CiviCRM Community Forums (archive)

First of all, I want to thank Lobo for the help he provided in the installation procedure. I eventually succeeded in installing CCRM by myself but without his help I would still be lost.
Second, I am very impressed by how solid the script is once it is installed and how clear the Cpanel is.

Now, I'd like to see in the wiki or as a sticky on this forum a step by step for customizing CiviCRM after installation. I had high hopes for this forum area, but I realize the forum is still young.
eventually I will be happy to create visual tutorials on the various steps and beyond. I will have to do that for my clients and I figure I'll make it available for viewing. However, I first have to learn it myself.

For instance, what is the first thing to set up? It seems to me that customizing CCRM has to be done in a certain order or there is a risk of starting the setup in a certain area only to discover you cannot go any further for lack of another preference. As an example, I am trying to set up the membership levels, but once there I have to assign the membership to an organization. I am sure by the time I complete this post and get back to the Cpanel I'll figure it out. But at first  it would seem that the "Domain" settings is were I entered the organization info (they are one and the same). It appears instead that before setting up memberships I have to create a profile for our non-profit, so that should be a priority.

Thus, I gather that creating that profile should be the very first thing I do. So far, I don't know where to create it.

Since I don't consider myself of above average stupidity, and I have many years of experience working with similar scripts, I know it's not me. My philosophy is that if it takes me more than 5 minutes to figure out something, my clients haven't got a prayer. The goal for this software should be not to have the web developer performing the set up process, but the client.
In order to allow that, there should be a clear, bold, 36pt. link on the main site named "Getting Started":
Step one: Install
Step two: enter this info
Step three: now enter this one
And so on.

Now I know the wiki is somewhat setup like this, but the instructions therein are for someone already familiar with the system. In fact, in my experience, manuals and instructions should never be written by the developers. They should be written by a total newbie (such as myself) and only then edited by an expert. The expert will tend to glance over key steps because to him or her they are as natural as breathing.

I happen to write a lot of tutorials, but the first thing I do I try to get a newbie to tell me:"when you go to this part of the site, what is the first question you have?"
In CiviCRM's case, my first question is:"where do I put my organization's information?"
The second one is:"How do I set up memberships"

Only then I can start worrying about the rest.

As I said before, when I get more familiar with CCRM I will be happy to write and contribute to the documentation. I am taking notes as I go along so I will not commit the same sin of omission and assume everyone will know the logic behind the system the first time they see it.

Please do not confuse this with a criticism. I never non-constructively criticize an Open Source project. I know all too well how precious time is and how time consuming it is to write good documentation. As far as that goes, I think CCRM is head and shoulder above 90% of the Open Source software out there.
The structure is there and even the help is there, what is missing is the distillation to the lowest common denominator.

This doesn't mean it should be written for idiots, because I hope I am not one, but it should be written for busy people that would rather invest their time more constructively.

Again, sorry for the rant. I am more and more impressed with the tool and please set me straight if I missed the "idiot's manual" somehow. If I did, it means it was not big and flashy enough

Take care

I'm new to Civi & have had it installed for our Joomla website.
Is there any printed documentation out there which shows
a newbie such as myself what steps to take, to display
the CiviContribute pages once it's all been installed in
Joomla?  A simple "1-2-3" step process would be
very helpful.

So far, I did create a contribution page, but now I have no clue
where to put it in Joomla, so it will show up on my website.
Do I list it in the "Content" section with all of my other pages,
or on one of the menu sections?  And how? 

We are a small non-profit who provides medical assistance
to developing mountain communities around the world.
Anyone who can help me with this, is greatly appreciated. 

Jenn Spradlin
jennmountainfund@gmail.com

Hi Jenn - This page should help you with linking your contribution pages in your site (you will be adding menu items):

http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRMDOC/Displaying+Online+Contribution+Pages+in+Joomla!+Frontend+Sites

You might also find some of these screencast tutorials helpful in getting oriented:

http://wiki.civicrm.org/confluence/display/CRMDOC/Screencasts

Have you checked out the new 'manual' here http://en.flossmanuals.net/civicrm - you make no reference to it so is unclear if you have or not.

I have read about 60% of it and will continue. It's a good book, and I appreciate it very much. But I don't find it as "Step 1, Step 2, etc."

I had the same thought.  So, here's my attempt at a step 1, step 2 doc for the rank beginner:
http://forum.civicrm.org/index.php/topic,9358.0.html