Using ExpressionEngine CMS to impress both yourself and your clients

1. No gEEk? No problem!
Using ExpressionEngine (EE) to impress yourself
and your clients
Presented by Caroline C. Blaker
http://carolinecblaker.com
http://petroglyphcreative.com

2. I am Caroline!
I do this every day
I work in EE exclusively
I am an artist, turned web
programmer (geek)
Recently founded
Petroglyph Creative, 6344
4th Street

3. ExpressionEngine
is HOTT
Suits demand for all websites. ALL
websites.
Dedicated population of developers
and support that earn a living at
developing in EE, and for EE.
Confidence-inducing experiences with
development at all levels.

4. Expressionengine
is a commercial
product
Developed by Ellis Lab (ellislab.com)
First released in 2004.
This year, ExpressionEngine married
CodeIgnitor (development framework)
and adapted a new file structure and
other changes to make:

5. ExpressionEngine 2.0
Open platform, commercial quality and
support.
Extraordinary documentation (as good
as JQuery.)
Intuitive tagging system eliminates
need for programming knowledge.
However..

6. ExpressionEngine 2.0
.. is not free. :(

7. ExpressionEngine 2.0
Barrier to entry keeps the CMS source
code out of the hands of unsavory
types like hackers and virus
programmers.
Community is extraordinarily active,
though somewhat exclusive.
Some developers in the EE community
have a cult following.

8. ExpressionEngine 2.0
No more development headaches.
Use a little EE, use a lotta EE.
Features are easy to use and
scaleable.
Community support is available 24/7.

9. The Control Panel

10. YOU: Has HTML/CSS
Now what?
PHP Hosting environment with a MySQL
Database
Simply install ExpressionEngine
(trial or full) and create a template
group to drop your templates in.

11. YOU: Has HTML/CSS
Now what?
PHP Hosting environment with a MySQL
Database
Simply install ExpressionEngine
(trial or full) and create a template
group to drop your templates in.

12. template_group/
template
Paths are predictable:
http://domain.com/template-group/
template
All internal EE path references use
{path=“template-group/template”}
Reuse templates on multiple pages
that include repetitive code by using
{embed=“template-group/template”}.

13. Use a Channel to
publish content
Create the fields you need for your
content in “Custom Fields”
Add the content using the “Publish”
menu.
Create as many channels as you need
and as many custom fields as you
need. Associate them interchangeably.
Assign categories in groups.

14. {Tags} are your
friend.
{exp:channel:entries channel=“news” limit=“3”
category=“6” }
<h1 class=“news-title”>{title}</h1>
{custom_tag_name}
<a href=‘{path=‘group/template’}’>Read more</a>
{/exp:channel:entries}

15. {Tags} for templates
{exp:foo:bar} - Tells EE you want it
to do something and telling it what.
For you PHP’ers: A reference to a
function “bar” in the class “foo”.
{some_var} - One of the hundreds of
global variables at your disposal,
including any you define yourself in
the CP, like {phone_number}.

16. {Tags} for templates
{if {this_idea} ==‘understandable’}
Congratulations - you can use EE
{if:elseif {this_idea}==‘new’}Come on
mang, have another look!
{if:else}Nevermind..
{/if}

17. {Tags} for templates
{segment_1}/{segment_2}
{logged_in}, {logged_out}
{current_time format= “%Y”}
{embed=“template_group/template”
somevar=“foo”}
{embed:somevar}

18. {exp:channel}
Built as blogging engine, modified to
address all structurally repetitive
content
Saves LOTS of peripheral information.
Affect output by using parameters,
inclusion of custom fields.
Publish now, edit later; with the
same skills needed to edit a Word
document.

19. Making it your own
Create channels for all editable
content. Use custom variables for
small, consistent pieces of content.
Create one template for every piece
of non-editable code, and embed it
where it is needed.
Use FTP to host/edit CSS, JS, and
templates.

20. Control over paths
EE assumes nothing. It doesn’t even
assume that you have a navigational
structure.
Use Pages module to override default
URL rules and assign a specific URL
to content
Turns “template-group/template” into
“/whateveryou/want” at the CONTENT
level.

21. Your Nav.
Include file, edited by hand, yet
populated throughout.
Loop through {exp:channel:entries}
using parameters like category=“3” or
show_pages=“only”
For a visual editor of sections and
sub-sections use the Structure
Module. Use this for clients who
might be behind on the learning
curve.

22. What’s included.

23. What’s included.
Screen shot 2010

24. What’s Included.

25. ..but that’s not all
230 Add-ons for EE2 (devot-ee.com)
Add Member functions (User), easy
forms (Freeform), Favorites,
Facebook, thanks to Solspace
(Solspace.com)
Add Better Meta, Polls, Social
bookmarks thanks to Leevi Graham
E-Commerce, thanks to Barret Newton
(cartthrob.com) and HCC Development
(foxEE)

26. All Add-ons use the
same tagging system
{exp:freeform:entries}
{exp:twitter_feed}
etc.
So once you’ve gotten into
publishing, you can try add-ons
without being unsure of whether you
can wield them.

27. I’ll take your
questions now.
Because, y’know, its the end!
Twitter: @carolinecblaker
http://carolinecblaker.com