TYPO3

Summary

Professional Web Content Management System

1. About this package

Please note that you have downloaded the "newbie package". If you are an experienced Unix user you might wish to download the "clean" .tgz release with updated core files only, and add either the test site or dummy (empty) database structure as required. This package contains a fully functional test site with lots of examples and information. It also has the rich text editor extension pre-installed. This document contains a short summary of what TYPO3 is about, along with some pointers to further information - please read the docs carefully before you ask questions on the mailinglist.

2. What is TYPO3?

TYPO3 is developed by the Danish programmer Kasper Skaarhoej. It is the most advanced GPL Content Management Framework available, and competes very successfully with commercial products costing $50.000. TYPO3 is distributed under the GPL license, however Kasper has expressed certain aims for the system which we ask you to respect (see typo3.com for more information). To get more info about the GPL license, visit http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-license.php.

3. What TYPO3 is not?

TYPO3 is not a portalpage toolset like PHPNUKE, or bulletin board like PHPBB2...it is not designed to offer one specific function. If you have a defined requirement, a product designed to address that need may be a better choice. TYPO3 offers a huge toolbox for developing and managing your web site, with many built-in features, and more available for installation, but is not a readymade solution to cover all needs.

4. What is a Content Management Framework?

A CM Framework means is more than just a content management system, because of the separation of the streamlined core, and optional plugins (extensions). TYPO3 has an open API that allows you to extend the frontend (web site) and/or backend (administration) functionalities. This concept of extension makes TYPO3 capable of being developed in almost any way you can imagine, either by using any of the many extensions already available, or writing your own.

5. The TYPO3 core requirements

TYPO3 is based upon PHP4, and uses a mySQL3/4 database. If you want to use the graphics functions (which are highly recommended) you will need the php gdLib extension, and the serverside image processing program ImageMagick (that is available for both Unix/Linux & Windows). For more information regarding these requirements see the INSTALL.TXT file in this folder.

6. What should you do if you have a problem?

TYPO3 is a powerful and complex professional application. When you start out there will be many things you simply don't understand, or that don't seem to make sense. There is a widely used mailinglist (see resources below) where many experienced users and developers lurk...they are always willing to help, provided you followed these steps BEFORE you ask the list:

1. read all available documentation carefully
2. read all available documentation carefully again
3. search the mailinglist archive carefully
4. if you still can't figure out - ask the list, see guidelines below

4a. be polite
4b. always include the version of used TYPO3 and server environmnent (phpinfo())
4c. be as specific as possible - questions like "my TYPO3 installation does not work - what can i do???" will be ignored. Although English may not be your first language, if those reading your post don't understand it, you won't get the help you need
4d. if you are really having a tough time getting something working, stay cool and don't criticise or flame. Problems are normally caused by lack of research into the documentation, or misunderstanding, not because of bugs. Be logical about your troubleshooting, and you'll get there

5. THINGS TO BE AWARE OF

Image processing - TYPO3 is renowned for its capability to manipulate graphics. However, if you only intend to develop a plain, text-based web site you don't need to either install the server-side software that is required for image processing, or enable it within TYPO3. Be aware that you will be missing one of the great features of TYPO3
ImageMagick - TYPO3 versions including and after 3.5 will happily work with the latest versions of ImageMagick (currently 5.x.x). However, there is a drawback with using this version. The RPM (for Linux) is compiled without LZW compression for GIF files, due to the patent issues with Unisys...this will slow down performance slightly. For the best performance on Linux, you can install version 4.2.9 to /usr/X11R6/bin/, and a later version to /usr/bin/...TYPO3 is setup to use ImageMagick installed to these locations. The Windows version of ImageMagick 4.2.9 available from http://typo3.org/ has LZW compression. The alternative to all this is to use the latest version of ImageMagick, and use a version of GD that has LZW for GIF!
GD - this is compiled into PHP, and activated by installing the extension in the php.ini file. On Linux you can re-compile PHP yourself with any version of GD, but for Windows users you will probably use a pre-compiled binary. GD Versions after 1.8.4 do not have GIF support, again due to the patent issues with Unisys. Note that if your build of PHP has a later version of GD without GIF support, you can't simply obtain an earlier PHP extension and use it, without recompiling PHP
PHP 1 - there have been problems reported when using the very latest version (4.3.x)
PHP 2 - TYPO3 will not currently run with the memory_limit directive in php.ini set to less than 8mb

6. if you have identified a genuine new bug report it at http://bugs.typo3.org/. Do not post to the list about it!

7. How to get started

Once you've succeeded in creating some basic pages and templates, you'll want to do some more advanced stuff. You'll then need to learn some TypoScript. This is the scripting/definition "language" developed by Kasper, that is the powerhouse at the heart of TypoScript. It is used to define the parameters within the page templates. A good starting point is the document TypoScript by Example, where the basic concepts are explained and demonstrated, followed by the main reference document, the TSref (see also below). Good luck.

8. TYPO3 resources

http://www.google.com/search?q=typo3- no just kidding, here is an overview of the most important TYPO3 ressources that should be checked first. Homepage of TYPO3. Here you find related TYPO3 related links as well as more general overview of TYPO3 TYPO3 Community/Projects related platform. This is the place to go for TYPO3 developers and admins, mailing list archives etc.

Documentation

TYPO3 is once of the most thoroughly documented OpenSource products around, with manuals covering basic tutorials, TypoScript, administration, development, core structure, etc. You should make the time to locate the various documents, and read those that apply to the work you want to do. You'll find most of the questions you may need to ask will be answered somewhere. The documentation is available from http://typo3.org/

9. Some final notes

TYPO3 is said to be one of the most sophisticated PHP/internet related applications available, and the more you play with it the more you will agree. Due to the advanced level of the code and functionality, a degree of study, time and perseverance is required to fully understand it, and get the best from it - but keep trying, it's definetly worth it. TYPO3 is the ultimate CMF "for all". The GPL license allows for developments that are based upon TYPO3 to also be freely available under the GPL. Please remember this, because it is actually what TYPO3 is about...it is a gift for us all to use and benefit from, but where our developments are given back to the community. If you are making money with TYPO3 you are asked to donate to Kasper Skaarhoej who is developing TYPO3 on a full time basis, and making money only due to the support of the growing community. See details on TYPO3.com.