Recently, I wrote a Top 10 WordPress Plugins list. I should have made it Top 11. The additional plugin recommendation goes to WP-Cache. As you can gather from the name, WP-Cache will backup each WordPress HTML page in the file system so that the HTTP server responds faster for each page view. Basically the server/database do less work and can serve more visitors. WP-Cache is configurable via an options manager that allows you to dictate which pages to ignore and for how long to cache. This plugin is definitely helpful for the enterprise blogger.

Technorati Tags: wordpress, wp, blog, wp-cache, cache, top, plugin, html, blogger

1. Akismet by Automattic is probably the best WP plugin out there. Akismet is a comment and trackback spam filter for your WP powered blog. It is a true mathematical equation that your blogs page rank is exponentially proportional to the number of viagra and penis enlargement spam comments you will receive. Akismet blocks them all. One thing to note about Akismet is that it sometimes flags honest comments as spam, so make sure to manage Akismet spam frequently. To use Akismet you will need a free WordPress API key.

2. If you are using Google Analytics to track your blog’s performance I recommend the Google Analytics plugin by Boakes. It is simple to install and configure, just have your Google Analytics User Account handy.
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The Joomla! installation comes with a neat module called Random Image. The Random Image module accepts an image directory path, and image type and will randomly and dynamically displays one of the images found in the image directory path for every visit.

But if you want to dynamically display images on you Joomla! site, I recommend you take a look at the AJAX Header Rotator module made available by JoomlaWorks. AJAX Header Rotator also requires a image directory path but instead of displaying a single random image, this module will load all the images and display one at a time. The AJAX Header Rotator rotates through images randomly or sequentially. Behind the scenes, AJAX Header Rotator uses jQuery to rotate through the image set.

A note of warning, I had to hack the AJAX Header Rotator module because I felt it lacked a few key parameters. For one, AJAX Header Rotator loads all the images in the image folder and I had felt there should be max number of files that it loads and rotates through on each user visit. I also added a parameter to enter the image alt text. And finally, the module code always displayed the same first image so I had to shuffle the images array to display a distinct image as the initial image.

Technorati Tags: joomla, cms, module, php, ajax, javascript, jquery, design, image rotator, rotator

Joomla! has content buckets called sections and categories. A section can contain one or more categories. Before any new content or article can be published you need to specify both the section and category for it. Just as an example, if I would maintain a Joomla! powered programming site I would define a section named programming with the following categories java, ruby, python, fun, etc.

It is incredibly easy to create a section via the Section Manager. After you have added a section you need to create a category for it. Both sections and categories can have a description and image icon associated with them.

In the New Content item editor you can assign the section and category to the article to be pubished. In most Joomla! templates the article’s section and category are used to create a breadcrumb trail. Well, this only works when you add the section to the main menu! If you don’t add the section to the main menu the breadcrumb trail will default to Home | Blog | Article Title.

To add your newly created section to the main menu, drill down to the main menu (mainmenu) menu items via the Menu Manager from the Control Panel. Create a new Menu Item for mainmenu. In the New Menu Item wizard select the List - Content Section radio button and click the Next arrow. Name your menu item and select the newly created section for the menu item. Click save and you’re done. At this point your breadcrumbs will correctly display your newly created section and category.

Technorati Tags: cms, joomla, section, category, breadcrumb pattern, breadcrumb, content management, content

I’ve been using Joomla! for some time now for a few sites that I have set up. Joomla! comes with a great installation wizard that had a series of green, or red, lights that indicate if your server is Joomla! ready. The only real information you need before hand is the database information and the name of your Joomla! powered site.

As soon as you install and configure Joomla! you should log onto the administrator’s control panel and set some global settings. What follows are some advice on the global settings I recommend you configure soon after install Joomla! This advice is based on the current stable release 1.0.11.

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