Drupal is a very flexible CMS tool that lets you run complex database driven sites with an easy to manage front end. Design and layout is separated from functionality, so it’s easy to change out the look of a site.

Getting Started

The first thing you want to do when you’re ready to choose a theme, is to make sure you find one that is built and supported for your current version of Drupal. Usually, different theme versions will not work with older or newer Drupal versions – version 5.x themes will not work with Drupal 6.x, and vice versa.

Selecting A Theme

Look for the best layout that will work for your needs, as well as seeing if your logo will work in the place specified by the theme. Does the color match the palate that you have picked out for your branding? Is the text readable, and not too small? Try to check the theme on different computers and browsers to make sure that it shows up correctly.

Installing

Once you’ve downloaded that fresh new theme to your computer, there are a few things you’ll want to do before uploading it to your site. Be sure that you go through any README or INSTALL files that come in the folder, as the author will notify you if there are any particular methods or steps that need to happen when installing. Once this part is clear, upload the files to a new directory in your Drupal themes location. The standard location for a single site setup is ‘/sites/all/themes/yourThemeName’.

Log into your site as administrator so you can change the theme over to the newly selected one. Go to the administrator area by clicking ‘Administer’ from your navigation menu, or by going there directly by typing ‘yoursitename.com/admin’ in the URL field. Under the Site Building section, click ‘Themes’. The theme should automatically appear in the list at this point. Check the box under the enabled header for the theme, as well as selecting the radio box if you would like it to be visible as the default theme. Click the ‘Save Configuration’ button at the bottom of the page to save your settings.

Final Touches

Now that the theme is installed, you can click the ‘configure’ link on the theme line to upload your logo, change out the favicon, as well as change other settings that might be unique to the theme you selected.

Miles has been writing blogs and articles for the past few years. Some of his hobbies include playing the drums, drawing, and singing in a band. In addition, he builds informational websites. Check out one of his latest sites at http://www.weedeaterparts.org where he provides some great information on Weedeater Parts.

Website owners, irrespective of the business domain, who own a dynamic website always face a problem when it comes to updating content in a systematic manner. Content Management System is the answer to those problems. Here are a few benefits as to why implementing a CMS can make a website more standard.

1. Updating Content

A Content Management has an admin section where the user can access accounts. In this section, the user can add or delete content that automatically gets updated in the appropriate web pages.

2. Crafting Online Surveys and Polls

This is a built-in feature in a Content Management System. This helps the organization for easy data collection, managing, storing and publication of results.

3. Editing Templates

This is an advantageous feature in CMS which is liked but most of the creative designers. A CMS allows you to separate the content from the design. The design can be changed at any time without altering the layout content. The design changes the entire look and feel of the website but the content remains the same.

4. Different Author Access

Designers and content managers can have separate account in a CMS. A CMS allows you to set up different user accounts where one person can just edit and update content and the other user can oversee and manage the template designs.

5. Runs on your computer

The files are required for the front end design of the website that is stored on the user’s computer is contained in the CMS. This also includes the database since it runs on a hosted server. The best part is that many web hosts support a number of CMS. The user just needs to install and choose one from the web host by accessing through the admin section. This is an added advantage since executing the Content Management System from the user’s home computer enables better access of files.

6. RSS Feeds

The feature of RSS in a content management system allows the content to be visible in different RSS directories. This helps in bringing lot of traffic to the website.

7. Accessibility

A CMS provides easy access where the user can upload content anytime from anywhere as long as he is connected to the internet.

Web development India has changed over the years. PHP web development now lies very important in any design and it is said to be the heart of an e-commerce project. Nowadays, most of the companies prefer a web Content Management System. The web development companies are so equipped that they are able to meet the customers’ requirements and deliver the best solutions.

Content Management System or CMS as it is popularly known made its debut in 1995. But surprisingly they are making splash in recent times as internet business industry sniffed host of advantages both for sellers and buyers. The aim of every business is to run it effectively and more importantly reach to its potential customers and expand the market. As the internet business is dependent on Search Engine Traffic, CMS provided dominant back end solution to compete search engine market.

Why CMS?

There are many businesses where bulk publication of content are required from number of authors. CMS is the only answer to this kind of business. CMS helps in streamlining the entire publication process efficiently and maintaining the budget. Today, CMS is one of the most powerful tools for bulk content based business. With its capability to contribute to business to build into a brand, CMS is the number one choice.

While talking about the benefits of a CMS site list is just endless. A CMS site owner offers three layers of division of content, structure and design. This separation helps a website all over the life cycle. A detailed explanation will help in better understanding. According to demand of situation each of these individualized areas can be redesigned independently without disturbing the other important sections of your websites. For example without touching the content or structure the design section or layer of website can be adjusted for latest user interface. On the other hand publication of content can be controlled, hidden or saved meant for later publication with valid username and password. Thus, flexibility is the major strength of CMS site.

An editor interacts with a CMS site in different ways. An editor can not only edit the content of page but also add multimedia files, images, schedule the content. Thus, content is generated without design or programming knowledge or experience.

Other Important Benefits of Content Management System Site

Check out some of the other advantages that a CMS site owner enjoys:

• Say goodbye to common errors and coding bugs. CMS are quality software tested by community of technical experts. No doubt today CMS is dominant system in Internet.
• You do not have to technically sound as majority of CMS are user friendly and very easy to install.
• CMS site owner enjoys fast and easy updates. Within your blinking time final new product is updated with an attractive banner on home page. Prepare to listen from your buyers!
• Expect quality technical support from web developers to ensure smooth running of your business.
• Based on requirement CMS software can be migrated to different servers. In fact, majority of CMS are competent with any database.
• Site navigation is generated automatically and adjusted accordingly. Based on the database content links are not pointed to pages that no longer exists. Thus, website runs smoothly.
• Security never becomes an issue as Content Management System is known for offering best content security for the website. This means that website owner can control the limits of accessing the contents of its browser.

Amalendu Hajraa is the CEO of AssistUI one of the leading web designing and development company in India. Based on his years of experience, he contributes thought provoking but informative articles on web designing, e-commerce and iPhone application development.