Mambo/Joomla integration - Step-by-step

admin · Joined: 01 Jul 2005 Posts: 20

Mambo/Joomla Step-by-step instructions

Things to consider:

* Thyme is a web based application in-and-of itself. It is not a component or module for Joomla.

* We do provide a Joomla/Mambo authentication module. This allows Thyme to use your Joomla userbase. Once installed and configured, all of your Joomla users will be able to log into Thyme.

* We also provide a Joomla integration module called Joomla Studio.

You may view Joomla integration examples by navigating to Demos -> Joomla Integration.

- Step 1 - Download and install Thyme

You may download it here. Documentation on installation can be found here. This basically tells you to unzip, and upload thyme to your web server then navigate to thyme in your web browser. It will guide you through the installation.

The installation will be very easy if you upload Thyme to a folder directly under Joomla's folder. For instance, if your Joomla installation is in your FTP folder under public_html, upload thyme to public_html/thyme. The installation will automatically detect your Joomla settings. It is recommended that you place Thyme in the same database as Joomla. Since Joomla's table prefix is jos_ and Thyme's table prefix is thyme_, this is perfectly safe.

During the installation, take care to set Thyme's url to the same web site as Joomla. For instance, if Joomla is at 'www.yoursite.com', do not set Thyme to 'yoursite.com' (no www). This can be changed later if you forget to do this.

- Step 2 - Download and install the Joomla authentication module

You may download and view it's documentation here. Choose Joomla or Joomla 1.5 authentication module depending on your Joomla version. It is a zip file that contains auth.php. Edit auth.php to reflect the path to your Joomla installation and upload it to Thyme's modules/auth folder on your web server.

If you are unsure of what the path to your Joomla installation is, you may check configuration.php under Joomla's folder. This is called: $mosConfig_absolute_path in that file.

- Step 3 - Download and install Joomla Studio (optional)

You may download Joomla Studio and view it's documentation here. Choose Joomla Studio or Joomla Studio 1.5 depending on your Joomla version. The gist of it is to download, unzip, then upload it to Thyme's modules folder on your web server.

If you want to use Joomla's wrapper module to wrap Thyme, you do not need Joomla Studio. If you want to implement the Event List or Month View as seen in the demo, then you will need to install Joomla Studio.

Here's an example of someone who wrapped Thyme in Joomla: http://www.thenorthstarchurch.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,26/

And here's one that used Joomla Studio: http://www.visittioga.com/

Read through Joomla Studio's documentation and it will explain how to integrate into Joomla.

Please do not hesitate to ask any questions.

JaredsDesigns.com · Guest

Very nice job Ian. I think you have a winner here.

Little Install Tip.
For those interested and its only because its 3AM and I'm dead tired the thing that is easy to overlook is the fact that there are TWO MODULES folders under Thyme. One inside the other and if you dont pay attention you will not be happy.

So Drag the Joomla folder from the Joomla Studio into the FIRST modules directory and life is dandy.

Nap time, but wanted to point that out incase anyone else works as late as me.

Again, beautiful job Ian.

Jared Ritchey
Jared's Designs

muskiediver · Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 74

Where are the links? They are not working. Please fix and let me know. Thanks.

esoft_ian · Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 5268

fixed, sorry about that. Also added a couple real-world examples.

muskiediver · Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 74

On the joomal version example you have here:
http://www.visittioga.com/

Is it possible to include a link that will allow a person to print out the calendar? Does that feature exist? To many times people print out a webpage and it ends up on a few pages. We would like there to be a clean print out on one page.

esoft_ian · Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 5268

Anything is really possible with Joomla Studio. One user said this:

"..I mean, rapid development is really where it's at now a days. I want joomla components that are fast and painfree to deploy. Thyme seem more like an authoring tool rather than a calendar application..."

And he is absolutely right. Joomla Studio is more of an authoring tool than a plug and play calendar component. Another said this:

".. Many developers in the Joomla world want a simple, fully integrated, plug n play component and module for calendars etc. I would say that one year ago I would have been in the same boat. ..It is not for the average or casual Joomla user... I could not believe the potential that this application had as a Joomla solution...You are not going to get that with a quickly uploaded zip of a component and module... But people will have to realize that to get this much capability, you need a standalone application... There are more capabilities that have been provided to the client than outlined in the original SOW..."

And he is also right.

Yes you can have a printable view, but it will not be as easy as a checkbox that says "include printable view".

If you're looking for something fast, I would wrap Thyme. You'll see the wrapped example has a printable view.

muskiediver · Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 74

...to another thread entitled: print out the calendar?

You said "If you're looking for something fast, I would wrap Thyme. You'll see the wrapped example has a printable view."

Yes, but then I loose the "coming events" module on my front home page, like the one this user has here in the top left column:
http://www.visittioga.com/

How can I make the joomla version have a print calendar button? I am not an expert PHP developer and would need assistance?

esoft_ian · Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 5268

Naturally, and just like for visittioga, I'll be here to help.

True, you would lose the coming events with Thyme wrapped.

It's hard to explain how to do it withough you already having Joomla Studio installed and set up. You would create an event list, throw it inside a page, and have a link that goes directly to that page. This way, it does not go through Joomla and you do not get the surrounding site HTML. Just the event list.

If you want to discuss this further, let's start a new topic.

bsnodgrass · Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 1

esoft_ian · Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 5268

Hi Bob,

No. Actually it is best that it is installed in the same database as Joomla. That way it will not have to switch back and forth between them. During the installation, make sure that your table prefix is 'thyme_'. This is the default, so basically, do not change that option. If you have not already, you will see what I mean in Step 1 of the web-based installation.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

olevi · Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 2

Can events be added to a calendar shown in Joomla via Joomla Studio components? If so, where are the controls? I could only find "view" widgets.

Thanks,