Newbie - Where do I Start?

[DataMouse]

Hi chaps (and chapettes)

I'm totally new to this forum - so advance apologies for my ignorance 

I have a plan to build a basketball site (non-profit) for my local league.
The league is split into several divisions and also has several cups that work on a knockout stage basis.

Ideally, I would like users to enter their player stats game-by-game and the database be able to output league tables and top scorers etc based on this. It seems that there are some modules out there that *could* do something like this (liga?)

However, as a complete novice that's never used Joomla! before, I have no idea how/where/what to start...

If I install Joomla! on the webserver and add the compnents, will this set up the database, or do I need to build my tables and host the db first?

If I run into issues, is there a stash of patient people that can walk me through setp-bystep?

Hope you can help.

Thanks

[gws]

You must create your db and user first, via cpanel and phpadmin or whatever server access your host uses. Have a look in the FAQS forum and download the manual and have a read and all will become clearer.

[Wizzie]

Hi

Welcome to Joomla! and the Joomla! community.

There is a great deal of information available in the forums and on the other Joomla! areas such as Joomla! Help. To get an understanding how things fit together when using Joomla!, I suggest you read through MiniDoc: Anna's Joomla Tips http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,5503.0.html. This is a great starting document, written in easy to understand English.

With regard to installation, either the Installation Guide http://help.joomla.org/content/category/15/99/132/ or the Joomla! 1.0.11 User Manual Joomla Help Site http://help.joomla.org/ have instructions on installing Joomla!. Quickly, you create your database and database user, assign the user to the database and that is it, Joomla! adds the appropriate tables etc during the installation process.

I have listed below are few other resources that might be useful
Absolute Beginners Guide to Joomla! : http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,47524.0.html
FAQ: I'm a Joomla end-user NEWBIE, where is the best place to start? http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,8542.0.html
Joomla! 1.0.11 User Manual is available for download from the Joomla Help Site http://help.joomla.org/
FAQ Section:  http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/board,49.0.html

Template information
Template FAQ: http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/board,337.0.html
RESOURCES: Template and css tutorials http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,35971.0.html
RESOURCES: Free Templates [url:http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,25306.0.html[/url]
Free Templates http://www.joomla.org/content/blogcategory/19/51/
Template FAQS - Please read this first! (UPDATED 02/2007) http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,71440.0.html

To add addition features to the standard Joomla! install, visit the Extensions Directory http://extensions.joomla.org/, which has both free and commercial extensions available. There is also JoomlaCode.org http://joomlacode.org/gf/project/joomla/frs/ which is the Joomla! forge where you can find Open Source tools and extensions.

If you still have problems or questions regarding this issue, please post back here.

[king triton]

thank you very much. i m also new here, so with all the information you've given re joomla will be a great help.
currently im using dreamweaver, so i just hope i could do this. tnx

[DataMouse]

thank you very much. i m also new here, so with all the information you've given re joomla will be a great help.
currently im using dreamweaver, so i just hope i could do this. tnx

Exactly teh same for me.
I normally code in DreamWeaver and only have experience of HTML and a bit of JavaScript and Flash/ActionScript.
I'm dabbling in php - but know virtually nothing.
When I was approached for this project as a favour, I thought it'd be perfect practice. But looking around teh community forum, I may have bitten off more than I can chew!

[jbudd]

I suggest you get Wampserver (http://www.wampserver.com/en/index.php).

It sets up a local server on your PC so you can play with Joomla without touching the Big Bad Web

You can create as many test/development sites as you want, and access any of them via http://localhost

[DataMouse]

Okey doke - thanks for your posts folks!

So, to summarise:

1. Install a webhost on my PC so I can install Joomla! there and have a play
2. Read the install pack for general FAQs
3. Build my own database (that'll be fun) to track Divisions > Teams > Players > Stats
4. Find some kind of module/component to pull it all together

Does that sound about right...?

[DataMouse]

OK - I'm stuck

I've downloaded the webserver thingy and installed on my PC.
I've then downloaded the zipfile for Joomla! and extracted to a file in the www folder (called joomla_folder)

When I try and access http://localhost, it says:
  The requested URL /joomla_folder/installation/index.php was not found on this server.

Any ideas?
I am stuck!

[jbudd]

You should have these files in the folder joomla_folder:

[DataMouse]

Yes - I have them

The full address is
D:\wamp\www\joomla_folder

I've also installed WAMP5 and it is online

[jbudd]

so if you go to http://localhost you see joomla_folder as a link, and get the error message when you click on it?

If so try downloading Joomla_1.0.12-Stable-Full_Package.zip again and unzipping it to another folder

[DataMouse]

I get an error that says:  The requested URL /installation/index.php was not found on this server.

I've already downloaded again and extracted - same problem.

I had to manually add a folder called joomla_folder
Should this have been done automatically?

[Wizzie]

Here are some instructions on setting up a Joomla! on a local machine
FAQ - How to set up/install Joomla on Win XP for local testing http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,25954.0.html
Guide:: Install Local Uniform Testserver & Joomla! in 20 easy steps! http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,37364.0.html

If these don't resolve the problem, please post back here.

[jbudd]

Wampserver assumes you've installed it in C:/wamp.
Its possible to get it to work on another drive - you just have to change a setting somewhere....

[DataMouse]

Still no joy.

On the instructiuon:
open a browser window and go to http://localhost/joomla

It still gives the same error...

[DataMouse]

Wampserver assumes you've installed it in C:/wamp.
Its possible to get it to work on another drive - you just have to change a setting somewhere....

Ah ha!
Do you know where that would be...?

I have two hard drives - D is my back up drive

[jbudd]

there are several occurrences of C: in wamp/php/php.ini and in wamp/Apache2/bin/php.ini

[DataMouse]

there are several occurrences of C: in wamp/php/php.ini and in wamp/Apache2/bin/php.ini

I only found one in each.
I've changed to D: and still the same...
Anywhere else?

[DataMouse]

I've also noticed that There isn't an installation folder in the zip file or the rar file versions...

[jbudd]

Hmmm, i just grepped for F: in my USB installation of wampserver and found hundreds, but i only had to change a few to get it to work, the rest must be setup during installation.

If you dont have an installation folder then you dont have the right Joomla zip file. Use this one:
http://joomlacode.org/gf/download/frsre ... ackage.zip

[DataMouse]

Now we're cooking on gas

I have the cpanel-type thing now

[DataMouse]

Okey doke.
Finshed the setup (was easy once I had teh panel).

Now I need to build my database I guess.

I'm gonna leave it for the mo, as it's about 3am here!
Thanks ever so much for your help - I hope you're around when I balls up again  :P

Thanks