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Hi, to all. I am web designer working for a local business directory or index (yellow pages kinda thing). We publish a yearly printed edition as well as an online version which is updated regularly.

I just finished installing and fidling around with MAMP and Joomla and have thus far liked what i´ve seen. I am looking for a better CMS option than what we have which is quite buggy, outdated and difficult to manage and troubleshoot (I am not the author).

This is our site: http://www.directoriodevalle.com

If you have the time please check it out and be so kind as to answer the following:

What modules, plugins or extensions (if any) would you, as experienced Joomla users recommend to replicate this site both visually and in functionality? (Free or paid).

Can i build and manage something similar using only Joomla and its built in features?
What i need is:
A-Z indexing of genres, sub genres and businesses / images with indexable text / images with external links / flash or javascript / detailed search / maps and locations / animated banners and buttons / ease of use , design and interface flexibility, SEO and analytics integration.

I am an avid tutorial and forum reader, looking forward to using Joomla to its full potential, just need a push in the right direction.

What extensions or resource (if any) would you classify as "essential"?

I already know html, css, flash, php and javascript...will these help at all?

Thank you for your time and knowledge, i will be looking forward to your answers.

Knowing how to code will help, but you will also want to understand Model View Control and also will want to read through some Joomla developement handbooks available to you through joomla. There are lots of great components that are available for whatever extension that you are looking for.

I would suggest that you go to the extensions page and go to popular, editors picks and such. That will give you some real direction towards what people are using. Also read the comments but don't be put off if someone gave it a bad review because they couldn't install something. Remember it's very important that you don't hack your core because you want make a change in your system. When you go to update your system you'll find that your work is gone if the core updates over your hacks. Also remember that if someone else develops something for you, make sure that you can install it without letting them at your core. Otherwise all sorts of funny things can happen.

Some of the most important components to these sites in my opinion are going to be your security components and your seo components. Without these you can build the best Joomla site possible but the second someone hacks your system and you don't have it backed up, or you try to launch it to google and your seo is crap, then you'll wish you would have had these.

Those are some important first steps. Hope this helps. Welcome aboard.

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