I've read through a couple books. I've installed, tweaked, uninstalled, and given up on Drupal a couple times now. However, my most recent read has encouraged me to re-think the Drupal direction.
I've got experience with PHP-coding ( used to love Zikula ), CSS, DHTML, etc.
I'm going to start slowly.
What I want to do is create a Lynda.com-like clone.
I want to create a set of topics, make videos about those topics, and set those videos in collections ( training courses ) for people to search through, find and watch.
I will store all videos on MY server ( eventually I will start charging for access to some of them ). I would like to stream them directly to the user. Whether they are mobile, tablet, laptop, desktop. I want them to be able to access these videos.
I'm assuming I will create the categories via taxonomy.
I'm assuming I will create the content-type through the admin panel.
My problem becomes... how do I reference a video once it's a node?
I was thinking of using the built-in book Content-type, and create one book per 'class.' But how do I create the link in the book to a specific video? How do I set the books up with tags so that users can search for topic XYZ and find all of the books with that listing? What about finding individual videos based on categories? What about a huge video menu similar to Lynda.com so that users can browse through all available books?
Does anyone have any tips? Tricks? Ideas? Hours to devote to my personal question and answer needs? lol
Comments
Figured a couple things out...
These two modules gave me the ability to upload my video files and present them to the end user as I wanted to.
So now I need to know how to format my presentation.
I would like one big Menu with all tutorials categorized by Software Company, Software Packages, and High Level Categories.
Adobe, Microsoft, etc. would be in one list. Clicking on the company would present you with a list of Software packages they make ( and that I have tutorials for ).
The various software packages would be in another list. Click on the software would present you with a list of all of the Classes for that software ( Digital Photography, Image Editing, How to clean a photo for Adobe Photoshop, etc. ).
The High Level Categories would be in another list. Clicking on the Category would present you with all the software used for that type of work ( selecting Photography would present you with Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Image Editor, Irfanview and more ).
I 'THINK' I know how to set up the taxonomy for this. But building the menu based off of the taxonomy is intimidating.
Any tips, tricks, etc.?
Also, each tutorial video is just one section of a teaching program ( or Class ) and can be used in multiple classes as needed. But How should I collect all of the tutorial videos together in a 'class' setup? Should I use the built in Book module? Can I style/lay-it-out like I want? Or should I go another route?
If you've always done it that way then you're probably doing it wrong. - Kettering
Beginner Best Practices
Hi There
Just returned from four days at Badcamp in the Bay area of California.
In the beginning I too had a hard time getting started with Drupal.
My experience with the Drupal community and finding help... I would recommend asking your questions to the point, keep it short and first and foremost Search D.O and Google for the information you seek, to see if it has already asked... before you post a query.
If new to Drupal - Here is a short list that will locate and help you "know your resources":
The video libraries around the web are getting large and extensive starting with the site you are trying to "clone"
Click Here
You want to know more about "Big" menus:
This is a good module
OM_Maximenu Documentation is limited right now but if you learn how to make "menus" in Drupal it is easy to figure out how this module works.
Info for MediaFront can be found HERE and HERE
As for HTML5 Media. This project is more of an initiative that is is ducking, dodging and weaving and totally influxed in change. No rules... just Standards. As the Maintainer writes: "This project is completely open and has no other intentions other than to provide a standard front end media solution that will benefit the entire Drupal community." For more info go to the project page or find the very active IRC channel.
If you are a web developer (ie PHP programmer), I would get more involved HERE you will therefore learn faster and and will find the ability to more than you can now imagine with Drupal.
Couple more resources:
Where is the Drupal Community
Best starting point with Drupal.
Good Luck
Drupal Plumber
Understanding your resources
Link Back
Drupal Plumber