posted
This is a fine book -- and since there is no other book about the Textpattern CMS -- it is hard to criticize it.
But I'd like to point out that the BuzzBomb tutorial in the book is NOT a tutorial. You can't follow along step by step to create the BuzzBomb site. The authors skip around explaining various concepts, menus, etc. in Textpattern, using the Buzzbomb site as an example only. The Friends of Ed page for this book includes a link to download "files" but the downloads are incomplete (no image files) so even if you try to re-create the site as described in the book's text, you won't be able to do it. Many settings for the BuzzBomb site are not shown in the book's abundant screenshots so you'll have to figure them out.
The book also has several chapters on real example sites (a great addition) but again, the files offered and the pages in the book are not step by step tutorials.
I suppose anyone bright enough to take on Textpattern as their CMS will figure out how to use it (I've already got a test site up and running) from studying the book and referring to Textpattern's own forums and online manual which are very helpful. But skimming the first few chapters of Textpattern Solutions, I assumed I was going to get a step-by-step tutorial. On page 158 the authors even promise over several paragraphs to show the reader how to set up the BuzzBomb site but they never fully deliver on the promise.
Authors/publishers -- if you read this, please at least make the downloadable files a complete set.
posted
I was considering buying this book, but am a bit concerned after reading these comments. Is there any update from the authors about providing the files for setting up the BuzzBomb site mentioned by this reader?
I keep reading from other sites that Textpattern has a steep learning curve.Posts:
1 | Registered: 07-17-07
posted
I am not an author or publisher of this book but for those looking for the images accompanying the Buzzbomb site, I took the liberty of repackaging the file download to include all the images on the site (as they're referenced from the css file as well as the band photo gallery minus the thumbnails since they can be created within txp)
PLEASE take note that if you decide to upload the images via Textpatterns upload image utility, they WILL be renamed numerically and thus will clash with how the css file calls them. Its up to you to either rename the image files or just simply update the css file accordingly.Posts:
7 | Registered: 07-21-07
quote:Originally posted by rodeopro: I was considering buying this book, but am a bit concerned after reading these comments. Is there any update from the authors about providing the files for setting up the BuzzBomb site mentioned by this reader?
I keep reading from other sites that Textpattern has a steep learning curve.
As for a steep learning curve..my own experience with textpattern is that after trying out numerous CMS's (cms made simple, wordpress, EE, joomla etc), I came to grasp Textpattern's concepts the fastest.
The hardest thing is to get around each CMS's own nomenclature and language. a 'category', or 'section' or 'snippet' in one cms will mean slightly different in another cms.Posts:
7 | Registered: 07-21-07
posted
Thanks for bundling the images. That was a bad oversight. I am disappointed to read that I WILL not be able to follow the buzzbomb section to build / recreate a complete web-site. This would have been a GREAT tutorial to those trying to get their heads around trying to work with textpattern to set up a site if they COULD have followed a real-live setup procedure. Why promise something only to leave out the most important parts:
quote:covers everything you need to build a basic website... you'll develop a site for the Buzzbomb band.
That we have to GUESS on how to actually make it work is frustrating. Why not provide the complete instructions? P.S. I have not found one explanation / example code for how one can reference an external css file? Where How do we declare our own css file?? I want to edit css directly using CSSEdit via Transmit/SFTP?Posts:
1 | Registered: 11-04-07
posted
vanni - I know your pain... I have found this book unbelievably frustrating as a new Textpattern user.
I also had the same question. the book says:
quote: While you could build your site using Textpattern's CSS editor and image upload facility, it's simply more effective to work with these files natively independent of the back end.
Brilliant! So how (he says expecting an explanation)?
quote:After uploading the supporting image and stylesheet files... ensuring that the paths to the CSS file and image directories are correct...
is all the explanation that follows...
Could someone tell me where in the directory to place the css and image files? I can't seem to find a simple explanation of the structure of the Textpattern directory, and would have found this helpful.Posts:
1 | Registered: 06-01-09
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