it is easy to create an attractive site.

2) Drupal is just as easy to update and with the growing number of template clubs is easy to create an attractive site.

3) The issue of "searchable" is one that requires a bit more information and explanation. First, let's consider what and how you wish to search. I suspect the site owner would like to have the ability to create and run queries. Queries (in this example) are information retrievals from a Web database. So really, we need to understand which CMS program database is best at creating and generating queries.

Joomla vs Drupal:

When a site owner creates a site with Joomla they add content in the form of "Articles". The articles are categorized by Sections and Categories. These sections and categories make it easy to generate queries. The "Articles" have a title, a body, sections, categories, and keywords.

Drupal on the other hand has far more options for organizing information and creating queries. When site owners add content they select a content type. This is the first distinction. There can be unlimited content types AND these content types can have unlimited fields. The ability to create fields is the second distinction. There is a fabulous module called CCK (Content Construction Kit) that allows the site owner to create custom fields to hold information that is easy to query, easy to organize, and easy to style (examples below). Additionally, Drupal uses FLEXIBLE taxonomy to categorize information.

Here is an example, in my Trainer Site I use 15 content types (see image attached) to organize my information. In the content type "training" I have over 20 fields, which are grouped in five "field groups". I then use "Views" to build powerful queries that make it easy to search and display information.

If I were using Joomla, I would have one content type (articles), two fields, and zero field groups. Ouch! When I was at Joomla Day in SF (Sept 2008) I asked one of the speakers if there was an extension that allowed me to create content types and add fields. The speaker blinked and asked me what I meant! In all fairness, I believe there is an extension that I could purchase that would give me some of the functionality I get from Drupal (for free), but why would I go that route? My site depends on this functionality and if one of the "experts" is unfamiliar with this functionality, I can assume this for-fee extension is not well supported by the Joomla community.

So my long answer to this simple question is that I would build a site with Drupal and I would use the fabulous CCK and Views modules. Am I biased? Yes and No. I personally build an equal number of Joomla sites as I do Drupal sites. I am biased in that I build sites that rely upon the strengths of the program.

If you want to see how I use five CMS programs at one site check out CMS Personal Trainer.

Thanks RJ for the question.

The development process is described in detail at Media Business Arts.

You may cancel your registration until five days prior to the workshop. You are charged a $30 processing fee. Cancellations WITHIN five days of the training are not eligible for a fee refund.
*Documented emergencies such as illness and canceled air fare are excepted. In this case, you will receive the full purchase price minus $30 processing fee.

You are encouraged to bring your laptop computer with WiFi or wireless broadband so you can work on the material in lab. Each student will be provided a "sandbox" to practice the material in class. Advanced users may want to have MAMP (Mac) or WAMP (Win) installed on their laptop (this is optional).

• MAMP (Mac) or WAMP (Win).
• Web Developer Server Suite

Please feel free to dress casually for the training. Shorts, sandals, and denim are entirely appropriate. Check Weather Forecast.

There are a variety of Drupal Trainers providing quality programs. Drupal Trainer Laura Scroggins is an award winning university educator who has worked for universities and textbook publishers for two decades. Founder and the creator of Drupal Trainer, Ms. Scroggins is experienced in providing quality education in MIS, eCommerce, and project management.

Drupal Trainer is the only training program that:

read more

Yes, in addition to paying with a credit card, you can pay by check or money order. This is especially important to some large organizations such as schools and government agencies. First, enroll in the class and when you are finished you will be directed to a payment screen where you can select how you wish to pay

Yes, a few seats might be available the day of the class however since seats are limited it is not advised. Please contact DrupalTrainer.com to confirm there are still seats available.

It is easy to enroll in a class by completing our Online Form or you can call Laura Scroggins at 661-330-7395.

If you need to cancel any appointment, you must give your Tutor at least two days notice to avoid being charged for the session. If you give less than two days notice (but at least 1 minute notice prior to start time), then you will be charged for 30 minutes. However, 1 full hour will count against the prepaid hours if you misses appointment without any notice. Also, if you schedule a time but arrive late, the clock still starts at the scheduled time. Your Tutor must give you at least two days notice to cancel.

Yes, Drupal Basics and Drupal Fundamentals will include lecture for the installation and configuration of Drupal core, contributed modules, and themes. Drupal Fundamentals includes lab time so participants can gain hands on experience.

Live Chat
Monday - Thursday 10:00am - 4:00pm

Phone Help:
661.330.7395
Monday - Thursday 8:30am - 5:00pm

2008 OBSERVED HOLIDAYS