I installed XOOPS to it's own directory as advised.

http://www.dontpickup.com/xoops

Now I have questions:

How do I install a new theme? I'm sure there's a site or page that explains it simply but google gives me soooo many to look through.

How do I add a forum? What forum works best with xoops? I was thinking about phpBB2. If there's a XOOPS forum that's better, how do I install it?

How do I add a blog? I want one that allows multiple blogs. Which one is best and most compatible with xoops? How do I install that?

If add these other features (modules?) will they automatically be added to my menu?

I know I'll have more questions because I just skimmed over all the options, not knowing exactly what to put in. I'm feeling really stupid right now, this is just all so new to me. I'm sure I'll get it eventually....

Thanks!

Marisa

A good place to start is to read this.

Then go to the official documentation site and read this.

Each site is broken down into catagories for most, if not all of your needs.

As for modules, you can use newbb for your forums, it comes with the package.

As for a blog tool, I recommend using the news module. It supports categories, and subcatagories, so you can make one catagory your main blog section, and creat subs for what ever topics you want.

I've recently turned my site into a blog using the news module.

Read those links for help on uploading and installing modules and themes.

Hope this helps.

Thank you! Those links are just what I was looking for.

As for the News module, I see at your site that you have several "blogs." Will News allow me to give each member their own blog? I want each member to have the option of making their blog, or just some entries, private. Can News accomodate that?

My only experience with a blog is my online journal at livejournal.com. This, too, is new to me.

I've activated the forum that comes with xoops. Now I'm wondering if I should sleep tonight or keep setting this site up.... :)

Marisa

Users can submit news, so yes, if it's used as a blog, you can do that. Just st up some general catagories for your users to select from, one will not be created for them as they join or what have you.

Also, you can go to dev.xoops.org to get the latest news module. This version however is a Release Candidate and is in the final stages of tweaking and bug fixes before release. News 1.2 is the version you saw on my site. IT is using category view for the home page. It's also more powerfull then the stock news you currently have with XOOPS.

I'm telling you all this, because the latest version of News will give you more permissions based control for your users You can set it up so that they can only submit news (aka blogs) to one of several categories or whatever you choose. They will still be able to see everything, but only submit where you allow them too. You can also set it up for moderation, or add/create groups of users who are allowed to approve the news, like your blog users for instance.

For now I recommend using the version that came with your package to avoid problems. The new News Module will be release publicly soon enough and by then you will have a stronger feel for things.

This is just handy things I'm passing along, despite how much this may confuse you. It's your first day almost, so all this information is going tobe overwhelming at first.

Take you time. If your comfortable with a few achievments for the day, then go to bed knowing that you have learned something and that you can continue on tomorrow. Been there done that!

Good Luck!