SiteGround Tutorials

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Zikula Tutorial

 

Zikula Installation

Get professional affordable Zikula installation with SiteGround Zikula hosting account!

To install Zikula manually, you will need to download the Zikula package first. Once you do that, you have to upload the package on your account using the File Manager tool or via FTP.

When uploading the Zikula package to your hosting account, please make sure you upload it in your public_html folder or a subfolder of it.

You have to extract the package following the instructions listed in the File Manager tutorial. Then you need to edit the .htaccess file under the Zikula folder and remove the following lines from it:

php_flag register_globals off
php_flag magic_quotes_gpc off

After doing this you can create a new database and a user for your Zikula installation. Please, follow the instructions on how to create MySQL database and user.

Web Installation of Zikula

The next step is to point your browser to http://yourdomainname.com/path/to/install.php. If you want to install the Zikula directly into the public_html folder on your site, then you have to point your browser to http://yourdomainname.com/install.php. In both cases please change the above strings with the actual URL for your script.

Step 1: Select your language and then click on the Next button.

 

Step 2: Read and accept the General Public License agreement, and click on Accept Licence button to continue.

 

Step 3: The script checks whether all the system requirements are met. If there is a problem, you will be informed. If everything is correct, click on the Next button.

 

If you do not see the same as the image above, please login to the File Manager tool and correct the file permissions. Click here to learn how to change file/folder permissions.

Step 4: Enter the database information as follows:

 

• Database type: MySQL
• Database Table Type: MyISAM
• Database Host: localhost
• Database username: the username that you created *
• Database password: the password for the username.
• Database name: username_database * (the name of the database you created).
• Table prefix: nuke (a good name for table prefix)

* Please note that both your database name and user get the cPanel username prefix. For example if you add a database called zikula and your cPanel username is user, the full name of the database will be user_zikula.

Leave the rest as it is and click on the Next button.

Step 5: On the next step you can select the installation type. The two options are:

• Basic - only the modules required for the basic operation of a site are installed.
• Complete - all the modules found in the system are installed.

Click on the Next button to continue.

Step 6: Next, please, enter the information for your Zikula Admin account. Fill in all the fields, and then click Next.

Step 7: Now you can pick the module for the start page. Please note that you can change it on a later stage. Please click Next when you are ready.

Step 8: At this point you should pick the default web site theme. Please note that you can change it later. Please click Next when you are ready.

Well done! You have now finished your Zikula installation.

 Click on the Go to your Zikula site button in order to check it.

Zikula Themes

In order to change your Zikula theme, please, follow the step-by-step guide below. Themes for Zikula can be found in the Zikula Module data base.

How to change Zikula Themes (Templates)?

Please, follow the instructions below in order to change the theme of your Zikula installation.

Step 1: Download the theme and unpack it on your local hard drive.

Step 2: Upload the extracted folder to the themes folder on your site. Please follow the upload instructions listed in the File Manager tutorial.

Step 3: Login as Administrator.

Step 4: Then go to the Administration Panel and click Layout->Theme.

Step 5: Click on the Regenerate themes list link to update the list with the newly uploaded themes.

 

Step 6: Check the Themes list and pick the new default theme for your web site.

Step 7: The theme will become active immediately.

Well done! You have successfully set a new Zikula theme on your website!

Zikula Menus

How to create Menus in Zikula?

You can create links in the main menu of Zikula by editing its block. In order to do that, you will first need to login as Administrator. Then go to Administration and click on the Layout->Blocks icon.

Click on the Edit button, next to main menu.

You can now see the Menu edit area. Here you can edit the menu links or add new ones if you wish.

Congratulations! Now you are able to create menus for your Zikula website.

Zikula Modules and Blocks

How to add a Module in Zikula?

To add a module to your Zikula web site, please, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Search the Zikula Modules database for modules you want to add to your Zikula website.

Step 2: Upload the module(s) with your FTP client into the modules folder on your site.

Step 3: Go to your site and enter the Administration panel.

Step 4: Click on the Modules icon.

 

Step 5: On the Modules page, click on the Regenerate List link. This will update the list with all the modules that have uploaded under the modules folder in your Zikula installation.

 

Locate the module you have uploaded and would like to install from the list with the Zikula modules and click Activate. The module is now active.

How to add a Block in Zikula?

You can add blocks in Zikula in the same manner:

Step 1: Login as Administrator.

Step 2: Click on Administration.

Step 3: Click on the Layout->Blocks icon.

Step 4: Click on Create Block.

Step 5: Fill in the required information.

Please note that a modules installation can be a hard and time consuming task for a non-experienced Zikula administrators. We offer Zikula module installation as part of our Exclusive Professional Services.

Zikula Gallery

How to add a Gallery in Zikula?

The preferred solution at the moment for a gallery for your Zikula site is called PhotoGallery. It is available for download at the Zikula community page.

The installation of the module can be completed in a few steps:

Step 1: Download and unpack the zip file at your local hard drive.

Step 2: Upload the extracted directory to the modules folder of your Zikula installation.

Step 3: Go to the Administration area and then to the Modules section.

Step 4: Click on the Regenerate List link and then on the Install icon besides the module.

 

Step 5: Activate the module and create a block for it as described in the Modules and Blocks section.

Well done! You have successfully installed the PhotoGallery module for your Zikula website!

Please note that a modules installation can be a hard and time consuming task for a non-experienced Zikula administrators. We offer installation of Zikula modules as part of our Exclusive Professional Services.

News/RSS Feed in Zikula

How to add and use News/RSS Feed in Zikula?

To include an RSS feed from another site, please, navigate to the Zikula Administration area->Modules->Feeds.

 

Click on the Create a Feed link. Fill in the RSS feed details and click on the Create button.

 

Now you need to create an RSS Block. It is basically the same as adding a new Block in Zikula, but at the Block drop-down menu, select: Feeds / Show News Feed. Then click on the Create button. Fill in the information and click on the Update button.

Zikula Forum

How to add a Forum to your Zikula web site?

We recommend that you use phpBB for PostNuke (called Zafenio) as your forum software. It is available for download as a module at the Zafenio project page.

The installation of the module can be completed in only few steps:

Step 1: Download and unpack the zip file at your local hard drive.

Step 2: Upload the extracted directory under the modules folder of your Zikula installation.

Step 3: Go to the Administration area and then to the Modules section.

Step 4: Click on the Regenerate List link and then on the Install icon besides the module.

Step 5: Follow the installation instructions. Then activate the module. A link to the forum will be included in the main page and the integrated forum will appear in the following way:

 

Congratulations! You have successfully installed the forum module for your Zikula website!

Please note that a modules installation can be a hard and time consuming task for a non-experienced Zikula administrators. We offer the modules installations as a part of our Exclusive Professional Services.