Free e-book from Packt Publishing

[David Gillaspey]

Hi All,

Packt Publishing is a publisher of a number of books on open-source software. While browsing their site the other day, I discovered that they have taken a chapter each from a number of their books, compiled the chapters into one e-book, and made the e-book available for free download. Go here:

http://www.packtpub.com/article/open-source-cms-sample-ebook

Here are the chapters:

# Drupal - Setting Up the Development Environment
# Alfresco - Implementing Document Management
# Moodle Teaching Techniques - Quiz Solutions
# WordPress Complete - Non-Blog Content
# Building Websites with Joomla! 1.5 Beta 1 - Installation
# Professional Plone Development - The Case Study
# Building Websites with e107 - Customizing the Look and Feel of Your Site
# Joomla! Accessibility - Creating Accessible Content
# Managing eZ Publish Web Content Management Projects - eZ Publish Overview

Nice resource.

[flutem3]

Packt Publishing is a publisher of a number of books on open-source software. While browsing their site the other day, I discovered that they have taken a chapter each from a number of their books, compiled the chapters into one e-book, and made the e-book available for free download. Go here:

Hi, David,

This may be a ridiculous question, but what good is just the first chapter of each of the books mentioned? What makes it a good resource?

I have another question. How do you know when to change the design of a website? What happens when said person, me, comes up with no decent ideas? How can you tell that what you are deciding to do is better than what you already have?

Ours may not be great, but I don't want to make it worse. I have seen a number of websites which have gone from bad to worse. I don't want ours to do that...hopefully.

Thanks!

Carol

[generalhavok]

Carol:

I'll weigh in on your question. If someone asks you to redesign the website but has no ideas as to which direction you should go, I think they're just griping. If they can give you examples of sites with better designs in the hopes that you can improve your site, that's a step in the right direction...otherwise, I'd say "let me know when you get it figured out".

Honestly. I wouldn't be rude about it, but that's what I'd do: input without direction is often less than useful.

[StubbyD]

This may be a ridiculous question, but what good is just the first chapter of each of the books mentioned? What makes it a good resource?

Typicallythis is a very good way to get one interested in purchasing the whole book. It's an advertising ploy. For me, if I want to read up on teh subject then a chapter will generally give me an idea of if I'll enjoy the authors style and secondly how much waffle the author has put in to fill out the book.

I have another question. How do you know when to change the design of a website?

Whooo - I guess the answer might be when you are bored with what you are looking at. Or when the powers that be ask you to change it. I guess there are other legitimate reasons such as wanting to include some technology which the current design doesn't support.

What happens when said person, me, comes up with no decent ideas? How can you tell that what you are deciding to do is better than what you already have?

Collaboration is the key word here. At the point of having no ideas I would be looking to get input from others that have a vested interest.

[David Gillaspey]

what good is just the first chapter of each of the books mentioned? Hi Carol,

The compilation consists of specially chosen chapters from other books. These are not necessarily the first chapters. In fact, there's no indication that any of the chapters are first chapters.

The purpose of such a book is marketing. It's like giving away free samples at a grocery store. The store hopes you'll like the food enough to buy the product.

[flutem3]

The compilation consists of specially chosen chapters from other books. These are not necessarily the first chapters. In fact, there's no indication that any of the chapters are first chapters.

The purpose of such a book is marketing. It's like giving away free samples at a grocery store. The store hopes you'll like the food enough to buy the product.Hi, David,

I just read something in a design book which is of interest. It says that everything in the same website needs to be aligned the same way...whether right, left, or center. I find that extreme.

For example, I like to center Headings...especially ones at the top of a page. I can then understand how left-aligning in my case would work very well and would bring a consistency of look to the website.

But they also said that there could be instances where the text of a website would all be centered...just as long as it is consistent.

That does not track well with me at all. When I first started out, I centered everything under the sun...until I was taught to do something different.

What has your teaching taught you about the issue?

I have also discovered a terrific tool for placing audio sermons, text, scripture, podcasting, and mobi in one package. I have it up on our website. Check out:

www.wabashfirstumc.org/sermon_player.html (http://www.wabashfirstumc.org/sermon_player.html)

and I have one on the Christ Alive! worship pages at:

www.wabashfirstumc.org/christ_alive_sermon_player.html (http://www.wabashfirstumc.org/christ_alive_sermon_player.html)

I have no idea how the mobi icon works, but since everything else works, I would guess this would work as well. It saves me time, and it is easy to use.

The best thing is the company. After I signed up, I received the welcoming email. Three or four days later I received another one which asked how I was doing with it. They said in the next couple of days I would receive a call from them at the time of my choosing. The guy called right on time. The guy is Steve Scott. He walked me through all of the major features. Later I had a problem and wrote them. The next day Steve Scott called and my question was immediately answered...and it was nice to speak to the same person. It was also really great to speak to a person instead of a computer and its eternal menus. :D

I have had pneumonia which is why I have been so quiet. Actually, there has not been too much action on the old board lately. I wonder why? Any ideas?

Take care.

Carol