Thread

First off, I am a total newbie to EE.. So this might sound totally ridiculous. I have read a ton of documentation and I have a general understanding of how it all works. I have even purchased an eBook and have successfully completed all of the exercises to building their example website… BUT, after all of that, I still have a hard time remembering what to do to create a site and in what order. Let’s be honest, although EE is a really powerful tool, there isn’t exactly an intuitive process within the CP for creating a website.

SOOO… Has anyone created an EE workflow graphic/chart/cheatsheet that helps them through the various processes of creating a template, pages, channels, or whatever…? OR, perhaps just a very simple step-by-step list?

Thanks!

I’ll give you a quick breakdown of the process that we do (skipping out client interaction aspects)

1) Plan site information architecture. (here you can work out how many templates you need and how they will be structured)
2) Design site.
3) Build HTML/CSS for every template that you need.
4) Install EE and any extensions/modules that you need.
5) Based on your information architecture create a channel and field group for each data type you’re going to be handling.
6) Create the template groups and templates based off the html you did and paste in the relevant html.
7) Now go through these templates and make the content dynamic based on the channels you have created.
8) Profit?

I know this is far from exhaustive but gives you a general idea of the workflow we take. Feel free to ask questions though about specific areas and I’ll elaborate.

Thanks… Keep in mind, I’m not new to web design, just EE. I understand the planning, designing, etc phases and that I need to install EE and modules prior to working with them. Numbers 5-7 are more what I’m looking for here, but with a tiny bit more detail.

Maybe it will help to rephrase my question:
Within EE, after planning my site, designing and creating xhtml/css/js templates — what is the process for creating a blog, its content, fields, templates, privileges, etc.?

At this point I’ve done a bunch more reading and have a better grasp on things — so now I have started to create a more detailed list… Please chime in if the order is off or if I am missing something:

1. Create blog Channel
2. Create blog Channel Field Group
3. Create Custom Fields under the blog Channel Field Group
4. Create blog Category Groups
5. Create New Categories / Sub categories for blog
6. Create Member Groups (if applicable)
7. Assign Privileges to Member Groups
8. Create Templates
9. Publish Content

Still working on where Status Groups fit in and what they do…? Also, is this the same process for creating a PAGE or are there tiny little details that are different?

Maybe it’s just me, but I need/like/prefer some simple checklist for accomplishing things in a productive manner.

Grazie!

I did a talk on Quoting and Planning EE based sites at last years EECI conference.

I don’t have a formal detailed list that I go through each time - the talk was more around the process of figuring out what backend architecture is needed to deliver a given front-end architecture.

http://vimeo.com/7570396

You inspired me to write a blog post about this subject (it describes most of our build order) http://goo.gl/BZpF

Thanks for all of the info everyone!

Boyink! — I watched your talk and I am totally with you. I don’t have a write-board, but I do get analog and use a lot of paper to map out my architecture. I actually print out a design ‘shell’ (basically all of the global design/navigation elements), mark em up/determine what fields are needed, and then lay them out on a table so I can wrap my mind around the project.

HD — based on your blog post.. I’ve moved ‘Create Member Groups’ and ‘Assign Privileges’ up to the top of the list.. as follows:

* Assuming website architecture and page designs have already been established…

1. Create Member Groups (if applicable)

2. Assign Privileges to Member Groups
3. Create Status Groups
4. Create Status’ within Status Groups

5. Create Channels

6. Create Channel Field Groups

7. Create Custom Fields within Channel Field Group
s
8. Create Category Groups

9. Create New Categories / Sub categories

10. Create Templates
11. Publish Content

Sound about right?

Sounds like you’re on the right track!