Joomla! 1.5

It's been almost 2 1/2 years..!

2009-10-29T08:35:00.003+01:00

Hello folks,
this page is still getting quite a few visits, even though Joomla 1.5 has shipped for some time now.

The title would need to be updated to the next major dot version: Joomla 1.6 is currently in Alpha 2 stage and includes great and long awaited improvements and features

ACL (or Access Rights Control)
(Unlimited? -needs to be tested..) nested categories
upcoming article commenting
extendable user profiles? haven't found where/how yet..

So stay tuned for some new screenshots, 1.5 vs 1.6 side-by-sides (keeping in mind that Alpha means lots of things may still be broken and or subject to change!)

Later.. ;-)

Beta-2 Tabs in Article Parameters

2007-05-06T16:28:00.000+02:00

Compared to 1.0, the tabs in 1.5 are much nicer: using Mootools, these are now sliding tabs with a nice animated effect. Look for some small differences in those article parameters... sure you'll discover them.
I'd like to refer to a post by Louis Landry here about precedence of parameter settings, as these are found in 3! different places for an article (that is, content component item):

it is supposed to work as follows

You setup the base component configuration. This is default behavior for the component in any scenario.

A menu item allows you to define a specific configuration for a component. This at its core is the most basic principle of what a menu item is. A specific configuration for a component. Because of this you are allowed to override the base component configuration.

The last step in the cascade of parameters is the specific data model for that request. In the case you are talking about that is the article parameters.

The idea is that an article can override anything that it needs to over even the menu item configuration. You will find that the ability to use global is still present at this level of configuration. This will revert to the menu item configuration for the component if an Itemid is given or the component configuration if no Itemid is given.

Original post here.

Beta-2 Plugins (ex mambots)

2007-05-06T12:06:00.000+02:00

Here's a side-by-side of the plugin type selection (filter) in the Manager:

left in red is 1.0: 4 types / Right and below that in blue is 1.5: 8 types, twice as many!

Notice:
the new authentication options,
the XMLRPC addition (now what I'd really like to know is how to use the Blogger API !!!),
the Legacy plugin which allows you to use 1.0.x extensions on 1.5
[Warning: users reported publishing this disables your site: only blank pages!]

Beta-2 vs 1.0 toolbar comparisions

2007-05-06T11:04:00.000+02:00

Here's some side by sides of toolbars, you'll quickly notice major differences.
Red is 1.0, green is 1.5

Main Admin Menus:
much simpler: 7 items instead of 10!

Article edition/creation:
note the "upload" is no more,
as this is now handled in the image pop-up modal window directly!

Menu Manager toolbar:
a direct link back to the menus, the new "default" button as you now can use any item as homepage (no need anymore to move it to the 1st position of the mainmenu items)!

Joomla! 1.5 Beta-2 is out! Template parameters.

2007-05-06T10:52:00.000+02:00

On May 4th/5th (depending on your timezone), the Joomla! dev' team finally released the much anticipated beta-2 of the upcoming 1.5 version. This release is more for designers and coders to adapt their code to the new framework, but everyone is invited to test and report bugs so as to speed up release of RC and stable versions. Check out the official announcement.

I'll post some of the new features and comparisions of 1.0.x and 1.5 side by side.

To start with, if you're a designer, you'll want to take a look at the default's Milky Way template parameters and how they are coded. In the administration backend, as you can see below, all the user has to do is set Color and or Background variation, Save, and the look of the site changes instantly!
Now I'd like a way to do this on a per-section/category/item basis.. (is there?)

Also note there's a second template, BEEZ, shipping with this release. Check it out, read the documentation provided for it, it is great for accessibility! (not shown)

SEF URLs in Joomla! 1.5 core!

2007-01-17T20:47:00.000+01:00

Well, it looks like the dev's heard the people, and gave them what they asked for:
much better URLs as a core functionality!
It's a bit hidden, and you'll need two steps to see the effect:

activate SEF in Global Configuration (make sure .htaccess is ok)
Go to Plugin Manager => System Request Plugin, and set "Build with real names" to yes as per above.

Then, check out the com_content URLs on your test-site ;)

Thanks guys ;)

(read more in this thread)

Media Manager configuration back in Global Settings

2006-12-18T20:39:00.000+01:00

Lacking a few explanations and improved layout (how can you expect a "normal" user knows what number to use for the max file size (in bytes!)?!, but:Media Manager config is back in Global!? Strange moving back'n'forth..

Menu Item editing feature

2006-12-18T20:35:00.000+01:00

Very easy to change a wrong link to an article now:
click the button, in the popup, click the article title, save.

1.5 Media Manager Bulk Delete

2006-11-27T21:09:00.000+01:00

It's a small change in the interface, but a major usability improvement:
you are now able, thanks to the checkboxes you'll notice next to each file, to bulk delete media from Media Manager! Thanks Louis ;)

Post beta Configuration changes

2006-11-05T21:19:00.000+01:00

Global Config: only 2 submenus left here: site & server

Config for Content: all article-relevant settings moved into
the new style config pop-up, easily accessible.

Configuration settings for users right in the user manager.

The Site menu evolution

2006-10-29T21:28:00.000+01:00

Mambo 4.5.0.1.9

Mambo 4.5.2

Joomla! 1.0.11

Joomla! 1.5 beta

Some database functionality from Mambo 4.5.1.0.9

2006-10-29T17:51:00.000+01:00

You could execute queries on your database right from the admin interface:
no need to access phpMyAdmin or another tool, very handy -if you know anything about writing your own sql queries that is.. :)

Backup functionality was very handy too.. still wonder why this
was completely removed from the code..?
Of course, backing up can be handled by extensions, but maybe
it would be better to be able to secure the content natively,
without having to install anything.

Media Manager, Future Present Past

2006-10-28T23:48:00.000+02:00

Soon in 1.5 (beta here): two views: details and thumbnail,
multiple file uploads, tree view to select folders..

Today: 1.0.11 is improved a bit layout-wise, but still lots
to do here..

Yesterday: Mambo 4.5.2 -doesn't look much different.

The Past: Mambo 4.5.1.0.9 -basic.

Evolution: adding a new menu item

2006-10-27T22:10:00.000+02:00

Mambo 4.5.1.0.9 - I don't even remember how / if in this version
you could add new menus (not item, menu) ?!

Mambo 4.5.2 - a few more options, same system.

Joomla 1.0.11 - many more options, even duplicates now.

Joomla 1.5 beta: a much simpler 3 clic system:
select type,
select layout,
configure (on the next screen).

Come a long way

2006-10-27T22:00:00.000+02:00

Tomorrow: Joomla 1.5

Today: Joomla 1.0.11

Yesterday: Mambo 4.5.2

Before: Mambo 4.5.1.0.9 -the good old days where everything was
so simple the admin home screen was only a big flower graphic.. :)
I wasn't around before that.. send me some more if you have!

Things from Mambo 453 beta I miss in Joomla 1.5

2006-10-27T21:38:00.000+02:00

Native data export, aka backup functionality!

Check in only selected items and not everything at once!

The language manager, which allowed to
edit and create language packs right from admin!

Example of editing one of the language files:
just replace any variables value by your own content!

There were rumours about a new language manager for 1.5,
but so far, there isn't anything in SVN..

Joomla! 1.5 beta Poll editing

2006-10-21T21:04:00.000+02:00

Clean screen, still a bit limited as no pictures can be included..

Joomla! 1.5 UI elements I do NOT like

2006-10-20T22:12:00.001+02:00

The menu item parameters (not shown in full here) are a mess!
No real visual separation (like fieldsets), way too many options
all in one place, not enough explanations as to what all these settings will do
(try to explain Category Order + Primary Order results to someone..),
this really needs some work still (and is not final, I know) -it's a beta, baby :)

Already requested, not (yet?) done:
change the meaningless date selector button graphic above [...]
to something visual like this:

or anything else that looks like a calendar / date selector.

The Copy icon is much too pale, almost invisible on my laptop!
Just boost the edges / outlines slightly?!

The mix of underlined text and yellow warning icons in Configuration.
How is the user supposed to know he can rollover these icons to get a tooltip about the warning? The tooltip should be provided by the text label, same as for all other settings.

Personally, I don't like the grouping in the Configuration screens into just 4 items:
Site, Users, Content and Server.
It is NOT clear where to look for certain things, what would each of Site, Content or Server include?
Why is Statistics not under Content?
Why are Feeds considered Content, and not Site?
There's room enough in the submenus to provide a few more links to settings such as
SEO: Metadata and SEF URL usage or not..

Joomla! 1.5 Section editing

2006-10-20T21:58:00.000+02:00

Showcasing
* the new modal popup to upload a new image for the section;
* the new styled confirmation message when you "Apply" to save current edits;
* an empty "link to menu" parameter??

Joomla! 1.5 beta Frontend editing

2006-10-20T21:55:00.000+02:00

New cleaner look of frontend article editing.
Note the missing image tab / details..

Joomla! 1.5 beta Article Statistics screen

2006-10-20T17:36:00.000+02:00

Again, note the sortable columns (by clicking headers)
and the ability to filter display by various criteria...
In order to have access to these details, obviously you
need to enable stats in (global) Configuration.

Also, note some of the titles for the new default content,
which explains many things about the beta, advised to
install in your test install!!

Joomla! 1.5 beta User details

2006-10-20T17:31:00.000+02:00

Screen when you edit user settings in admin.
Notice the options on a per-user basis to select
* backend language
* frontend language
(depending on installed lang. packs)
* the WYSIWYG editor! this is often overlooked:
you install (as admin) a new editor plugin,
set it as default in global config, and nothing changes
when you edit an article? => enable in your own profile!
* Help site lets you access Help content in other languages.

1.5 beta Template Editing: HTML and CSS

2006-10-19T22:58:00.000+02:00

The template HTML Editor.
I have highlighted some of the new XML -style tags now used in template creation
(instead of PHP code, which can still be used though).

From the CSS Editor screen, you can select any of multiple template css files for editing, then click the "Edit" button. See screen below:

You then get to directly edit the selected CSS file from Joomla! admin, live!
(so: be carefull, and keep backups: copy all, paste into a text file before editing, give it a version number with current date, at the end maybe add some notes about your changes, just in case you want to revert later on..!)

1.5 beta Template screens part One

2006-10-19T22:52:00.000+02:00

Template Manager with rollover preview thumbnail.
Notice the new "Default" button to select the main site/admin template.

Template Parameters are accessed by clicking a template name.
From here, you can set various params, as well as edit HTML and CSS files for this template. See next post.

1.5 beta Managers

2006-10-19T22:40:00.000+02:00

A typical Manager screen: the new "flat" submenu provides immediate access to site and admin, notice the clickable (to sort on) column headers!

Module positions (accessed from Template Manager) showcases a few new names..

1.5 beta Menus re-organization part Two

2006-10-19T22:34:00.000+02:00

I skipped Components Menu, which lists all installed components (with sub-links if available).
Here you can see the very simply Extensions Menu.
This provides single-click access to
* Extensions un/installation (for all types)
* 4 Managers for Modules, Plugins, Templates and Languages

The Tools Menu groups
* admin messaging (between admins),
* Mass Mail (to contact site members) and
* Global checkin.
Help Menu provides all the Help content,
which is currently disabled (beta one), and system info.

1.5 beta Menus re-organization part One

2006-10-19T22:23:00.000+02:00

Site Menu now only holds
* Control Panel (admin home)
* User Manager
* Media Manager
* (Global) Configuration
* and a Logout link

Menus Menu lets you add new menus and edit/create items for each of the existing menus, as well as access trashed menu items.

Content Menu now holds all article-relevant items:
* the Article Manager
* Article Trash
* Section and Category Managers
* Frontpage Manager
* Article (access) statistics

The new unified extensions installer

2006-10-14T11:03:00.000+02:00

Very nice new extension installer: no matter if you want to install
a component, module, plugin (mambot), template or language,
all you need is this one installer!
Very good styling of error messages too, as showcased here.
And, you have quick links to check on all installed extensions, from
where you can then uninstall any unneeded ones.

1.5 beta: your new admin home

2006-10-14T10:19:00.000+02:00

First you'll be greeted be the nice new login screen, only thing I'd add here
(as suggested on the forums by someone) is a link to recover lost password.

Then you're Home: the new quick button graphics,
the new expanding cpanel modules,
the simplified menus..

Installing Joomla! 1.5

2006-10-13T22:40:00.000+02:00

Let's have a look at the install of Joomla 1.5 (beta so far).
First, you select the language to be used for the install process.
All following steps will then be provided in a translated version!

Then the installer checks your PHP etc versions,
and if support for requiered extensions is present;
items needing to be corrected will be highlighted.
Follows the License which you can (and should!) read yourself!

Database configuration is an important step; you will need
your hoster-provided or self-created user credentials here!
Please also note the Advanced Settings tab (closed by default)
which you will want to use for example to change the
table prefix (from default jos_ to whatever suits you) in
case you only have one databse, but want to run more
than one Joomla! site..

Finally, the last step before you finish lets you set the
main email for the site, admin password
(carefull if you don't use your own but accept the provided one: write it down, it can't be recovered!),
and also default content.
I strongly suggest you test-install the beta with the sample content,
it contains many helpfull details about new features, UI changes and so on!!
Once you're familiar with the interface, try out the migration tool:
install the component into any live site,
create migration file,
grab the created content file,
re-install (drop existing tables),
and instead of the sample content, load your migration script.
Then copy over your images/stories self-created media (images), and test the site.. have fun!

Joomla! 1.5 beta released 12th october 2006

2006-10-13T09:53:00.000+02:00

The beta is now available for download!
You don't have to just look at theses screenshots anymore,
now you can test-drive yourself and really use it, check out
all the exciting new features, test extension compatibility,
start getting used to the new interface!

Lots of activity shortly before release was announced!
Good job, dev team!

Remember: this is a BETA, do NOT use on a live site!

New Menu Item: Article

2006-10-05T20:52:00.000+02:00

Select the "Standard Article Layout (single article)" type to get to the details screen above. You'll notice in the Parameters where the mousepointer is, the "Select" button. Click this, and you get the modal pop-up below here:

From the articles listing, filter by section or category to make finding the one you're looking for easy, just click the title and you've got it!
Simple as can be.

New Menu Item Creation: way cool!

2006-10-05T20:44:00.000+02:00

Here, you see the new selection screen for adding a new menu item:
* click on the type of item you want to add,
* tree will expand to reveal sub-nodes to select from (if existing).
First example below here is adding a Newsfeed Category List.

If you change your mind / notice you picked the wrong type, just click the "Change Type" button to go back to the screen above.

Very simple to use. Well done guys!

Enhanced Banner Management with Tags and Metas

2006-09-17T11:50:00.000+02:00

1.5 includes a cool new feature which allows you to target your banner ads to your articles contents!! Easy as 1,2,3,..4!

1. Open your various banners and ad tags (words) at the bottom to the new Tags input field..
2. Edit some content items (articles), ad one or more of the SAME words you used in the banner tags to the meta keywords input.
3. Go to Extensions / Module Manager, and edit the Banners module: set the new "Search by tags" selector to yes, (make sure the module position is using a position provided for by the template you're using!), and save.
4. Test various pages using different metas to check if they match with the banner tags you set, enjoy!

Well done, dev' team! Bring out the beta!! ;)

Cpanel is back!

2006-08-18T07:48:00.000+02:00

New sliding cpanel module.
Needs reinstall to show up!

Disable components!

2006-07-24T22:12:00.000+02:00

You can now very simply disable components, thus making them inaccessible even via URL (when adding "?option=com_whatever" as you currently can in 1.0)

Readmore new

2006-07-19T18:48:00.000+02:00

Here's the new reamore tag in action.
No more 2 editors, no more tag.
A clear visual separation with the red dashed line.
As there's only intro and main, there's no point in allowing more than one.
If you still try, you'll get the alert showcased here. Foolproof.

New icons

2006-07-19T00:28:00.000+02:00

Nice new icons as soon as you you "Home" in the admin interface.
Please remember this is not the final layout of this screen, as this is still WIP (work in progress): you may miss the cpanel part, but this is pre-beta stage..

Menu Manager >> mainmenu

2006-07-19T00:26:00.000+02:00

Notice the new "Default" feature: it doesn't matter anymore which menu item is the topmost, you can select any item to display as your sites homepage, and simply click Default on the toolbar!

New installer

2006-07-19T00:24:00.000+02:00

Notice the unified installer: no more selection what you want to install, just select the zip and Joomla! does the job!

New frontend template

2006-07-19T00:23:00.000+02:00

Article creation Image popup and pagebreak

2006-06-11T10:18:00.000+02:00

Pagebreak insertion popup

2006-06-08T22:41:00.000+02:00

Menu Item Wizard

2006-06-08T22:38:00.000+02:00

This screenshot being obsolete now has been removed. There is no more wizard used.
New "wizard" used both on new item creation and to change item type post-creation.

url: http://joomla15.blogspot.com
site_owner: Jochen Kiehl a.k.a. "eyezberg" (you can check whois for eyezberg.com)
address1: 32 rue Godefroy Cavaignac
address2:
city: Paris
state: France
country: France
postal_code: 75011
phone_number: +33 623103611
display_email: eyezberg@gmail.com
site_name: Joomla 1.5
site_description: Development news and screenshots of the Joomla! 1.5 CMS from alpha through beta and RC to stable

Menu Item Editing

2006-06-08T22:34:00.000+02:00

note:

* new button (opens a popup) to change item type!
* New easy drop-down to select which menu to display item on
* Trash added to state radios

Menu Manager

2006-06-08T22:31:00.000+02:00

notice the new button to easily select another item as frontpage:
just select, and click Default !

Media Manager Settings popup

2006-06-08T22:29:00.000+02:00

Media Manager Details

2006-06-08T21:59:00.000+02:00

Media Manager Thumbnails

2006-06-08T21:57:00.000+02:00

Global Config Site settings

2006-06-08T21:55:00.000+02:00

Global Config Content settings

2006-06-08T21:54:00.000+02:00

notice the feed settings here

Global Configuration Server settings

2006-06-08T21:52:00.000+02:00

Article Manager Interface

2006-06-08T21:50:00.000+02:00

notice the toolbar buttons, filtering options, clicable column headers to sort...!

Template preview with module positions

2006-06-08T21:48:00.000+02:00