Drupal is a sophisticated software system for running web sites that is widely used and has won several awards for best Content Management System (CMS). With Drupal, you can maintain and update web sites without any html or coding knowledge (although it's extremely helpful and almost necessary for the installation and customization of your theme).
However, using Drupal can take some getting used to. We've created this site to help show you how to maintain your site.
Drupal provides these advantages to users:
- Pages can be updated and formatted using a simple toolbar, with no knowledge of HTML code
- Content from MS Word pages can be pasted in with automatic translation of word formatting into web formatting
- Site search is automated
- There is a built-in calendar system (using the event or calendar modules)
- Both News and the Calendar can be published as RSS feeds, if desired
- A photo image manager automatically adjusts photo sizes on uploads, and manages a library of uploaded images
- New users can be created and given limited power over the site.
- There is a built-in blogging system
- There is a built-in discussion forum system
- There are new features being added all the time.
What is Drupal?
Drupal is a Content Management System (CMS) that allows you to make changes and additions to your web site via your browser.
No html knowledge is necessary, as included with this software is a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) html editor, which works much like Word or other word processing software.
Want additional functionality?
Want to be able to do more with your site? Functionality is added to a Drupal system through the installation of "modules". There are dozens of add-ons for Drupal, and only a few come with a basic install of Drupal.
You can look at the entire listing of additional modules here and additional themes here; however, you will only be able to sort by which version of Drupal they work with if you register on their site.
Looking for more topics?
Looking for a topic that isn't here? Email Jenni with the details on the topic you are looking for and maybe it will become part of this guide.
Much of what is in this guide is in response to questions we regularly get from clients and friends. As such, this guide is a work in progress and will have updates as needed.
