Since Blogging is very much into trend now, so I thought to review a Joomla Component, which can help with integrating a blog within your Joomla based Web site. This useful component is MyBlog. In this review, I will try to cover the basic functions and attributes along with 5 modules which can be used as a source to get some decent information to be a sophisticated summary for your blog activities. Like in earlier posts, I will follow the same patters with couple of screen shots to explain it better.
First I assume, that you have already installed the Component and relating 5 modules, The modules are;
- mod_myblog_blogger
- mod_myblog_categories
- mod_myblog_comments
- mod_myblog_latest
- mod_myblog_tags
After Installing the tags you must not forget to publish them all, this looks something like
ok, now lets look into the settings for each module, and see what we can edit.
MyBlog_Blogger Module
This modules gives the details about all the authors registered, along with their number of posts written.
Back end settings are very simple even for the most challenged CMS user.
MyBlog_Categories
This gives details in the side pans about all the categories listed for the blog. The back end settings are simple yet again.
MyBlog_Tags is similar to Categories and have same settings almost.
MyBlog_Latest Entry
This module is used to show the latest activity at blog in form of latest entries at blog page so user can directly navigate. The settings are easy to set, you can set the sort attribute and number of entries to show. You can also edit the ‘read more’ option.
MyBlog_Latest Comments
Comments or replies to post and are similar to latest entries in back end setting attributes. You can chose number of comments and the sort by specification
Now once we have seen all the modules, now lets move to the component itself and see what we can do to make it useful for our web site.
Myblog component
The main back end panel for Myblog component is
In General Settings, there are options to configure your blog. Name, Description and other stuff
You can also set permissions and roles for users, to post and publish on the blog. This is all under the permission tab
The main Control panel also gives advantage to manage posts. However individual user can also manage posts from My Blog Dash board at front end, but back end panel also gives this facility.
Post can be written and edited through a rich text editor which is infect a pop up editor for Myblog users. This editor is not only helpful in writing posts, but also editing and adding tags into it and other functions.
You can also see total number of posts at back panel
Now we have hovered and explored enough at the back end panels, lets see how this all stuff appears at the main MyBlog page.
all the modules appears in sidebars, you change the position of modules and their permission just like any other joomla module, even for the menu under My blog can be set like normal menu item. There is one user menu for each user, the Myblog Dashboard
This menu gives back end features for managing posts, without going to the CMS and user can manage posts form the web UI of the web site. There are couple of options available under Myblog Dashboard, where you can navigate and manage. You can write new posts, edit old ones, view your stats, and posts approval almost everything you need to do with your blog can be controlled here.
