Edugeek Joomla Package for static sites?

[HodgeHi]

Hello Guys,

 

Just a little question. I have run into a problem where the edugeek joomla package kindly released by SYSMAN installed well on my server but the LEA (broadband sandwell) have stated that i cannot run anything other than static content. what i mean by this is MySQL cannot be used as they will not install it, which Joomla requires to run.

 

How can i still use the Edugeek package to build static pages (perhaps with a little flash to create the slideshow items) but without using Joomla?

 

I have tried to re-create the pages editing the template CSS files and PHP files but to no avail. I will be the first to say that i am a complete noob when it comes to CSS and web in general.

 

I have found a CSS layout doc that creates the three column CSS layout but i am stuck at getting the White background with the gradient fill behind it.

 

If any one can help me re-create this template design without the need for Joomla and also MySQL then that would be ace.

 

It has been such a PITA trying to get Joomla the go ahead with the LEA and their services.

 

Many thanks in advance.

[Guest]

Which template are you wanting to use HodgeHi?

[Dos_Box]

'It has been such a PITA trying to get Joomla the go ahead with the LEA and their services.'

 

It doesn't sound like much of a service to me!

[HodgeHi]

Just the default one.

 

I would prefer the complete Joomla install but they are being soooo fussy about it all.

 

Cheers for the fast response :-)

[Guest]

Sorry HodgeHi, do you mean the new default one?

[plexer]

You say you've installed it on your server? is this for an internal site or a publically accessible one?

 

If it's for internal only and you have control of your server I don't see what it's got to do with your lea.

 

If your lea controls your internal server on your behalf find and unused reasonable spec machine and install ubuntu 6.10 LTS server on it as a lamp server and run it on that.

 

If it's for outside access buy some hosting, cheap enough, get your domain changed to point to the new hosting, cheap enough, bish bash bosh.

 

Ben

[HodgeHi]

Sorry about the delay. I was eating lunch.

 

@SYSMAN

 

The old default profile the one with the blue header. (eg_default)

 

@plexer

 

It is installed on our internal server (Xserve) and runs perfectly well. But the issue is that we already have a external website but our hoster will not allow us to run any MySQL DB on thier server (broadband Sandwell). The LEA also hold the domain name for our school and will not re-point the domain name to our servers ip. We also have no control over the firewall as we have a leased line from RM.

 

So all in all to keep costs small, initially we would like to host a static site up on broadband sandwells server since we are having a new school built in a year anyway. We will then see what happens with regards to the webserver.

 

The LEA were also reluctant to help as they have no information about what is to happen to their webservers as a switch of contracts to BT to manage their ICT infrastructure is in progress.

[plexer]

If you have a .sch.uk domain it is registered to you.

 

Nominet can force a change to the dns servers to whoever you want i.e a new host that will allow mysql etc...

 

In theory if you have an external ip that routes to yuor webserver then you could move the dns elewhere that you can manage and then point this to your server.

 

The simplest way is to buy some new hosting though and have nominet change the dns to the new host.

 

Ben

[ConTheITGuy]

You could get some really reasonable hosting nowadays. And if they won't point the name anywhere else, it is a simple matter to have your "official" site redirect to somewhere else I would think.

 

 

Andy

[Guest]

I should be able to sort out a static html page from the psd file, that be ok?

[_Bat_]

You could get some really reasonable hosting nowadays. And if they won't point the name anywhere else, it is a simple matter to have your "official" site redirect to somewhere else I would think.

 

 

Andy

 

That is what I did. Works brilliantly. No-one even uses the "old" domain name anymore either.

[HodgeHi]

@SYSMAN,

 

Yeah that would be great and its very good of you. I would like to be able to manage the layout using CSS (with the same layout of the current look) as well though if thats not too much trouble. The reason being is that i showed the edugeek template the boss and the secretary (who designed the original external site) and they liked it so much that nothing else will really do. It HAS to be that one. And i don't blame them.

 

I thought about re-direction and may look into it as a viable solution but the problem then becomes working with a seperate ISP and while we are not part of the broadband sandwell network like the rest of the borough, when we move schools the plan is to be, which then raises another problem where the LEA will not allow us on their broadband connection when hosting our own services due to risk of being hacked.

[ConTheITGuy]

I thought about re-direction and may look into it as a viable solution but the problem then becomes working with a seperate ISP and while we are not part of the broadband sandwell network like the rest of the borough, when we move schools the plan is to be, which then raises another problem where the LEA will not allow us on their broadband connection when hosting our own services due to risk of being hacked.

 

I, and I would guess the others who suggested it, don't mean switch ISPs. Just buy some external web hosting. FTP your site there. cPanel, or similar to set up your MySQL DBs, nice and easy, no messing - your broadband connection stays with your current supplier - you don't have any additional connections into the school which would contravene your T&Cs.

 

 

Andy

[plexer]

Exactly.

 

When someone types in your web address the dns servers will be the ones of the new host and will send the visitor to the right place.

 

This has nothing to do with your or the lea's internal dns servers or making any connections to your site.

 

Ben

[Guest]

@HodgeHi

 

Here you go. I just quickly sliced up my PSD template. Hope it is of some use.

[HodgeHi]

I thought about re-direction and may look into it as a viable solution but the problem then becomes working with a seperate ISP and while we are not part of the broadband sandwell network like the rest of the borough, when we move schools the plan is to be, which then raises another problem where the LEA will not allow us on their broadband connection when hosting our own services due to risk of being hacked.

We would also like to host our own email service as well. How could we overcome this problem with using a different hosting service?

 

Sorry i mixed up 2 different conversations when i wrote this bit. I meant to point toward the following:

 

We currently get email using the broadband sandwell email service but only online so when the internet is down, no mail.

 

We have email and webmail currently working internally but no access to it from the outside world.

 

I have looked at the static page that SYSMAN has made for me and i have attached how it looks so far. The smoothmove alternative is flash-based and rotates through 1 pic so far.

 

I am having difficulties though with adding content as i am struggling with adding the CSS to manage each section.

 

e.g the text in the announcement box tends to fall out the box and is slightly off-center. I have tried to combat it by trying to set padding properties to the cell and even trying to link CSS to the td but it refuses to budge. I have also tried inline styles but again nothing.

 

i might be missing a very simple process to manage tables and table data using CSS but i don't know enough about it to get the right command.

 

I have looked into divs inside the table to but not yet classes. It just seems a clunky way to do things.

 

 

As i said i am a noob when it comes to web-design stuff in general. Not my forte as it were.

 

Thanks for help and suggestions.

[Guest]

Hang on till tomorrow. I am in the process of turning the index.php to a static index.html - keeping the link to the css etc/

[HodgeHi]

SYSMAN_MK, you are a star!!!

 

I'm sure i can find something else to keep me occupied in the mean time.

Don't stay up too late. ;-)

[Guest]

All finished HodgeHi

 

Click here for a demo

 

Click here to download.

 

Hope it helps.

[HodgeHi]

That is absolutely stunning. The time it has taken to convert that is unreal. I strive to be that capable myself. Maybe a few years down the line at the moment however.

 

Many thanks, you are a legend!!

[Guest]

Thanks for the comments HodgeHi but it wasn't to hard. As you will see it is just 7 html pages. The hard work will be adding the content

[HodgeHi]

Ok,

 

I have finally managed to get a website uploaded using the template that SYSMAN_MK has provided edugeek utilising the static HTML pages that he kindly made for me.

 

I also need some feedback on the site wehn viewed from IE 6 + and 7.

 

I only have access to safari and firefox 2 at home so could not test on the MS browsers.

 

I think the site is coming along quite well considering our limitations

 

http://www.cronehills.sandwell.sch.uk

 

any other feedback is very welcome.

 

Font-size was increased as per request by secretary.

 

There are random images on home page using Javascript and also javascript showing and hiding the div sections on the news page.

 

Thanks

[beeswax]

the first image which caught my eye was the plan view of the school and the police station. That "association" worried me. The Pupil Work link brings up a 404, but I assume you're still waiting for content.

The Announcement section looked a little askew -

[MkII]

Looks great HodgeHi! Love the pics you've used

 

Browser = FF

 

announcements font is a lillte big

padding around the pics on the front page could do with increasing

 

(IMHO)

[HodgeHi]

@ Beeswax,

 

Yeah, the police station is nearly right next door currently, but still doesn't make it any quicker. I may remove that picture as i don't really like it much.

 

What browser are you using to see that slight overlap on the announcements section?

 

I do not see that at all in safari and i arrived at work this morning and checked on ie 6 and never saw it either.

 

Do you get the javascript content warning?

 

@mark,

 

I will look at the padding as i thought the same. The text does get a little close. I think i did try to incease the padding but saw no change so left it as it was for the time being whilst content was created.

 

The announcement font could be reduced and may also remove the issue being seen by beeswax.

 

Thanks for the comments i will look into them as soon as i can.