COAP:COAP-3110/week4

Week 4 learning goals

• Initial configuration of WordPress
• Theme selection
• Relational dabase principles, including looking at the table structure of Wordpress (if time left)
• (more .... TBA)

Monday Part I

... finishing the basic installation, preparation of next steps

Hands on- Worpress installation

• In principle, each participant does have a running wordpress

Installation problems:

• Wrong database name
• Wrong database user and/or password name
• file permissions (will happen when you move to a provider, change permissions)

Apache/PHP configuration:

Your web server and PHP configuration may have "low values" for execution time, memory use and upload file size. In particular, if you work with a slow USB stick, installation procedures may require more time. You can edit these values in the configuration files that you can get in the XAMPP console:

• Not enough memory for PHP (php.ini)

memory_limit = 256M

• Not enough execution time, often due to slow memory stick/computer. You may need as much as 600 seconds)

max_execution_time = 600

• File upload size must be changed in both Apache and PHP in in several places, e.g. see this stackoverflow Q/A

Hands on - Selecting themes and configuring the layout

Discussion

• Think about your term project
• Selecting the the (skin) should be based on several criteria, at least: usefulness, usability and appropriate looks.
• Discussion about User experience and user experience design
• Explore various WordPress sites, e.g. from https://wordpress.org/showcase/

Things to do in class (ask your neighbor or the instructor for help)

• Select a theme: Dashboard -> Appearance -> Themes
• Please configure the theme, including a picture: Use the "Customize your Side" link from the Dashboard.
• Add two static pages and make sure that they show up in a menu
• Add two stories.
• Add an Atom/RSS widget: Dashboard -> Appearance - Widgets

Wednesday Part I - Term project and web hosting

• 10 minutes catch-up for Monday hands-on activity: Theme installed, configured, pages created, menu changed.

Hands on - Identify a provisional project

Short discussion of term project ideas

• Read COAP 3110/term project

PHP/MySQL/Apache hosting

Be prepared to move you sever from the USB stick to a hosting company (ca. week 6 or 7)

Free hosting exists (see below). Prices for low cost hosting start around 3 Euros / month, but you have to add fees for a domain name to that if you want your own.

Well-known free (read the fine print)

• Host-ed (free, without domain name)
• AwardSpace (free, without domain name)
• 000webhost (free, without domain name). Test site used by the instructor: http://coap3110.comuf.com/

You can search the web for alternatives, e.g. read TechRadar, but be careful. Cross-check information about a provider.

Well-known cheap, HostGator is best according to PC Mag

• HostPapa (3 Euros/month)
• GoDaddy ($4-5 / month)
• Hostgator (3.5$ / month), also cheap dedicated hosting for $80/month

Recommended local (Geneva, Switzerland)

• Infomaniak (10 CHF / month). Probably one of the best in that range (quality/speed)
• HostPoint (10CHF/month, 30 day trial)

Domain name registration

• Most hosting companies will provide that service
• You many check if they are accredited with ICANN (i.e. first-level registrars)

A very short introduction to relational databases

• Relations between tables (Wiki article)

Wednesday part II - WordPress plugins

Using WordPress plugins

Please read:

• Plugins (Codex.wordpress)
• Managing Plugins (in particular, read installing plugins)
• Official WordPress Plugins Repository

Hands on - installing a picture gallery

(1) Installation steps

• Go to Plugins > Add New.
• Search for "gallery"
• Install one gallery plugin

There exist many comparisons on the web, e.g. read 8 of the Best Gallery WordPress Plugins Compared

(2) Create a gallery and make it available

• Create a gallery and a few pictures (at least 2)
• Create a page that includes a gallery. Usually, a gallery can be added through the HTML editor

(3) Compare with your fellow students

• Is the plugin intuitive ?
• Is it useful with respect to your needs ?
• Is the documentation well done and easy to find ?

Hands on - installing another plugin

• Find, install and configure another plugin of interest.