This extension is a from-scratch tutorial about how to build a CMS-powered website with TYPO3 based on a HTML-template.

For developers on beginner level.

The website you will be guided to build will look like this:

The site consists of an area for a dynamic menu (left) and dynamic page content (right) - the rest is static design from the HTML template.

Goal

The goal of the tutorial is to equipt you with the state-of-the-art techniques for creating TYPO3 powered websites. It will allow you a quick hands-on experience with the system and provide you with a overall understanding of the factors involved in website production with TYPO3.

If you think this tutorial is too long and want something shorter, please just find another CMS because nothing as powerful and complex a tool as TYPO3 can be described in less space. And even this tutorial is just outlining the over all picture.

Just because TYPO3 costs no money it will not take no time to learn for a developer! It takes a serious time investment and dedication - just like any commercial alternative on its level. So be forewarned. Flying aircrafts takes skills and therefore time to learn. Hopefully this tutorial will get you as quickly as possible onto the launch ramp.

Skill levels

The tutorial is divided into four sections:

The Basics - a newbee introduction to building websites with TYPO3, template records, TypoScript and Content Objects (cObjects). Any person who wants to develop with TYPO3 should be familiar with the concepts described here.

Part 1: Integration of an HTML template - this part aims specifically at intermediate HTML-webdesigners with a limited amount of technical knowledge.

Part 2: Creating a Template Selector - this part aims at intermediate web developer with good knowledge of PHP, SQL and programming concepts in general.

Part 3: Extending the Built-In Access Scheme - for advanced TYPO3/PHP-developers.

Notice: Part 2 and Part 3 are found in another document, in the extension "doc_tut_templselect2"

You can jump onto any part you like directly. However if you follow the tutorial from the first to the last section you will find the sections to be sequential and that may give you the best step-by-step experience. However the step between the tutorials may require that you gain some experience first!

The extension

This tutorial has all its files contained in a TYPO3 extension. Extensions normally contain scripts and resources that extend the capabilities of TYPO3. However this tutorial extension does not interact with TYPO3s core if you install it - it merely serves as a vehicle for transporting the tutorial files to your server and for presenting the tutorial document online on typo3.org.

Therefore to follow this tutorial, first install the dummy-package (see The Basics section) and then import the extension "doc_tut_templselect" from TER (TYPO3 Extension Repository) with the EM (Extension Manager) and you will have all files at hand on your server when you need them.

This tutorial document can either be read online or you can download it as a SXW file from typo3.org for your convenience.

Price

You don't have to pay for reading this document. However it has taken the author, Kasper Skårhøj, a full week to prepare, write and complete. None of this work was paid. If you or your company find it useful and it makes you better fit for serving powerful websites to your customers, please consider a donation! You cannot feed me by shoulder padding alone. Otherwise this tutorial could be the last one...