Trying Joomla for the first time. Have installed XAMPP, started it and of course, getting interesting questions I don't know how to answer..
For a photosite, MySql? Have not been able to find out what kind of server my provider use ( one.com ).

Planning to set up a virtual server on my computer. Anybody who have some advice for a quick start?

Hi Lars,

I have few experience with Joomla, but not for photography purpose (you will need some add-ons). I am not quite sure it is the most relevant solution for photo but I don't know your goals. Anyhow you may need to play with it to come up with something satisfactory. So yes a local virtual web server is a must have. Everything comes handy with http://www.easyphp.org/

I don't have experience with Joomla. But I do with Wordpress, I believe the requirements are the same. You need to install a webserver, for example Apache, PHP and MySQL.

I don't know XAMPP, so can't help you with that I'm afraid.

Just installed it. Localhost seems to work fine.
Started the program and got error message "unexpected end of MySql... se log file ?" I clicked Yes, and it finds no log file.. Tried restarting the program, and the same happens.
The program symbol is where it is supposed to be, but by moving the mouse over it it says EasyPHP stopped

mmmmh... Don't think I have ever experienced that. I remember that sometimes I had "EasyPHP stopped" (but not because of MySql) and had to run the apache.exe manually (whereas it should be executed automatically) before lauching easyphp.Try to check out dedticated forums with the err msg.

The reason I choose Joomla is that I have found some very nice templates for it, but I feel I have to understand a little of it before I start using it. But, I'll have a look at wordpress again. Somebody mentioned it before in another thread, then I didn't get the time to check things out properly, let alone building a website.
Then, a few days ago I tried editing my site in the on-board sitemanager at my webhotel. The site was originally made with Frontpage, and had frames. The sitemanager obviously didn't control frames.. crashed.. So, no choice but to build a new site!

Did you build it yourself? In case, with a ready made template?

Excellent! Started Apache and MySql manually through XAMPP. Then tried to start easyphp. Didn't work, (error caused by other program using server)but now at least something seems to work by the book here. And the book is, Joomla.. printed a lot.. We'll se how it goes!

When I started with my website I've also looked and tried some different tools, also Joomla but decided that it was too complicated for me. I liked the easy way to setup Wordpress. When you have Apache, PHP and MySQL running, you just have to start one script to install Wordpress and have a working website. It is a matter of minutes, so I decided to use that.
Getting the site the way I wanted it, with the right template and plugins, took much longer obviously :)


Didn't you have a backup to restore your old website from!? Anyway, good luck with setting up your new website.

I guess I have somewhere on my old computer, but my new provider don't have frontpage extensions, so it probably would not work anyway.
No problem. I needed to get kicked in the.., the website really needed an update.
Have replaced it with a very simple page with a few links and contact info.

Planning to go for a template too, but I want to build and maintain my site myself. Kind of stubborn, and very much DIY. Built my house myself, built my boat myself etc..

I have used WP for some time now for my personal website. Tried to use it as a site tool for my company web (photos, gallery, info etc etc) but found that WP had limitations for other stuff than being a blog related tool. If you built your previous site in Frontpage the step to Dreamveaver as a tool (or something similar) can't be that big, or? I have thought about trying Joomla. Interested in sharing the link to the template you found? :-)

Anyhow, good luck and pls share the link when you are ready!

http://extensions.joomla.org/index.php Found it there, but the link I stored didn't work anymore. Will have to search again. There was loads of good photo web templates.
I have thought about dreamveaver, but the program costs a small fortune compared to what it is going to do for me. I don't plan to build for others, only one site.
I've been looking at WP before, don't remember it really, but I think I found the same limitations you found.

My main wish is to build a site where galleries are opening within the main window (without reloading the whole page). But, I don't want a fancy flash solution.
Then it has to be easy to maintain. I want to be able to upload new photos from any computer, not only the one with the sitebuilder program on.

Hi Lars

I would recommend you stay away from Joomla and use WordPress instead.
It is so much easier to manage from my experience and unless you are looking for some fairly heavy duty functionality, there really is no need to use a CMS like that. I have used both quite a lot and have always found the way Joomla site manager works is very counter-intuitive and takes a while to get used to.

Wordpress has some fantastic templates these days and the range of plug-ins is awesome and best of all they are nearly all free, unlike Joomla add-ons.

Some examples of really good and free Wordpress templates can be seen at the links below:

http://sixrevisions.com/resources/50-beautiful-free-wordpress-themes/
http://sixrevisions.com/wordpress/beautiful_wordpress_designs/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/02/09/83-beautiful-wordpress-themes-you-probably-havent-seen/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/03/25/15-more-free-first-class-wordpress-themes/
http://www.drweb.de/magazin/13-wordpress-magazin-themes/

Another benefit of Wordpress is that nearly all ISP's cater for it and most have the latest version ready to install.

Have started to look at wordpress. Installed and functional om localhost, installed a plugin and a theme that I liked, but can't edit it..

Why can't you edit it? What are you doing exactly?

Getting closer.. Still not found how to change the original logo in it. I find the address in the source html, but can't find it in the editor. This one http://xyloid.org/projects/reflection/

Maybe you don't have to change the code, just replace the logo.jpg with your own version.
Anyway, you can probably find the logo in the header.php

I did that just after I sent the message. Works fine. But a lot to find out of in an editor I've never seen before. Going ok so far, just didn't see the choices I had in the right side menu.
Thanks a lot for following up! Seems like wordpress will do the job for me.

Please let us know when your new website is up and running. I'd be interested to see how it looks. It might give me some inspiration for my own website!

I start wondering if it ever get published.. Got a template, and a theme made for it, and it don't work the way it is supposed to. I can get the album thumbnails to display ok, but clicking on them displays them on a new white page, not in the window like they do on the demo.

Get a plug in called NextGEN Gallery, it is fantastic.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/nextgen-gallery/
It will handle all your image display requirements and is easy to manage.

I've been thinking of making my own camera, downloaded a .pdf, now all I need is some card stock to print it on...

Thanks a lot Mark! That was one of the plugins I saw when I first looked at wordpress, and didn't find back to it. I've got the reflection plugin to work too now. Very simple too, to manage, but restricting the layout of the page.
Also got confirmed from my provider that wordpress can be installed.


Just send the pdf, I'll print it for you when I get my new Epson 9900. Can make a real large format cam.. on canvas, bellow cam of course..

Tried that one and like it. I have changed some red fonts to something more relaxing for the eyes.

Some problems though,.. How do you make the links to the galleries and albums? I simply don't find out how to make buttons that points to the pictures

To embed a gallery into a post or a page all you do is add the following code where you want it to appear:

[gallery=1] witg the number being the gallery number you want to show.

Is that what you mean?

Here is a link to some great help to get you going:

English version - http://dpotter.net/Technical/2008/03/nextgen-gallery-review-introduction/

Thanks a lot Mark, for following up! I found a way around it, not getting it to look like I wanted, but maybe easier.

I've set it up at my server, but want to move everything to the root so my domain name goes directly to my wordpress blog. Can I just move all wordpress files and folders to the root? Or does it have to be in a wordpress folder?

Mine is in the root folder but it was installed by the ISP automatically.
I don't know about moving the files manually there though, check with the ISP

My problem seem to be in the server setup. I'm not allowed to use the same password for the database and for MySQL. Wordpress is installed, the database files seems to be ok, but wordpress don't get into the database. I've e-mailed support for a solution.

There is a way to do that, although not the way you are suggesting I believe. I don't know how to do it myself, but if you go to the settings page in the admin console you can see and change two URL's. There is also a link there that should give you some more information. The Wordpress forums are also a good place for support. Good luck.

Published now! http://grepstad.no
Wordpress worked when it was installed in the same folder as database.. It is always smart to read the manual carefully, I know that, but don't always do..
I guess the theme will be tuned a little more when I get time. And more pictures uploaded, of course.

Thanks a lot to those of you who helped me!