FAQ
From Lanius CMS Wiki
This page contains frequently asked questions. Please add your own if not covered by any in the list.
General questions
How do I create a new menu
- In the administration backend, Go to Modules Manager and select New
- Select mod_menu and next
- Type a new module Title, position, what access group, and most IMPORTANTLY, what item in the Main Menu for the New menu to show on.
- Now, Very Important, under Module Parameters give a Name to the Menu this module instance will control....REMEMBER the name...you will need it at the next stage.
- Save the new module instance and then publish it, selecting where you want it to appear and its order etc.... Now still in the backend, got to Menu, Add/Edit Menus...
- Select New, type in the name that you were told to REMEMBER when creating the new module instance.
- Create....
- Select the Menu and then select the new menu you have created....
- Now add menu items as you would for any menu.... The menu name that appears on the frontpage will be the Module Title you created in step 3 above....
How do I create a link in a content page to another content page
When you select a menu item that has been created from a content item the URL displayed in the address bar will take the following form: "http://www.example.com/lanius/index.php?option=content&pcontent=1&task=view&id=2&Itemid=63" This is the URL of the Menu Item and its related content item...copy it.
Go to the backend and open that content item in the editor and select insert URL, past the URL of the menu item as the above example shows, then change the "view&id=2" number to the id number for the page you wish to link to then save the page.
It may require a little trial and error to get the ID number correct, however, if the menu items content id number is say 2 and the new content item you want to link to is the next content item created logic say the id number will be 3.. So I would paste the original URL "http://www.example.com/lanius/index.php?option=content&pcontent=1&task=view&id=2&Itemid=63" in and then change the "view&id=2" to "view&id=3" save the page and test.
How do I create a static page
To create static pages: disable vote and comment drabots from the admin backend drabots menu (they will be disabled for all content items) - have a content item in an unpublished content section, for example the default "General Content" - go to Menu -> mainmenu and create a new menu item of type "Content item" - select your content item from there and... You have a static content page
How do I add a youtube video?
To add a video go to Modules Manager -> New (mod_stream) and fill in the new streaming module properties.
How can I change a user's language?
Once logged in click on "My User Profile" and change the language. If you are an user of Administrator level you can also login to the backend then go to System -> Users Manager to perform the same operation.
The admin backend is still in English. Why don't I see my own language?
When you created the admin user that language was not installed. Now (if it is installed!) see the answer above to find out how to change a users language.
How can I Publish a language?
To publish a language go to System -> Language Manager, select the language you want to publish click on the Publish button. If you can't see the option to choose between your published languages go to System -> Modules Manager -> Change Language and change the Access Group to anything other than Nobody.
How can I update Lanius CMS?
Click on System -> Online updates and select the patch you need. If you can't update through those automatic updates, just make an SQL backup, reinstall and then restore your SQL backup.
How can I translate Lanius CMS to a new language?
Before starting, are you sure that the translation for your language has not already been developed or worse is in development? Check the translation tasks list, if your language is not there you may start the actual translation but first ask to join the Lanius Team so the translation task will be assigned to you!
How can I replace the default banner with my own?
Depending on the template you are using a banner may or may not be displayed. The default banner(as of the date of this document) reads "Lanius CMS test banner". If this is the banner you need to replace first use gimp or your favorite image generation program to generate an image with dimensions of 486x60. It's probably best to make it with a transparent background. I'd recommend a .png file, but I think a .gif file will work also. Once the file is generated and saved on your local system, log in as administrator and go to Components -> Banners. You'll probably see the Test Banner here. Click on the new button (top, right). Fill in the boxes, give it a name and since your image isn't in the system yet, browse for it. If you want to have it linked to a url, then put the url in the Banner click URL field. Now click on the Create button, There's one at the top and bottom of the screen. Once that's done, you should see your banner listed with the Test Banner. Unpublish the Test Banner by selecting the checkbox to the left of it and press Unpublish, then click on the checkbox next to your banner and Publish it.
How can I add a new menu item to the Main Menu that links directly to a document?
Go to Menu -> mainmenu. Press New. Select "URL link" in the "select menu type" page. Click Next. Now fill out the boxes with a name, and the url of the document. The name you select will the the name that shows up on the main menu. This will work for any of the menus and is not limited to the main menu.
How do I change the appearance of the polls module?
In order to do this you can use CSS.
In the Admin backend you select System -> Modules manager Select the appropriate polls module (it may be renamed) In the section Module Parameters fill in the custom CSS classname of your choice in the field Custom CSS class, e.g. MyPollsClass
You will need to find the file called templates/yourtemplate/modules/polls.style.css. In order to change the CSS of a module (in this case the poll module) you can add the following class into the CSS file:
.MyPollsClass .polls_header
{
font-weight:bold; text-align:center;
}
This can be applied to (almost) all modules.
Add-on Installation
How can I install a new language?
Wait! Languages cannot yet be installed! This will be available very soon.
How can I install a Limbo/Mambo/Joomla template?
You can't. Other CMSes templates are not currently supported, however we are working on automatic conversion tools and they should be very soon available.
Installation
How do I reinstall without losing all my data?
Use the database backup feature (System -> Database -> Backup Manager), first make a Backup and then save it locally. On the next installation you can get back all your data online simply restoring that file. If you are not going to reinstall with a newer version you could perform a "Tarball backup" and restore the entire website instead.
I get a plenty of database errors while installing. I am using Gladius DB. What's up?
Check your folders' write permissions! For example, the /private/lcms/ (if lcms is your database name) folder should be writable (at least 0775 chmod mode) in order to use Gladius DB
If I start a website with a flatfile db is it more difficult to upgrade the data than if I use MySQL (or such)?
No, it is possible to switch between databases with a few clicks.
Database
I restored my database backup and I can no more login as admin. Help!
Click the "forgot your password" link in frontend or else directly edit your database and add a new administrator account manually (you can use an SQL-exported INSERT INTO #__users... line from another database backup)
Is it possible to switch between databases in an easy way?
The SQL backup format of Lanius CMS is compatible within Lanius CMS with any database system. You can easily switch between any database with a few clicks, the CMS will automatically export the data from your database (flatfile or whatever) and import it in the new one, so that migrations between different database systems are painless.
