[opencms-dev] Beginner completely lost

Paul-Inge Flakstad flakstad at npolar.no
Sat Sep 5 17:50:40 CEST 2009


Great job Mathias! Nice that you're putting down the effort to do this.

Keep up the good work! ;-)

Cheers,
Paul

> -----Original Message-----
> From: opencms-dev-bounces at opencms.org
> [mailto:opencms-dev-bounces at opencms.org] On Behalf Of Mathias
> Lin | SYSVISION
> Sent: 5. september 2009 12:38
> To: opencms-dev at opencms.org
> Subject: Re: [opencms-dev] Beginner completely lost
>
>
> Hi Shi & all,
>
> actually YouTube wouldn't be such a bad idea! I think video
> tutorials are
> most helpful, at least that's usually my best learning approach.
>
> I recorded an introduction video today using Movie Maker and
> CamStudio (both
> free and easy-to-use tools), but still trying to improve the quality.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iLy4N-8yz8
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHVHpJxG3mk
>
> This is my very first video recording and cutting, so please
> be considerate
> ;)
> On YouTube the quality of the screen display is little
> unclear, not sure if
> there's actually anything to improve it (I uploaded the video
> in a quite
> large .wmv file).
>
> Planning to add more videos step by step later. Hope to
> encourage others to
> do the same (on complementary topics).
>
> Best regards,
> Mathias Lin
>
>
>
> Um, you are right. Confucius (551 B.C. to 479 B.C.) said
> "Excellence in
> Education for All" (有教无类 in Chinese).
>
> More YouTube?
>
> Regards,
>
> Shi Yusen/Beijing Langhua Ltd.
>
> 在 2009-09-01二的 16:30 +0200,Marwan Ajraoui写道:
> > Why you do not share your khnowledges about OpenCMS, OpenCMS LOVERS,
> > doing some tutorial(s)?
> > Will be really helpfull and usefull for many people. It is
> not worthy?
> >
> > cheers,
> >
> > Marouane
> >
> > 2009/9/1 Shi Yusen <shiys at langhua.cn>:
> > > Achim,
> > >
> > > "In other words: With mod_rewrite you either shoot
> yourself in the foot
> > > the first time and never use it again or love it for the
> rest of your
> > > life because of its power."
> > > (http://httpd.apache.org/docs/1.3/misc/rewriteguide.html)
> > >
> > > Replace "mod_rewrite" with "OpenCms", it's still right :).
> > >
> > > Cheers,
> > >
> > > Shi Yusen/Beijing Langhua Ltd.
> > >
> > >
> > > 在 2009-09-01二的 15:43 +0200,a.westermann at alkacon.com写道:
> > >> Hi Shi,
> > >>
> > >> your perspective reminds me on the following
> > >> (http://httpd.apache.org/docs/1.3/mod/mod_rewrite.html):
> > >>
> > >> "The great thing about mod_rewrite is it gives you all the
> > >> configurability and flexibility of Sendmail. The downside to
> > mod_rewrite
> > >> is that it gives you all the configurability and flexibility of
> > Sendmail."
> > >>
> > >> I never had an OpenCms project where I had to say: "No
> this is not
> > >> possible". In my beginnings with OpenCms I sure had to
> say: "I have to
> > >> take a closer look".
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Kind Regards,
> > >> Achim.
> > >>
> > >> -------------------
> > >> Achim Westermann
> > >>
> > >> Alkacon Software GmbH  - The OpenCms Experts
> > >> http://www.alkacon.com - http://www.opencms.org
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Shi Yusen wrote:
> > >> > I remembered there was a PPT on OpenCms's struture
> which made OpenCms
> > >> > quite easy to understand. The main concept is
> something like this:
> > >> >
> > >> > 1. an HTTP request to servlet container such as Tomcat;
> > >> > 2. The servlet container forwards the request to OpenCms;
> > >> > 3. In OpenCms servlet, enter org.opencms.main.OpenCms first;
> > >> > 4. org.opencms.main.OpenCms produces an CmsObject instance;
> > >> > 5. The CmsObject instance contains the resource to
> visit and security
> > >> > who visits;
> > >> > 6. If the user has permissions to visit, using the
> loader of the
> > >> > resource to load it to the response; if not, error in response.
> > >> > 7. You can extend resource, loader, user, group, permission.
> > >> >
> > >> > Is it simple? Yes, if you know where to do the thing
> you want to.
> > >> >
> > >> > Is it simple? No, if you lost in OpenCms structure.
> > >> >
> > >> > My 2 cents,
> > >> >
> > >> > Shi Yusen/Beijing Langhua Ltd.
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> > 在 2009-09-01二的 12:51 +0200,Pablo写道:
> > >> >> Hi Gregor. I've been working with OpenCms for 6
> months. I had to
> > >> >> either develop an application with OpenCms or find
> another job. Some
> > >> >> people love it. I still wonder why. If I had a choice
> I would run
> > away
> > >> >> from OpenCms and spend my time learning something
> else. You will
> > need
> > >> >> plenty of time to get familiar with OpenCms implementation and
> > >> >> configuration.
> > >> >> I am sorry if that is not what you or others like to
> hear. It is
> > just
> > >> >> another point of view.
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> 2009/8/30 Paul-Inge Flakstad <flakstad at npolar.no>
> > >> >>         Hello Gregor!
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         I was first introduced to OpenCms around 18
> months ago. I
> > came
> > >> >>         straight out of scool (where focus had been
> on OOP) and
> > >> >>         thinking back to that time, I had a lot of the same
> > questions
> > >> >>         you do (although I knew I _had_ to learn
> OpenCms as it was
> > >> >>         already decided). What I did, was I didn't
> use OpenCms'
> > >> >>         template one/two. I set out to create stuff
> myself, in an
> > >> >>         effort to learn the system. Maybe not the
> best idea, but it
> > >> >>         certainly gave me some insight, relatively
> fast. Before
> > long,
> > >> >>         I also read the book (OpenCms 7 Development),
> which helped
> > me
> > >> >>         a lot. It may be the single most useful
> resource if you want
> > >> >>         to learn OpenCms, IMO.
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         Now, I know there's not any good beginner
> guides out there.
> > >> >>         Such things are mostly scattered around the
> mailing list,
> > >> >>         forums and whatnot. But it isn't all that
> hard to build
> > stuff
> > >> >>         from scratch. You'll just have to familiarize
> yourself a bit
> > >> >>         with OpenCms and its mechanics; templates,
> resource types,
> > >> >>         properties, collectors - and last but not
> least, modules.
> > The
> > >> >>         hardest part for me was understanding the way
> templates
> > work,
> > >> >>         since I wasn't too familiar with the concept
> of templates.
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         I'd recommend you spend some days just setting up a
> > test-site
> > >> >>         so you can fiddle around with these things.
> Being familiar
> > >> >>         with Java will help you, as you will be able
> to examine the
> > >> >>         docs. There are a lot of classes in OpenCms.
> Starting out,
> > >> >>         here are a handfull of the important ones (add the
> > opencms.jar
> > >> >>         library in your IDE project):
> > >> >>         CmsJspActionElement / CmsJspXmlContentBean
> > >> >>         CmsObject
> > >> >>         CmsResource / CmsFile
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         and also:
> > >> >>         OpenCms (in org.opencms.main)
> > >> >>         CmsProperty
> > >> >>         (CmsJspNavElement)
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         Also, you should read anything about
> "creating structured
> > >> >>         content", "defining custom xmlcontent" and so
> on. Structured
> > >> >>         content (also called xmlcontent, which is the
> "general type
> > >> >>         name" OpenCms uses for all types of
> structured content) is a
> > >> >>         simple way for you to define your own
> (structured) resource
> > >> >>         types. You do the definition using one or
> more XSDs, and
> > this
> > >> >>         is explained several places online and also
> in the book.
> > This
> > >> >>         is perhaps a more advanced topic, often involving the
> > creation
> > >> >>         of a new module, but I would not wait with this. It is
> > >> >>         essential if you're thinking of building
> stuff from scratch
> > >> >>         rather than using OpenCms' template one/two.
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         I hope you do not ditch OpenCms. It is really
> a great tool,
> > >> >>         and my bet is you'll enjoy it once you get to
> know it. Ask
> > >> >>         your specific questions here on the mailing
> list, and I'm
> > sure
> > >> >>         we'll try to help you along. :)
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         Cheers,
> > >> >>         Paul
> > >> >>         ________________________________________
> > >> >>         Fra: opencms-dev-bounces at opencms.org
> > >> >>         [opencms-dev-bounces at opencms.org] på
> vegne av Florian
> > >> >>         Heinisch [florian.heinisch at 3kraft.com]
> > >> >>         Sendt: 28. august 2009 18:13
> > >> >>         Til: The OpenCms mailing list
> > >> >>         Emne: Re: [opencms-dev] Beginner completely lost
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         Hi Gregor,
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         apparently you feel the same way I did when I
> started with
> > >> >>         OpenCMS.
> > >> >>         Except of you already have read the OpenCMS book ;-)
> > >> >>         Well, IMHO OpenCMS has a really steep
> learning curve. As the
> > >> >>         standard
> > >> >>         installation of OpenCMS provides a lot of
> features it might
> > >> >>         not that
> > >> >>         easy to grasp every little detail of OpenCMS
> at the very
> > >> >>         beginning.
> > >> >>         I fully agree with you the documentation that
> comes along
> > with
> > >> >>         OpenCMS
> > >> >>         is not very beginner-friendly. And as far as
> I know there is
> > >> >>         no
> > >> >>         complete
> "how-to-build-a-website-from-scratch" tutorial.
> > >> >>         You'll have
> > >> >>         to grab all the necessary information from different
> > sources.
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         Nevertheless, if you are firm with Java and
> the concept of a
> > >> >>         J2EE web
> > >> >>         application you should be able to get your
> website up and
> > >> >>         running with
> > >> >>         OpenCMS.
> > >> >>         Therefore, I would suggest you'll do the following:
> > >> >>         1. Install OpenCMS with all the template2 modules
> > >> >>         2. Follow the instructions in the OpenCMS
> book to setup your
> > >> >>         development environment (Eclipse) with WebDAV
> for efficient
> > >> >>         development
> > >> >>         3. Develop a template from scratch as described in the
> > OpenCMS
> > >> >>         book in
> > >> >>         order to convert your website layout into a
> OpenCMS template
> > >> >>         4. Have a look at the existing content types (such as
> > Article,
> > >> >>         News,
> > >> >>         etc.) that come along with the standard
> OpenCMS installation
> > >> >>         (template2). For the case that these content
> types do not
> > fit
> > >> >>         your
> > >> >>         needs, develop your own (also described in
> the book and in
> > the
> > >> >>         OpenCMS
> > >> >>         wiki).
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         That's it basically. Feel free to share your
> problems with
> > the
> > >> >>         mailing
> > >> >>         list for the case that topic was not discussed yet :)
> > >> >>         If you'll drop OpenCMS in favor of another open source
> > >> >>         Java-based CMS
> > >> >>         please let me know which one and for what
> reason (personal
> > >> >>         interest).
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         Good luck,
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         Florian
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         On Aug 28, 2009, at 5:39 PM, Gregor Schneider wrote:
> > >> >>
> > >> >>         > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> > >> >>         > Hash: SHA1
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > Hi there,
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > I'm looking for an CMS in Java since due to our
> > >> >>         security-policy PHP is
> > >> >>         > not an option, and we don't know our ways
> aorund in Perl.
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > Therefore, OpenCMS is (was?) one of our
> candidates, and
> > has
> > >> >>         been my
> > >> >>         > personal favourite until I started testing.
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > Giving you some background-information:
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > Installation 1:
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > - - OS: Debian Edge
> > >> >>         > - - DB. MySQL 5
> > >> >>         > - - Java: SUN JDK 1.6
> > >> >>         > - - Webserver: Tomcat 6
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > Installation 2:
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > - - OS: Windows XP
> > >> >>         > - - DB: MySQL 5
> > >> >>         > - - Java: SUN JDK 1.6
> > >> >>         > - - Webserver: Tomcat 6
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > On both installations I'm using OpenCMS 7.5
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > Myself:
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > I know my ways around in Java, JSPs, Servlets,
> > >> >>         Tomcat-Administration,
> > >> >>         > so there should hopefully not be any lack
> of knowledge of
> > >> >>         essential
> > >> >>         > components
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > However:
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > After having set up OpenCMS, all the
> questions began:
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > - - Where's the documentation?
> > >> >>         > - - Where's any sort of a good tutorial?
> > >> >>         > - - How do i...?
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > I have to setup a complete new webpage, so
> just editing
> > the
> > >> >>         > demo-applications doesn't help at all.
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > What I'm really, really missing is a
> step-by-step-howto
> > >> >>         showing the
> > >> >>         > following:
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > All tutorials / books I read just start somewhere in
> > between
> > >> >>         showing
> > >> >>         > how to hack into existing pages, but not
> how to set up a
> > new
> > >> >>         site from
> > >> >>         > scratch.
> > >> >>         > And yes, I looked into the Wiki, however,
> the points of
> > >> >>         interest don't
> > >> >>         > contain anything but a headline.
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > Currently I feel that OpenCMS is one of
> those really bad
> > >> >>         examples of
> > >> >>         > an OpenSource-project, where the code is
> the docs. Ok, I'm
> > >> >>         exagerating
> > >> >>         > a bit.
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > So if anybody could give me a piece of
> advice how to set
> > up
> > >> >>         a new page
> > >> >>         > incl. new templates, how to start, what's the best
> > practices
> > >> >>         etc., I'd
> > >> >>         > really, really appreciate this.
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > My other option is to dump OpenCMS as a cms for our
> > company,
> > >> >>         which I
> > >> >>         > really dislike, however, currently that
> seems to be the
> > most
> > >> >>         likely
> > >> >>         > option.
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > And yes, Ive read
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > - - http://opencmsnewbie.netfirms.com/
> > >> >>         > - - http://www.opencms-wiki.org
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > The book from Packt Publishing:
> OpenCms.7.Development
> > >> >>         (Apr.2008)
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > Again, any hints are really, really appreciated.
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > Cheers
> > >> >>         >
> > >> >>         > Gregor
>
>
> -----
> Mathias Lin
> SYSVISION Ltd., China
> http://www.sysvision.com
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://www.nabble.com/Beginner-completely-lost-tp25192160p2530
7022.html
> Sent from the OpenCMS - Dev mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
>
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