DRUPALDRUPAL

By

B.M. Chandra

08Q61A0512

What is Drupal?What is Drupal?

Open Source software written in php.

A CMS or content-management system.

A sophisticated web application building tool.

What is a CMS?What is a CMS?Simply put, a CMS is a website

you build using the website itself.

Wikipedia definition: A content management system (CMS) such as a document management system (DMS) is a computer application used to manage work flow needed to collaboratively create, edit, review, index, search, publish and archive various kinds of digital media and electronic text.

What can Drupal be?What can Drupal be?• blog• Forum• Online newspaper, Portal / Directory• Brocure site, portfolio, flickr like photo

drop• Social community site, job post board• Video site like youtube• Project management site• CRM, ERP, SCM, Wiki• Shopping cart system• E-learning, training site• Anything you can think of…

Why use a CMS?Why use a CMS?It helps manage complexity.

It provides a user interface (UI) for adding, editing and publishing content.

It provides a means for collaboration among many to perform the above tasks.

What is a UI?What is a UI?UI is a user-interface, which is a

general term for the layout of options, widgets and settings used to configure the system or manage content.

‘Site-building’ activities refer to configuring settings or managing content through the UI, such as building navigation menus.

Drupal StructureDrupal StructureDrupal is a database-driven

(‘dynamic’) application. It requires a database.

Drupal has a core filesystem whose functionality can be extended using the UI itself, modules and themes.

The UI settings are stored in the database.

ModulesModules• Packages of files in a directory that

you upload into drupal’s module space (/sites/all/modules)

• Add functionality to drupal

• ‘Core’ Modules come shipped with drupal

• ‘Contributed’ Modules are downloads from drupal.org

Using ModulesUsing Modules• A newly enabled module will add an

administration menu.

• Go to that module and read the help before changing anything.

• Play around and learn it’s feature set.

• Install the ‘Advanced Help’ module to get more verbose help with modules.

ThemesThemesPackages of files in a directory that

you upload into drupal’s theme space (/sites/all/themes)

Themes adjust the site layout and style. Like ‘skinning’ your media player.

Themes can be easily changed in the UI.

Drupal DatabaseDrupal DatabaseDrupal’s database tracks things like :

• Site and Module settings,• User’s information,• Access information,• Logging information, • Permissions and User Roles,• System Paths• Content and content metadata

NodesNodes• A node is the primary form of content in

a drupal site. At a minimum it is a title and a body, and can be ‘specialized’.

• A ‘page’ and ‘story’ for example are node types that have a specific node settings.

• A node type is a blueprint for creating instances of content of a particular type.

Layout and RegionsLayout and Regions• A Region is an area in a layout, such as a

header, footer, content, left/right sidebar into which blocks can be placed and arranged.

• A block is a box containing some information

• A node resides only in the content area of the layout (except in special circumstances).

• Think of the content region as a big ‘node’ block that allows other blocks in it but the node itself can’t move.

BlocksBlocks• Blocks are added by modules.

• Blocks can contain views, widgets, menus, nodes (in special circumstances), and panels.

• Blocks can be moved around through the UI

• Blocks can be styled individually.

UsersUsersAll CMSes (wordpress, Joomla,

Drupal) have a user login system; users have a username/pw.

Drupal also supports the concepts of 1) Roles and 2) Permissions.

Roles are user designations to groups having the same set of permissions.

Anonymous UserAnonymous UserA (not-logged-in) site visitor is called

a ‘guest’, ‘visitor’ or ‘anonymous user’.

Has a user-id (uid) of 0 (zero).

All anonymous users belong to the ‘anonymous user role’ (a role ID of 1) and have a set of permissions assigned to them.

Authenticated UserAuthenticated UserA user in drupal may belong to one

or more roles.

Every registered user in Drupal belongs to at least the ‘authenticated user’ role.

Authenticated user role has a role ID of 2

Root ‘Admin’ UserRoot ‘Admin’ UserThe ‘root’ user or ‘root admin’ has

the ability to do anything on the site and is a special user.

The ‘root’ user has a user-id (uid) of 1.

The ‘root’ user does NOT have role-permissions to set because they are effectively gods within Drupal.

Managing PermissionsManaging PermissionsKEY concept: if you grant

permission to an authenticated user, it applies to ALL roles except the anonymous user.

To grant a permission to everyone on a site, you must grant the permission to both the anonymous user and authenticated user.

Managing PermissionsManaging PermissionsTo grant permission to only a newly

created ‘dentist role’, tick the permission on that role.

Leave all the other roles deselected.

If you grant to both the ‘dentist role’ AND the ‘authenticated user’ role, you would be doing it wrong. Drupal assumes you know this.

Downsides to the DruupDownsides to the Druup• Drupal has a steeper learning curve

than wordpress or Joomla.

• Drupal and it’s developers make no excuse for this fact- it is a robust, flexible tool

• That said, the drupal community is constantly addressing usability and user-experience issues because they want the industry market share.

THANK YOU