Alden Tech and Design

Drupal is today one of the most used CMSs (Content Management System) that is used around the world. Whitehouse.gov relaunched their web site in October 2009 using Drupal as the basis for their web site. One of the reasons for the popularity is that it can handle a lot of simultanous users, it is secure and you can change it to your liking. You can add and remove modules as you need. Creating a site with blogs, forums, online store, organic groups and other features.

Automated installation

There are several options for installing Drupal on a web site. The easiest is if your hosting company has a control panel that has Simple scripts or Fantastico. Then you push the button for installing Drupal, tell it where to install and the site is ready to work on. Remember that if you install to the root folder of the site, it might remove your front page so be aware of what you want to do.

Manual installation

The manual installation of the core is simple if you know how to use an ftp-client, a browser and know how to create a database on your domain. The following is a brief walk through on how to do it. There are other guides on the internet as well that are more thorough and cover the specifics for each hosting company.

Go to drupal.org and download verson 6.xx. Version 5 is still maintained, but I recommend that you go for the latest version.

Once you have that downloaded, unpack it and upload it to your web site using an ftp-client. Filezilla is one that is very popular, but there are many others.

While the ftp-client is uploading the files you can create the database that is needed for the installation. For most web sites a database based on MySQL is sufficient, but if you are going for a bigger site with thousands of users and a lot of content, look into using PostgreSQL. The information that is important is servername, database name, username and password. The username and password should NOT be the same as your normal login, and they should contain letters, numbers and other characters.

When all the files are uploaded, use your ftp-client and go to the following directory on the server: sites/default and copy the file default.settings.php to settings.php. Make sure the file is readable by changing the security to 777 (or read, write and execute for everyone).

Use your internet browser (Internet explorer, Firefox, Opera or Safari) and type in the url to your web site. You will now see the screen below. Click on Install Drupal in English.

You should now see the following screen if everything is working the way it should:

I have highlighted the options that is necessary. Most times the Advanced options is not necessary to look at as Drupal will figure out the database server/host. For some databases it might be necessary to add a table prefix in case you have other data in there. I use drup_ on some of my installations.

The next screen will be for you to add the name of the site (normally your business name), a system administrator username and password and you are ready to go. Have your site use clean urls if possible. It gives you an option to use friendly names on the information you are posting.

Important last step:

Use your ftp-client and change the security of settings.php to 444 (on some servers it will be 644) and you are ready to explore what Drupal can offer you. Most likely you will like to add modules and change the theme/template of the site.

Note that you have to check out books separate from all other items in the store.

Alden Tech and Design creates quality, easy to navigate web site design that you can rely on and enjoy. Whether it is a simple presentation of a person or high-end business web design needs (with a web store featuring thousands of products), each web project receives my full attention and care.

Please take a look at some of the websites we have developed.

Services

• 1 hour of free web consultation where we sit down and find out what you want and need for your own web page. This will also include an estimate of the web design cost. From around $150 and up based on what you need.
• Assistance in ordering domain name and hosting space.
• Layout, structure and design for all web pages. By making the navigation and look consistent on all web pages, your customers will enjoy ease of finding the products and services they want.
• Setting up databases (MySQL) and programming using HTML and PHP.
• Installing, configuring, designing templates and maintaing Drupal (content management system) for high-end web sites or for web sites where you and others need to edit the content or collaborate. Drupal can also be extended with forums, blogs, web shop and other modules/features.
• Additional options such as your own blog, calendar or web store are available.

Site development process

• Initial free consultation to discuss and understand your website needs and answer any questions you might have.
• From this initial meeting I work up a plan of approach and cost estimates to present you with options.
• We agree on a plan and contract that includes the milestones of the project and a timeline.
• The domain name and hosting platform is ordered.
• Text, photos and content are developed.
• The web site is constructed with feedback and collaborative dialogue.
• After your web site is up and running I will be available for questions, and to provide you with continued support as needed. I am also available to educate you on what you can do to maintain and update your web pages yourself.

Please contact us for more information or if you have any questions about computers or Internet technology. I would be happy to answer them.

Principles that I follow when I am designing web pages:

• Easily Accessible. I do my best to make pages that are:
  • Fast to download. Most users will go away from a page if it doesn't load quickly.
  • User friendly design that makes the customers feel welcome so they want to come back. 
  • Based on web-standards(CSS, HTML and PHP).
• Utilizing up to date security measures.

Web Hosting

Many have asked if I do web hosting, but I don't. I have considered it, but I have figured that it is better to leave that to people that are doing it full time.

I suggest that you take a look at our local web hosting company Pacific.net and then Bluehost.com. Disclosure: I might receive a small affiliate compensation from Bluehost.com. These companies have a quick and good service and give me the answers and help that I need, and I can recommend them based on my experience.

Some examples

Below are a couple of web site scenarios for  building the structure/foundation of your website. The table below presents some possible web site solutions and a cost estimate. The cost estimate does not include the work of adding your products to the web shop. The design of your site is basically included in the estimates below if you have your photos, descriptions and design elements decided upon and ready for "print".