JomSocial 1.5 the must have Joomla extension

JomSocialJomSocial is quickly becoming a "have to have" extension for Joomla 1.5.

In a time when "social networks"are becoming what we think of as "websites," JomSocial is a huge opportunity for almost any Joomla website owner.

When we first started experimenting with JomSocial almost a year ago, we were impressed with the potential of building your own social network inside your existing Joomla site. It seemed to us that Azrul and his talented team had developed something very cool, and very useful, that would really blossom over time.

Now, the flower has fruited, and JomSocial has really arrived.

Read more: JomSocial 1.5 the must have Joomla extension

Take the 3rd Annual Joomlashack Joomla Survey

Over the last couple of years, we have been conducting a survey about the scope and features of the Joomla community. Over 7,000 people have completed the our survey over the last few years, and this year we want to make it the biggest ever.

Complete our survey and you'll be entered to win prizes!

  • Grand prize winner: Our new lifetime Developer club - $399 value
  • First Prize: Three $100 gift certificates to Amazon.com
  • Second Prize: Three Joomlashack University spots
  • Third Prize: Five template giveaways
  • Bonus prize: 3,000 person to take the survey, also a $100 Amazon.com gift certificate

Head to our survey now and tell us about how you use Joomla!

Read more: Take the 3rd Annual Joomlashack Joomla Survey

Joomlashack University matriculates full charter class

Joomlashack University matriculates full charter class

The much anticipated launch of our interactive learning environment for Beginner Joomla, Joomlashack University, did not disappoint last week. In less than 24 hours we sold out all 100 seats in the inaugural Shack U class of October 2009- and then some!

Joomlashack University is our attempt to make learning Joomla online a fun, interactive, affordable, and "at your own pace" experience. Instructors Forest Linden and Barrie North are guiding the first class through the very basics of getting a Joomla website installed, set up, and built with compelling content.

Read more: Joomlashack University matriculates full charter class

New Online Joomla Training Course

Since 2005 Joomlashack has been a leader in Joomla education. Hundreds of thousands have read our original free joomla tutorials, and many have taken our live classes, or attended our sessions at Joomla events. But one question we keep getting asked is:

"So when can I take an online Joomla training class?"

We are excited to start lifting the wraps off a project that has been in development for a while, an online Joomla training course we are calling Joomlashack University.

Read more: New Online Joomla Training Course

Joomlashack Loves NY Joomla Day

Joomla Day NYC

Start spreading the news... Joomlashack is coming to New York for the 3rd annual New York Joomla Day on Monday, October 12!

Joomlashack's Barrie North will present two workshops this year, "Black Belt Joomla" and "Search Engine Marketing Smackdown" along with our friend Steve Burge from Joomlashack.

Read more: Joomlashack Loves NY Joomla Day

Vote for Joomlashack's Inspirion Template

Packt CMS AwardsWe are excited that the Packt Publishing Best Joomla! Theme award includes our own Joomla template Inspirion.

This Award features five finalist Joomla! themes and extensions that have been selected by the Joomla! project representatives.

Help us out and please head on over to Packt and vote!

Read more: Vote for Joomlashack's Inspirion Template

Get A Free Copy of Our New Template

Follow us on twitterIts been awhile since we have had some Twitter Fun. A couple of months ago we had the The Great Joomlashack Tweetaway using Twitter.

This time, we have made it super simple..

Follow Joomlashack on Twitter and you'll get entered into a drawing for a free copy of our new template!

Read more: Get A Free Copy of Our New Template

Joomlashack's New Joomla Template - eBusiness

JS eBusiness Joomla templateNeed a rock solid template and SEO platform for your Joomla website? You need the latest Joomla template from Joomlashack - JS eBusiness

JS eBusiness is a web 2.0 template with lots of white space, bold fonts and raw SEO power.

With a powerful CSS grid framework, flexible layouts and modules and a big bag of SEO tricks, JS eBusiness makes a perfect Joomla template for business and organizations launching themselves into the web 2.0 world.

Read more: Joomlashack's New Joomla Template - eBusiness

Joomla Templates, Frameworks and the 960 Grid

Last week I blogged about the Fastest Joomla Template in the World. In a related topic, today I wanted to talk about how frameworks and grids are being used in our Joomla templates, and why we have come to adopt the 960 grid system for our future template releases.

At Joomlashack, we focus on clean, deceptively simple templates that are easy to customize, and look great. We've been using our own "framework" in use for a couple of years now, and included such Joomla template innovations such as dynamic width switchers and source ordering.

Read more: Joomla Templates, Frameworks and the 960 Grid

How to Create a Custom Module Graphic

This tutorial will show you how to make custom image based modules in Fireworks using masking techniques aimed at the Luhs template design. Navigate to your downloaded package to the Graphic Source Files folder and open custom_module_graphic.png in Fireworks.

If you would like to see a video of this tutorial as well you can download the QuickTime movie here.
How to Create a Custom Module Graphic
Small 640x480 (1.5 mb)
Large H.264 1080 (13.5 mb)

You will see a screen similar to this one.
(click for larger)

How to Create a Custom Module Graphic

How to Create a Custom Module Graphic

Choose the SubSelect tool.

How to Create a Custom Module Graphic

Draw a box over the shape just large enough to select the corner nodes as shown below.

How to Create a Custom Module Graphic

The corner nodes are sub-selected.

How to Create a Custom Module Graphic

Hold down Shift to keep the mouse straight or use the arrow keys to resize the shape vertically.

How to Create a Custom Module Graphic

The shape is resized.

How to Create a Custom Module Graphic

Choose the select tool.

How to Create a Custom Module Graphic

and select the top shape.

How to Create a Custom Module Graphic

Choose Edit > Cut.
The shape is loaded onto the clipboard.

How to Create a Custom Module Graphic

Select the image and resize it. (Cmd+T)
You can temporarily lower the opacity in the layers palette to see the underlying shape.

How to Create a Custom Module Graphic

Once resized, choose Modify > Mask > Paste as Mask.

How to Create a Custom Module Graphic

You can return the opacity back up.

Tutorial Image

Use the text tool to add some graphic text to the image.

Image 14

Select all by choosing (Cmd+A) , then right click the graphic and choose "Insert Rectangular Slice"

Whwn the popup appears asking you to choose Single or Multiple slices, choose "Single".

Image 15

How to Create a Custom Module Graphic

Name the slice in the properties palette to "custom_mod"
*If not shown choose Window > Properties to show the palette.

The last step is to export the image to a place on your local computer by choosing File > Export.

Choose "Images Only" and make sure the name of the file is "custom_mod.png"

To convert to a module just log in to your Joomla admin console and choose New.

Paste the code below into the editor ( in html edit mode) with these settings and save.
Show Title = No
Published = Yes

<div align="center"><img style="margin: 0px;" width="194" height="173" src="https://yourdomain.com/path/to/images/stories/custom_mod.png" alt="Alt Description" title="My Description" /></div>

Important. Modules in the Lush Template right hand position must be no larger than 194px wide!