homepage questions

Hi, I am just getting started with Elgg. I would like the homepage to be very simple. Just to display a image with LogIn and SignUp buttons. With some "About Us" text .

I have attached a basic schematic of how I want my site to function. Will Elgg give me the capabilities to create something like this. Will it require creating original scripts and html code ?

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gzOhctnHxLc-5tmGVox9gQ?feat=directlink

  • (1) Yes Elgg gives one the capabilties to do something like that . You can see some examples ->  http://Me4Real.com, http://FbfKids2.juipo.com/ and elsewhere.. (2) Yep, a fair level of php and html knowledge will be helpful ;-)

  • That's great to hear. I like the look of the http://Me4Real.com page that s more in line with what I am going for.

    Where do I edit the look of the homePage.   I have been looking up and down the Administrators options and I cant find the place where I can design the look/layout of the home page.  ?

  • Do I need DreamWeaver or something like that to build the layout and look of my Elgg site. ?

  • Where do I edit the look of the homePage.

    /mod/custom_index/canvas/layouts/new_index.php/ or /mod/TEMPLMATENAME/views/default/canvas/layouts/new_index.php

     

    Do I need DreamWeaver or something like that to build the layout and look of my Elgg site. ?

    It is not essential. But, I do find working on Dreamweaver easier, pretty sure that others do as well.

    Or, use the custom_index_widgets plugin. I prefer hard-coding though. ;)

  • My issue with elgg. I have it working on my pc but when uploaded to server I get all kinds of problems. I have deleted it several times. Alas, it is still not working. I use an ftp program to copy files but the paths direct me back to localhost. I change the settings and get more issues. HELP

     

    it is under my hosting account http://myurl.com/elgg/elgg-1.7.4/. I did try loading it several ways nothing has yet to work. I like what I see on my pc but can't upload and make changes to get it to work on my server.

  • columbusohmm I can tell you that I am new to Elgg too and I never downloaded the software from Elgg. My server ARVIXE installed it for me this saved me the headache of having to upload the .zip file to my server

    To experienced Elgg users: Should I have downloaded the Elgg.zip file to my local machine too ? Is this the normal way to work with Elgg. ?

    Is there something cheaper than DreamWeaver I can use to design the layout of my Elgg site ?

  • "To experienced Elgg users: Should I have downloaded the Elgg.zip file to my local machine too ? Is this the normal way to work with Elgg. ? "

    so you dont have it in localhost ?? then do it...

    "Is there something cheaper than DreamWeaver I can use to design the layout of my Elgg site ?"

    Yea code with some notepad editor and with preview with localhost elgg installation

  • You can use the customindex plug-in by traveljunkie ( http://community.elgg.org/pg/plugins/project/384300/developer/traveljunkie/custom-index ) and
    it will basically give you a blank page for your home page.  Then you can edit one file in the plug-in
    and put whatever you want... just a login, etc.  I have ended up using another separate plug-in for
    my login, but at one time I had just some simple text and the regular Elgg login box.

    That is why my home page is still a bit simple... it forced my to use notepad and some very basic
    HTML! 

    You can see my use of this plug-in at my site here.

     

  • columbusohmm I can tell you that I am new to Elgg too and I never downloaded the software from Elgg. My server ARVIXE installed it for me this saved me the headache of having to upload the .zip file to my server

    Arvixe provides a auto script installater specially for Elgg. The prepium version of Softaculous provdes it too. And we do that for our hosting clients for free.

     

    To experienced Elgg users: Should I have downloaded the Elgg.zip file to my local machine too ? Is this the normal way to work with Elgg. ?

    Most of the people install Elgg on WAMP of XAMPP to test their codes before actually uploading to web-server. It just makes the process easier. Not mandatory, but recommended.

     

    Is there something cheaper than DreamWeaver I can use to design the layout of my Elgg site ?

    LOL! Go for Notepad as Jaxcatz said. Or, try Notepad++ or Notepad2.

  • I can make design changes and add features on my pc. I tried uploading direct to Godaddy. It did not work. I have a shared linux hosting account.  I use notepad as well. i am sure you could use frontpage or dreanweaver to design as well as see changes you make to your site prior to uploading.  auto script installer? I thought all was included in the zipped file. I do know of another site software. You are the host but it is mirrored on their server to prevent issues. The software is limited. http://netforall.com