Content management is but one of many roles that the Xaraya web application development framework has taken on since 2002. With beginnings built on the combined history of ThatWare, PHP-Nuke, and PostNuke, Xaraya boasts an extensible API, powerful security and privilege management, dynamic data allowing users to create or extend modules, and block layout, where form and function are separated.
In addition, Xaraya is completely translatable in over twenty languages. But with all of this functionality, how easy is it to install, configure, and actually use to manage content?
I uploaded the latest offering of Xaraya's Aruba version 1.1.5, unzipped it into the root of my website, and then moved the files within the extracted directory up one, into the root. Per the official Xaraya documentation, I then moved all directories and files located in the html directory up one, into the root as well, and then deleted the empty html directory.
After completing these basic configurations I went into my hosting account and created a Xaraya database and the credentials required to access it. Once my database was created I simply navigated to http://yourdomain.com/install.php to begin the installation process. Note that even though I did not experience much trouble in the preparations
required, I can see where a beginner could easily get tripped up on the installation and would encourage anyone attempting an install to consult the very helpful installation preparation guide on the Xaraya website.
Once I selected my language preference and agreed to the user license, Xaraya ran a compatibility inventory and confirmed that my hosting solution had everything required to run Xaraya successfully. After the system was cleared for install, I simply entered in my database /information, initialized the install, and created an administrator account. One feature that I applaud Xaraya for is the configuration options offered during the installation which included the creation of
a Public Site, Core Install, Intranet, and Community site with all pertinent modules and privileges set in accordance with whichever one you choose. Handy!
Equally as nice is the optional installation of the most common modules used in the chosen configuration. In my case I chose to install the Public Site that included modules and privileges the Xaraya developers thought appropriate for this type of access. The configuration modules in my install included articles, autolinks, bloggerapi, categories, comments, example, hitcount, stats, sniffer, search, registration, ratings, xmlrpcserver, xmlrpcsystemapi, and xmlrpcvalidatorapi.
After I choose to include all of the configuration modules offered by the public site configuration installation, it was time to see my new Xaraya website. The default theme provides a tableless design with a left navigation bar that includes all the access required to administrate the website. While it might not be the most visually stunning interface I've seen, it works extremely well and I appreciated the clear order of things. Once I confirmed that the installation went according to plan I went to the root directory of my website and removed install.php and upgrade.php for security purposes.
Content Management WYSIWYG
Very little content management can be done, at least by non-techies, with only text boxes and no stable WYSIWYG editor. The tinymce module is not installed by default for our public facing website so I had to go in and install it by navigating to Modules > View All > tinemice > Install. Once initiated, the system checked the dependencies required to run the tinymce module and confirmed that I was good to go.
After the installation, I selected tinymce as my default WYSIWYG editor from the dropdown by going to global > Base > Actions: Modify Config > Modify: Other
Once the tinymce was my default editor, I configured it to my liking. Like everything else in Xaraya, the administrator has control over absolutely everything. In tinymce alone, I have the ability to customize the actions and initializations of the module down to minute detail that I've rarely seen. From customizing the activation modes to selecting specific text areas where tinymce will activate to configuring what HTML tag will and won't be used. And that's only under the install options! The tinymce also avails itself to editor, language, theme, and advanced configuration options. In short, it is
customizable to the extreme and very powerful. All the configurations can be found on this click path: miscellaneous > XarTinyMCE > Modify Config.
I set tinymce to automatically activate in all text areas but what I did not know is that it will only activate once I clicked in the text box. I found myself going back and forth trying to figure out why the WYSIWYG wouldn't open and I just happen to click the text in the textbox out of frustration and it opened. Something to keep in mind.
Editing Content
I checked out my homepage and tried to figure out how I could edit the content. What I found was that during the installation, the base module defaults as the homepage. To remedy this I logged in as the administrator and navigated to global > Base > Actions: Modify Config > Modify: Site Display where under the subheading of Site Default Front Page Settings, I selected Articles for the Default Module from the drop down box, saved the configuration changes, and reloaded the homepage.
Here is how the New Homepage (with the Article module as the default) looks:
The new homepage with the default module set to Articles displayed the articles that I had previously created but did not know how to display. You can see from the screen capture that articles can and are organized by category, topic, etc. and can be displayed in either a single or double-column format. When I clicked the title of the article or the read more link at the bottom, Xaraya took me to the article page where I had the option to edit it since I was logged in as the administrator. Notice the breadcrumb functionality as well.
Summary
As you might have guessed, I found Xaraya to be all the developers propose it to be, and I only scratched the surface. The fancy is in the meat, not in the default user interface. And once I learned the lingo of Xaraya, I found it actually made sense. While it would be easy to delve into the minutiae of module responsibilities, suffice it to say that this platform is limited only by the skill level of the programmer, administrator, or webmaster that is running it. Xaraya is one of those platforms that is better experienced than read about. Once the platform is configured properly, Xaraya does a great job of content management.
Much to the delight of high-level programmers and the chagrin of beginners, Xaraya's greatest strength and weakness is the virtually unlimited extensibility of the platform's functionality.
Pros
- Xaraya is an extremely powerful platform that can fullfill a variety of need from the simple to the most complex.
- Documentation is extensive, lengthy, and on point.
- Advanced users will be able to build sophisticated, secure applications quickly and with less work.
Cons
- There is a very steep learning curve for most.
- To understand what the documentation discusses, you must learn the Xaraya lingo.
- Beginners can get in trouble easily.
Website: Xaraya
About the Author:
Based in the Pacific Northwest, Michael Childress has been a system analyst and writer for 10 years. He currently writes for CMS Critic and maintains his own blog at OutdoorBlogger.com.
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One Response to “Xaraya CMS 1.1.5 – Review and Commentary”
Lovely write-up.
If you fancy ahving a 2nd visit with the Xaraya CMF/CMS, I'd suggest having a play with XarPages.
You can easily define custom "page types" for "static page" like functionality, or even run with the "out of the box" ones that are provided.
There is also the SiteContact module, which permits you to setup various Email forms - a basic "contact us" page can be created in about a minute flat.
One of the other major benefits Xaraya has is the capability of different Modules to interact.
Xaraya has a system of "Hooks" - which enables many modules to talk to each other.
This means you can easily add things like Calendars to your Articles etc.
And though the learning curve is fairly steep - I cannot express this enough - the API's and Template system make working things a dream.
I cannot personally program for toffee - but by using the various little Template tags, I can do all sorts of wonderful little things, without touching any php.
And if I fancy dabling, I can either use a little php in the template with some tags, or use the Blocks system to insert php, or simply copy, paste and "tweak" an api script to my needs :D
When you compare some of the hoops you have to jump through to get things like Images to display in articles for other CMS, or to control User Access etc. - Xaraya isn't really that hard, it just looksa little more intimidating than it really is.