A visual introduction to XOOPS

Horacio Salazar


          
        

2004-05-21

Revision History
Revision 1.02004-4-1HS

The first revision of the visual introduction to XOOPS

Abstract

This document gives you an overview about XOOPS


Table of Contents

A visual introduction to XOOPS
1. Introduction
2. What is XOOPS
3. Summary of Features
3.1. Easy Installation
3.2. Database-driven
3.3. Modular, Object-Oriented Design
3.4. Layout and Theme Management System
3.5. Smarty Template Engine
3.6. Group-based Permission and Access
3.7. Great Search Function
3.8. User Management
3.9. Multi-byte Language Support
3.10. Built in Image Manager
3.11. Friendly, Supportive Community
3.12. Organized Development Process
4. Official Modules
4.1. News
4.2. NewBB
4.3. Polls
4.4. Web Links
4.5. Downloads
4.6. Headlines
4.7. FAQ
4.8. Partners
4.9. Members
4.10. Contact Us
5. Other Modules
6. Core Themes
7. Credits
8. Dublin Core Metadata

List of Figures

2.1. The XOOPS main site presents a user side focused on a community site.
2.2. Every XOOPS site is managed through a secure Web interface that can be heavily customized.
2.3. It's up to you to create a visually stunning, attractive interface for the users of your XOOPS site.
3.1. XOOPS has a Web-based install wizard that leads you through the installation process
3.2. Module installation and deinstallation is an easy process in the admin side of XOOPS
3.3. It's very easy to define the position of every block available in the system.
3.4. It's very easy to define the position of every block available in the system.
3.5. For every group you have, you can assign all kinds of rights in your XOOPS system.
3.6. Search results are sorted by module so you always know where you'll be taken
3.7. Sending mail to your users is an easy process, and you can address them one group at a time, if you want
3.8. The image manager allows you to upload pictures that you can later use in your news items, for instance
4.1. News items present in the index pages a lot of information and links
4.2. Once displayed in full, each story has its comments associated, as well as many control options
4.3. Users with the appropriate privileges can submit stories to your XOOPS website
4.4. A useful way of browsing the news in a XOOPS site is the monthly archive
4.5. XOOPS uses the newBB forum module to hold its discussions
4.6. A category forum showing the most recent discussion threads
4.7. A discussion thread, which the reader can follow in a nested or flat style
4.8. The most recent threads can be shown in the home page as an invitation to enter the forums
4.9. XOOPS keeps a list of the polls published in a site even if they've expired
4.10. Every poll question shows its results in a horizontal bar graph, and can have its own comments thread
4.11. Polls can be easily configured by the XOOPS site administrator using this interface
4.12. The index page of the Web Links module shows links to the main categories as well as the latest links
4.13. A category's links can be easily sorted in eight different ways
4.14. Users can submit their proposal for links using a simple form. The submission has to be approved to appear in the site
4.15. XOOPS offers several ways of showing the popularity of each site in the links repository
4.16. The header of the Downloads module shows categories and subcategories. Then come the latest files
4.17. In a category, the files show a clickable link, and several options for users to interact with the site
4.18. Each download can have its own comments thread, if the site administrator decides so
4.19. One way of interacting with the site is the rating of downloadable files. This can be helpful to other users
4.20. Another way of participating is to submit your own file. You provide a link, as there's still no upload facility
4.21. And of course users can easily see which downloads are more popular or best rated by other users
4.22. The site administrator can decide how many RSS channels to show in its Headlines module.
4.23. There's an option that allows the site to show complete the teasers of the featured headlines.
4.24. In its index page, the FAQ module shows the categories of questions, as well as the questions themselves, linked
4.25. The category page of the FAQ module shows at top the questions of that category, and below the answers
4.26. The Partners module reminds users that XOOPS sites are not an island, but part of a friendly network of sites
4.27. Visitors can ask to be included in the partners list of a site through this easy to fill form
4.28. The Members module starts with a highly configurable search form. Don't want to use it? Just press Enter.
4.29. The result of the search is a list of members, with links to their e-mail accounts, their Private Messages inbox and their Web sites
4.30. Site managers can send messages to users as groups, or using various criteria
4.31. Each user has access to his/her own profile, to see participation and to have access to several user tools
4.32. The Contact Us module is a simple feedback form that provides user another way of interacting with the site
5.1. User wjue is the author of the popular calendar module called Agenda-X
5.2. There are several guestbook modules available to users. One of them is Narga Guestbook
5.3. Another powerful contribution is the OS Commerce module, developed by German Xoopsers
5.4. User Catzwolf has modified the Spotlight module to include two different template configurations
5.5. Catzwolf has also authored a powerful although still unfinished article management module called WF-Section
5.6. xDirectory is a very useful module for those needing ordered entries in a catalogue
5.7. XOOPS Gallery is one of the most powerful image galleries available to use in XOOPS sites
6.1. This is a common sight for XOOPS users: the default theme showing a very common default module (News)
6.2. The x2t theme is a bit more complex, using more images, but also has a more finished look
6.3. The phpkaox theme is very light and includes a graphical version of the main menu