Product Description

Welcome to the only guidebook series that takes a visual approach to professional–level computer topics. Open the book and you′ll discover step–by–step screen shots that demonstrate over 220 key Mambo techniques, including:
∗ Installing and configuring Mambo
∗ Changing time and language settings
∗ Editing the CSS file for a template
∗ Managing site users
∗ Creating sections and categories
∗ Linking a Content Item to a menu
∗ Adding images and media to Mambo
∗ Using Modules to embed content and links
∗ Installing features manually or automatically
∗ Working with Mambots

"I′ve read a number of your programming books, and they′ve really helped me with the basics so that I can understand the course materials in my classes a lot better. I′m a strong visual learner. You really know how to get people addicted to learning!"
–Helen Lee, (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
∗ High–resolution screen shots demonstrate each task
∗ Succinct explanations walk you through step by step
∗ Two–page lessons break big topics into bite–sized modules
∗ "Apply It" and "Extra" sidebars highlight useful tips

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #368979 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 334 pages

From the Back Cover
Welcome to the only guidebook series that takes a visual approach to professional–level computer topics. Open the book and you′ll discover step–by–step screen shots that demonstrate over 220 key Mambo techniques, including:

• Installing and configuring Mambo
• Changing time and language settings
• Editing the CSS file for a template
• Managing site users
• Creating sections and categories
• Linking a Content Item to a menu
• Adding images and media to Mambo
• Using Modules to embed content and links
• Installing features manually or automatically
• Working with Mambots

"I′ve read a number of your programming books, and they′ve really helped me with the basics so that I can understand the course materials in my classes a lot better. I′m a strong visual learner. You really know how to get people addicted to learning!"
—Helen Lee, (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

• High–resolution screen shots demonstrate each task
• Succinct explanations walk you through step by step
• Two–page lessons break big topics into bite–sized modules
• "Apply It" and "Extra" sidebars highlight useful tips

About the Author
Ric Shreves is a partner in Water & Stone (www.waterandstone.com), a Web development company that specialises in Open Source Content Management Systems. Since 1996, Ric has been building Web sites and has extensive experience with content management systems. Over the years he has worked on CMS–powered Web sites for BASF, Colgate–Palmolive, Tesco, FPDSavills, Sino Group, CBRichard Ellis, Mercy Corps, University of North Carolina, and many, many others. He is an active member of CM Professionals and of the Mambo Foundation.
Ric currently resides in Bali where he is testing his theory that an IT professional should be able to make a living anywhere with a notebook computer and an Internet connection. He says so far all he has been able to prove is that is a beautiful theory...

Customer Reviews

Everything for the Mambo newbie!
What a great learning aid! This book is ideal for the Mambo novice with clear screenshots and full explanations of how to use the menu system, install templates, work with CSS, component, modules and more.

May not be much help to those more experienced in the use of Mambo as it covers the basics only but for those, like me, who know nothing of Mambo, I would recommend this book very highly.

Not Good Enough
Although this book gives you basic info about Mambo, it unfortunately lacks the information you need to get to grips with this CMS. Over and over I had to do online searches to find the info I needed. Time and again I had to figure-out myself how to do something because it was not explained in the book: I don't mind figuring stuff out for myself, but not if I've bought a book to do the job for me.

The book has very little on Templates and certainly does not give you anything like enough info on how to create a template and yet this is a vital part of managing a CMS (there was far more useful info in the readme file that came with a template I downloaded than there was in Shreves' book).

I gave it two stars because it does an ok job of explaining the menues.

beginners guide
If you are new to Mambo and want to develop a powerful website using content management then this will get you on your way. It provides an explanation of all the main features and functions of the Mambo CMS. If you need to start customising your installation or using a local and remote server to develop your site then you need Learning Mambo: a step by step tutorial. In any event just like learning any subject it is always best to use several sources to gain insights from different angles, I use this and the above book, coupled to the Mambo forums to get up the learning curve.