Drupal is a flexible, open-source content management system, powering thousands of websites like those of The Onion, Bob Dylan and Amnesty International. In this introduction, you’ll learn the basic structure of a Drupal web site and find out how Drupal compares with other content management systems. We’ll also cover some common Drupal modules of specific interest for SEO, advertising and social media. Wayne Eaker is a software developer and online strategy consultant, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Wayne is a key contributor to LA2M, and is LA2M’s website programmer.

1. Introduction to Drupal
Wayne Eaker
wayne@samutech.com
LA2M, November 11, 2009

2. Drupal Is...
A Content Management System
A Web Application Framework
Free and Open Source
Runs on Apache, PHP and MySQL (also PostgreSQL)
Is used by thousands of websites, including:
WhiteHouse.gov TheOnion.com BobDylan.com
Amnesty.org Mattel.com Britney.com
FastCompany.com LA2M.org MissionMetallica.com

3. Content Management Systems
Publisher
Web
Database
Site
Reader

4. Open Source CMS

5. Web Application Frameworks

6. Frameworks vs. CMS
Flexibility
Out of the Box Functionality

7. Frameworks vs. CMS
Programmer Zone
Flexibility
Out of the Box Functionality

8. Frameworks vs. CMS
Programmer Zone
Flexibility
Publisher Zone
Out of the Box Functionality

9. Frameworks vs. CMS
Programmer Zone
Flexibility
Publisher Zone
Out of the Box Functionality

10. Drupal Components
Content
Theme
Modules Views

11. Content in Drupal
Node Properties
Type
Title
Body
Author
Published State
Created Date
Tags
The Node

12. The Content Construction Kit
Event Type Node
Basic Node Properties CCK Fields
Type Date and Time (date)
Title Location Name (text)
Body Graphic (image)
Author Speaker Name (text)
Published State Speaker URL (link)
Created Date Event Email (email)
Tags

13. CCK Demo

14. CCK Demo

15. Drupal Components
Content
Theme
Modules Views

16. Event Registrations
Event
Module

17. A Module Example

18. Putting on Pajamas

19. Putting on Pajamas

20. Putting on Pajamas
Event
Module

21. Putting on Pajamas
Event
Module

22. Putting on Pajamas
Event
Franken-
Event Module
Module

23. Putting on Pajamas

24. Putting on Pajamas
Event
Franken-
Event Module
Module

25. Putting on Pajamas
Event
Franken-
Event Module
Module
One Week Later
Event
Module
version 2.1 ?

26. Putting on Pajamas
The Drupal Way
Event
Module + Pajama
Module =

27. Putting on Pajamas

28. Putting on Pajamas
The Drupal Way
Event
Module + Pajama
Module =

29. Putting on Pajamas
The Drupal Way
Event
Module + Pajama
Module =
One Week Later
Event
Module
version 2.1
+ Pajama
Module =

30. The Drupal Form Hook
I’m getting ready to show the checkout form.
Wait, I have something to add!
Here’s the form. Give it back to me when
you’re done.
Form
Pajama
Module
Form
w/ PJs

31. The Drupal Hook System
A node has just been added A node is being loaded from the database
A node is about to be saved A node was just updated
A node is about to be deleted A node is about to shown in RSS feed
A node is about to be displayed A node is to be shown as a search result
A node is being prepared for printing A node is about to be shown in edit form
A comment has been posted/updated A module is being enabled/disabled
A form is about to be displayed Tags are being added/updated/deleted
A user has logged in/logged out A user page is about to be displayed
A user is being edited A user has just registered
A user has been updated A user’s account info is being loaded
And many more!

32. Drupal Components
Content
Theme
Modules Views

33. Views Demo

34. Drupal Components
Content
Theme
Modules Views

35. Getting Started with Drupal
Users
Download Drupal: http://drupal.org
Installation Guide: http://drupal.org/getting-started/install
Drupal for Beginners: http://drupal.org/handbook/customization/tutorials/beginners-cookbook
Developers
Drupal Developer Reference: http://api.drupal.org/
Pro Drupal Development, by John K. VanDyk
http://drupalbook.com/
Cracking Drupal, by Greg James Knaddison
http://crackingdrupal.com/

36. Search Engine Optimization
Nodewords - Enables Meta Keywords and Descriptions
http://drupal.org/project/nodewords
Pathauto - Automatically Generate SEO-Friendly URLs
http://drupal.org/project/pathauto
Taxonomy - Tag Content
Comes with Drupal
XML Sitemap - Automatically Build Sitemap for Search Engines
http://drupal.org/project/xmlsitemap
SEO Checklist - Shows Other Modules and Settings
http://drupal.org/project/seo_checklist
Drupal 6 Search Engine Optimization, by Ben Finklea
http://drupal.org/node/598550

37. Social Media
Facebook Connect - Allows Facebook Logins to Your Site
http://drupal.org/project/fbconnect
OpenID - Allows OpenID Logins to Your Site
Comes with Drupal
Twitter - Displays Twitter Posts on Your Site
http://drupal.org/project/twitter
Service Links - Adds “Post to FB, Twitter, etc” to Pages on Site
http://drupal.org/project/service_links
Video Filter - Easily Embed Videos from Youtube, Vimeo, etc.
http://drupal.org/project/video_filter
Flickr- Easily Embed Photos from Flickr
http://drupal.org/project/flickr

38. Advertising and e-Commerce
Advertisement - Complete Ad-serving Platform
http://drupal.org/project/ad
AdSense - Integrate Google AdSense into Your Site
http://drupal.org/project/adsense
OpenX - Integrate OpenX Ad-serving Platform
http://drupal.org/project/openx
Ubercart - Complete Shopping Cart System
http://drupal.org/project/ubercart

39. Other Modules
Calendar - Build Calendar with the Views System
http://drupal.org/project/calendar
Google Analytics - Adds Analytics Code to all Pages
http://drupal.org/project/google_analytics
Webform - Create Simple Webforms with Online Interface
http://drupal.org/project/webform
WYSIWYG - Adds Rich Text Editor to Drupal Node Forms
http://drupal.org/project/wysiwyg
Imagecache - Automatic Resizing of Uploaded Images
http://drupal.org/project/imagecache

40. Conclusion - Why Use Drupal?
Content Management System with
flexibility of a Web Application
Framework
Build a website that integrates
e-Commerce, blogging, forums, etc.,
without having separate sites.
Create custom content types and
dynamic views, with no programming
necessary.
Lots and lots of pre-built modules and a
large and growing community of
websites and Drupal programmers.

41. Questions?
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