Book review - Building Websites with ExpressionEngine 2
Leonard Murphy’s previous ExpressionEngine eBook covered version 1.6, this edition has been revised to cover ExpressionEngine version 2.
As with the previous edition it assumes a certain level of knowledge:
- You have used HTML and CSS to build websites before and you are comfortable editing HTML and CSS by hand
- You have never used ExpressionEngine before
- You want to build an interactive, feature-packed website
- You want to get started using ExpressionEngine as fast as possible and you do not have time for lots of reading
Like the previous edition, Leonard describes every step in detail to make it easy to follow, and these are supplemented with screenshots, hints and tips throughout the book. Many chapters include “Challenges”, some simple tests you can do to see if you’re picked it all up.
Chapters overview
ExpressionEngine installation
A step by step guide to installing ExpressionEngine on your server. Also of use may be the sections on creating user friendly URL’s (removing index.php), and renaming index.php.
Control panel tour
The tour covers pretty much all control panel fuctions, including new features such as the File Manager, Accessories, Snippets. It also covers the basics of setting up your first template and adding your first entry.
Moving a website to ExpressionEngine
This chapter uses a fictitious site called “Ed & Eg’s” and is based on a free Open Source CSS template (you can download the files from a link in the eBook).
Creating Channels
How to set up a Channel, using Ed & Eg’s FAQ section as the example. Everything Channel related is included including custom field, categories, statuses, commenting, RSS feeds, as well as creating templates for the FAQ entries.
Members
Covers member groups, member registration, creating member only content, and using member account functions such as editing profiles.
Creating a Calendar
Using the Ed & Eg’s example site again, Leonard provide a guide for builing an Events Calendar, including setting up a Event Channel and templates.
Creating a photo gallery
EE no longer has the gallery module that shipped with 1.6. In this section you’ll learn how to build a gallery using standard Channel entries, everything you need to know is covered, from creating a gallery Channel to building your gallery templates. This chapter also goes into detail about EE new File Manager including it’s image editing features.
Beyond the basics
An introduction to some of EE other standard modules such as Search, Mailing lists, Email, Moblogging and Wiki, and including code snippets you can use on your own site.
Extending ExpressionEngine
Topics include Backing up and restoring your database, Upgrading ExpressionEngine, types of addons - Modules, Accessories, Extensions, Plugins, Field types - optimising for performance and combating spam.
Summing up
Just like the first Building Websites with ExpressionEngine ebook, this version covers ExpressionEngine 2 in great detail, and is a superb companion for web designers building their first EE powered web site. I’d also recommend it for existing EE1.6 users who are looking to upgrade to EE2.
Download Building Websites with ExpressionEngine 2
by Rob Allen | Filed in ExpressionEngine