resource

Here's a checklist I used when quickly setting up a new sites in Drupal 6. It's appeared on this site earlier, but buried away in an obscure older page (Checking out Drupal 6: Dipping into new site creation); I'm moving it here so it'll have its own page that I'll remember (?) to update more frequently.

I hope this'll be helpful to Drupal beginners who are unsure what key tasks they should consider after installing Drupal. Bt don't dive into the list just yet! Some pretty important disclaimers come first:

Read these first!

1. My checklist is for sites built upon a copy of my existing Drupal "sandbox" installation. That's covered in the first few items of the list; Drupal installation from scratch isn't covered. Chances are you might need to replace items 1-4 with the standard procedure for setting up a new site.
2. My sandbox database already includes lots of things set up that I almost always want for a new site: can't-do-without-'em modules already enabled, input formats created, key content types configured, and so on. To better aid readers, I'll add those into the list over time.
3. The checklist represents just the basics to build the framework for a "generic" new site (to the extent that such a thing exists). After that comes the real work of web site creation: customizing and building all the features specific to the new site! That, of course, can't be covered here.
4. The list makes sense for the sites I typically make; it may be all wrong for you. Treat as reference and entertainment. (And parts may be all wrong for me; let me know if I'm doing something dumb and need to stop!)

The checklist

Here we go:

1. Create directory for the new site within Drupal installation (per general Drupal installation procedures)
2. Create empty database for the new site (via my ISP's online tools)
3. Import a copy of my sandbox site's database into the new database (via phpMyAdmin)
4. Make sure new site directory's settings.php file uses correct domain and database info
5. Log in to new site (Unasked-for tangent, and admonishment to writers everywhere: Note that that's "log in to site", not "login to site". Major pet peeve. Grrr.) 
6. Change ID 1 user info (which is still the same as sandbox site) to new info appropriate for new site
7. Put site in maintenance mode at admin/settings/site-maintenance
8. Enable or disable key modules at admin/build/modules
9. Handle any pressing warnings/notices tossed up by Drupal
10. Change site info at admin/settings/site-information
11. Enable and select theme. If an existing theme will be modified into a new unique theme, first create and rename a copy of the theme within the new site's themes directory. 
12. Make sure file system at admin/settings/file-system is set to sites/<domain>/files
13. Set site's meta tags at admin/content/nodewords, including Description under Front Page tab (requires Meta Tags module)
14. Set site's contact info at /admin/build/contact
15. Change sandbox site info at admin/settings/forward (requires Forward module)
16. Get Google Analytics ID via Analytics account, add at admin/settings/googleanalytics (requires Google Analytics module)
17. Set XML Sitemap, submit to Google (requires XML Sitemaps module)
18. Remove unneeded menu items (left over from sandbox setup) at admin/build/menu
19. Make sure email for site works
20. Once all is working, turn of error logging to screen at admin/settings/error-reporting

Steps after that start getting pretty site-specific, so the list ends there. The important thing is that the above takes me to a functioning beginning, without my having to think hard.

What's your (probably better) site setup checklist?

Welcome to Drupal!

Hi, Drupal beginner! Welcome to the world's most powerful, flexible, open-source content management system. Even if you have a stellar background in web design, programming, or other tech, you'll probably hit a few minor roadblocks as you start picking up Drupal. And if you aren't a techie, there'll be plenty to learn.

But contrary to things you may have heard, Drupal is getting easier to use all the time, and even the non-techie can create and manage a site with this powerful stuff. Here are some notes on what to expect, and ways to make progress faster, from a fellow user who's probably not far (if at all) beyond you on the learning scale.

This is important stuff. One of the keys to grasping Drupal is to understand that creating content is just a small part of the picture. Creating a node is simple enough; telling users how to get to any node, via links in menus or elsewhere, is the start of building a site.

Want your site to look sort of like this one? Then I've got news for you:

Your condition can be treated. Seek professional help. Now.

... Still here? Well, as long as you're staying, feel free to sample my first attempt at a downloadable theme: DRUPALACE ZEN, an unhealthy reimagining of the popular Zen CSS theme. (Download at bottom of page.) 

Naturally, you won't want to keep your site looking like this one; it's my hope that you can use the theme as an easy starting point for something more creative and wholesome.

Warnings and the such:

Before using the theme, please do cast an eye over the included READ ME. And just for the heck of it, why not back up your database beforehand, too? As a matter of principal, that's all. Oh, and double-check the door locks, and count the children. Just sayin', you know.

Your feedback and suggestions are welcomed!

Tips, tricks, and techniques.