Quote from: Photowebmax at Jan 03, 2008, 12:56 AM
My idea was to write a A to Z diary of how to create a site with MODx. Start with a rough pencil sketch of the site and list the dynamic needs etc. Then a quick review of how to create the design in Photoshop, setting the dimensions and slicing up the graphics. Then comes creating a basic HTML template and getting the CSS down (using the graphics.) Then comes the MODx part: quick review of the install (easiest part) and then creating the foundation MODx Template. After that comes creating a menu dynamically and a review of the Manager and how to edit pages. Then the critical part: adding the various Snippets to make the site function. This is the area where most new users get lost, confused and frustrated (like me). Include a review of the most common and useful MODx Snippets that included details on what they do, how to install them and how to get them to behave. A list of the most useful Snippet calls for each Snippet would be great as well. I think a menu of Snippets for the most common type of dynamic sites would be useful. So, you could say "if you are building a community site with multiple web user bloggers you need the following snippets..." or "if you are building a brochure site with e-commerce you need the following snippets..." and so on. Showing graphics that indicate how the all the options and snippet calls works would be great as well. This would be a major task but if you had someone who knew MODx well and new how to communicate to users in ENGLISH then I think such a diary/tutorial would be most welcome. Not sure if that person is me but the idea is buzzing around that empty space between my ears.
Videos are awesome as well. I was confused with all the geeky lingo on getting PHP and MySQL running on my Mac and then a I found an online video: the guy walked you through it SLOWLY and you could SEE every step he did. I watched it twice and after that it was easy...
Quote from: Photowebmax at Dec 21, 2007, 08:18 PM
The online documentation lists all the features of MODx and explains the Editor pretty well. What is lacking is a well written guide that would explain to new users how to approach MODx from the install onwards. What’s all that stuff in the MODx folder? Where does your HTML files go? Were do you put your CSS? How do you plan and implement the dynamic content? This is why a new Beginners Guide would make sense: these new user "crises" questions would not have to fielded as often...
STEP BY STEP TUTORIAL
A great TUTORIAL would cover most of these steps: creating a "project" for the most common type of dynamic website. The tutorial would build a full featured example site from scratch: well worded set that covers step by step instructions on installing MODx, setting up a site hierarchy, establishing Templates, Snippets, Chunks, adding HTML, adding CSS to build a starting HOME page. Written in straight forward ENGLISH. Often tutorials assume users know programming or the special terms involved. Then move on to step by step instructions for adding new pages while introducing Template Variables. Pictures illustrating the steps along the way would be great. Then introduce some added Snippets; for instance downloading, installing, and using MaxiGallery and eForm (all demonstrating actual samples). Then include procedures on backing up your work. Then show how to use the Editor and upload text, files and images. Maybe walk through all the steps involved in creating eCommerce and Forms etc, etc, etc. <Obviously a MODx tutorial is not the place to teach XHTML and CSS.>
I see a TROUBLE SHOOTING Guide as a big plus. Maybe list common errors, error codes, Snippet call mistakes, caching problems, browser issues, operating system differences etc and what to do about them.
I know this would be a big undertaking. But having this kind of "blank page to finished novel" guide would go a long way of gaining traction for MODx and eliminate much of the "how do I get this to work" frustration that new users go through when installing MODx. Overall I find some of the documentation is useful. But some of it is very inconsistant when viewed from a new user point of view. This is true of many computer system instructions: some instructions are very detailed and others zip through critical steps: like having detailed instructions on how to open your vehicle’s hood and prop it up but then saying "once the hood has been opened and secured you then change the engine..."
Max,
This was a good idea when you first wrote about it last December and still is now. Lots of well organized thought went into your post, this is a great framework or foundation for some of that work to begin.
Sort of like, we’ve developed this great system, we’ve organically talked about it, expanded it, and developed all this information about it.... now lets ORGANIZE the information so that a new group of people who are ready can start to use it efficiently and effectively.
(And, forego having to reinvent any wheels along the way.)
The forums here are great, but as Max said, we have so many excellent and advanced developers that newbies if they’re not tenacious sure can get lost, kind of like sending a 3rd grader into a huge college or law school library.
One thought: with the work that would be required to elucidate this, it could be a book. Maybe a free e-book download and a purchasable hard copy so the writers get something for their time? There are many co-writing/collaborating portals out there on the web, maybe some of us could get together and start something.
The Wiki is great and certainly a great achievement, but, this would be an even higher level of organizing this information. And I think video would be an even more cool/new/different way of decanting the information and getting it out there.
Quote from: Photowebmax at Dec 22, 2007, 05:16 AM
Let me know if you need any help. I can read through your lists etc. It might be advantageous to have someone read it through the eyes of green newby (like myself...)
I recently signed on as an independent contractor for a tech services firm: building brochure sites for their clients. One of the things I am working on is creating a FAQ & Questionnaire White Page that will help clients pinpoint and list their requirements/preferences for what they want from their websites. Helping folks identify these areas goes a long way to creating the building blocks required for getting the sites completed efficiently.
Max
Max, I understand if what you developed is proprietary, but if you’re willing or able to share, I’d certainly love to give that a read! And probably make some changes to make it my own and use with my clients. I agree with you completely that the intake process is a keystone to success.
The last comment I have to make, and it won’t be a popular one, is that the Nucleus CMS I used to use seemed to be really easy for a beginner like me to grasp. Now I want to do more, and have more options, so I’m beginning my journey with MODx. But, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Nucleus to anyone who feels that MODx is a little over their head and too much to grasp at the moment. They have a great group of people on their forums as well. Someone might come across this post and that might be the perfect answer for them at this time.
Excellent topic!
John