[opencms-dev] Creating simple website

Wed Apr 29 19:31:40 CEST 2020

Hi Gerd,

I really appreciate your help again.

You are right, I am trying to rush through a bit in these starting steps, because I have a long list of requirements that I have to evaluate.  And we do not have enough time/budget to evaluate this product.  So I am trying as much on my personal time (worse case, I will learn something new ?? ).  You get the idea.

Again, thank you so much for your help.  At least I know I am on the right track.  I am sure you will hear from me soon ??.

Thanks & Best Regards,
Nili

________________________________
From: opencms-dev-bounces at opencms.org <opencms-dev-bounces at opencms.org> on behalf of Gerd Schrick <mail at schrick-design.de>
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2020 1:16 PM
To: The OpenCms mailing list <opencms-dev at opencms.org>
Subject: Re: [opencms-dev] Creating simple website

Dear Nili,

referring to
https://documentation.opencms.org/opencms-documentation/creating-a-website/creating-a-template-jsp/
I get a slight feeling that you try to rush thru the steps described there. (sorry if I'm wrong)

Yes, you're on the right track ...
the prototype (index.html) is your starting point for your site's template - so to say a static single-page website (still outside OC in your filesystem).
It contains all the required elements like nav, header, footer, main content - most likely represented with some BlahBlah-placeholder text/content.
Just pure HTML! don't think about how dynamic/real content will find its place later. (this is explained in Step 4; so, don't rush thru but take baby steps ;-)

The skeleton (structure) of the HTML prototype zip is described at the beginning (gray box) - it does not have to contain all the files mentioned in the example ... in your case of a very simple site this may be just something like
templates/index.html
resources/css/screen.css
resources/img/logo.png

I'm still confident that you succeed with the step-by-step approach.

Best regards,
Gerd

PS: I went thru the steps also in V11.

PS 2: in Step 1 it says:
"[...] After Logging into the workplace switch to the “Administration View” and select “Module Management” -> “New Module”. [...]"
That's "Quick Launch" -> "Launchpad" ...
But I guess you already figured that out.

Am 28. April 2020 17:15:38 MESZ schrieb Nili C <nilimesh at hotmail.com>:
Thanks Gerd.  I had that feeling that these files can be created/added later too.

However what I am not sure about is, if the index.html is just a place holder file (a template) with header/footer/nav/etc. And what should be in the place where content will be added later.

For now, I just created a basic html page with css and see how it goes.  It would be nice if a simple skeleton zip was provided, so I would at least know I am on the right track and not waste time figuring it out.

I really appreciate your help and support Gerd.

Thanks a lot.
Nili

________________________________
From: opencms-dev-bounces at opencms.org <opencms-dev-bounces at opencms.org> on behalf of Gerd Schrick <mail at schrick-design.de>
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2020 6:37 PM
To: The OpenCms mailing list <opencms-dev at opencms.org>
Subject: Re: [opencms-dev] Creating simple website

Hi Nili,

(I was just about to answer this question when the other one just popped up.)

Where you can find this .zip file? Nowhere "out-of-the-box" ;-)

That's the prototype/layout/template of your individual website and so one of the most unique parts of your website.
You don't have to use the described zip import to get the files into your site's (template) module - you can also create them directly in OpenCms.
The described import ..
a) shows a useful feature also for other usecases where it's convenient to get a bunch of files with a given structure into the CMS
b) is a great option to quickly get the basics for your site's template in place if it's more complex (many css, js, images, etc.)

Gerd

Am 25. April 2020 04:52:12 MESZ schrieb Nili C <nilimesh at hotmail.com>:
Thanks a lot Gerd.  Found it.  Its called Websites now.  (I was looking for it in Site Map).  I am going to start with this Creating the Template exercise.  You have really boosted my confidence Gerd.

In the "Before you start" step, it mentions the zip file (HTML prototype) with index.html and all other files.  Where can I find this zip file?

If we have to create this zip file, has anyone created this and could share please?  I will greatly appreciate any help.

Thanks & Regards,
Nili

________________________________
From: opencms-dev-bounces at opencms.org <opencms-dev-bounces at opencms.org> on behalf of Gerd Schrick <mail at schrick-design.de>
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2020 7:54 PM
To: The OpenCms mailing list <opencms-dev at opencms.org>
Subject: Re: [opencms-dev] Creating simple website

Hi Nili,

thank you for your lovely feedback :-)

You can find it here: "Quick Launch" -> "Launchpad" -> "Site management" (or Websites)

Details regarding "Launchpad":
https://documentation.opencms.org/opencms-documentation/the-opencms-workplace/launchpad-and-other-apps/launchpad/index.html

BTW (cool feature): you can configure what is contained in "Quick Launch" by drag-n-drop there (see docu)

Have fun! :-)
Gerd

Am 25. April 2020 00:11:31 MESZ schrieb Nili C <nilimesh at hotmail.com>:
Hi Gerd,

Thank you so much for your encouraging words.  It means a lot to me.  It really created that spark knowing that good people and good help is around.

I am a Java/JSP developer and very familiar with HTML/CSS as well.  So I am mostly struggling with the documentation (which may be off for the newer version).

In the link that you sent me on creating the template, on Step 5, it says:
        "If you want to create a new site that uses your template, use the "Site Management" in the administration view. Choose "New site" and fill out the form"

However, in v11, I do not see this.  When I click on the "Quick Launch" icon and then select "Site Map", I dont see any "New Site" option.  So do we know where has this moved in the new version 11, or how to do this?

Greatly appreciate your help.

Best Regards,
Nili

________________________________
From: opencms-dev-bounces at opencms.org <opencms-dev-bounces at opencms.org> on behalf of Gerd Schrick <mail at schrick-design.de>
Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2020 10:41 PM
To: The OpenCms mailing list <opencms-dev at opencms.org>
Subject: Re: [opencms-dev] Creating simple website

Hi Nili,

I understand what you're looking for.
It was the same for me when I (re)started with OpenCms some years ago ...
Well, finally I started step-by-step with the very documentation you mentioned (linked) and can really encourage you to do so, too.
It helped me a lot and very efficiently to get me started with this great and very powerful CMS ...
AND by really working thru the instructions and therefore practicing "real work" (including beginner's mistakes and further doku lookup as needed) I got a good idea how it feels to _really_ work with it ... and detected more and more really well-designed and helpful features just "by accident".

Assuming that you're (a bit) familiar with the basic technologies (HTML/XML, CSS, JSP/Java) and what a CMS is, the first chapter
https://documentation.opencms.org/opencms-documentation/creating-a-website/creating-a-template-jsp/
should already be sufficient to help you to get a basic/simple site up and running.
How fast depends on your knowledge about the mentioned technologies ... based on a given (simple) layout as mentioned in "Before you start" it took me less than 1 hour to get the site working to add pages/content.

Hopefully I was able to encourage you to "take the dive" to explore this great Enterprise CMS.
IMHO it's well worth the "work".
If you're struggling ... don"t hesitate to ask.

Kind regards,
Gerd

Am 24. April 2020 03:13:40 MESZ schrieb Nili C <nilimesh at hotmail.com>:
Hi,

I have installed OpenCMS v11.0.1 successfully, and all seems to be working well.  I have become familiar with the Admin functionality (creating users, groups, etc.), and also browsed through the demo site.

How can I create a very very simple basic website with just 2 or 3 plain HTML pages?  Do not want the demo site or any fancy templates or modules or multi-lingual/localization stuff, etc.

Can someone point me to a URL or documentation on how to do this?

I was looking at the following URL, but it all seems pretty complex to me to build a simple test website:
        https://documentation.opencms.org/opencms-documentation/creating-a-website/

Greatly appreciate your help.

Thanks
Nili

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