I know just enough to HAVE ask a really stupid question...
xtiansimon - April 24, 2009 - 21:00
I've made web sites before in HTML and CSS and I'm familiar with that file structure. What I don't understand is when I look at the files--the actual files on the server--what am I looking at? How are these folders organized? HTML was so easy from the client side.
Everytime I read a basic book on PHP/MySQL they keep working to explain the significance of PHP/MySQL. Then, they impress on me on all the cool things a database can do. Then they make me MAKE a PHP/MySQL mini application.
I need a service manual for my car, not a book on combustion (with projects on how to make a cardboard two stroke model)!
Just the facts...
Chris
Try searching on 'Drupal' at
Try searching on 'Drupal' at amazon.com. There are several excellent Drupal books out there. None of them, that I know of, attempt to teach you PHP or SQL.
Good potential book choices
Good potential book choices include Using Drupal, and Front End Drupal.
-- David
davidnewkerk.com | absolutecross.com
View my Drupal lessons & guides
yes Using Drupal
Written by the best, describes php/mysql architecture, etc.
At least you know what you know...
I would recommend ignoring all of the files except those that fall under /sites
When you download drupal and install it on your server the first thing (for learning drupal) you need to understand is that the folders that exist outside of /sites/* are subject to being modified with any release of Drupal and therefore are not safe to edit.
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But as far as /sites go:
/sites/ - safe place to put your PHP/HTML/CSS
/themes/ - Place themes you want to make available to every Drupal site you build here
/sites/default/ - This directory will only make your life difficult in the long run if you want to develop drupal themes and modules so don't use it (obviously this is My Opinion Only). If you are building just one Drupal site and you know the themes and modules you will use for it you can easily place all of theme in the appropriate sub-directories here.
Jon Diamond
ImageWorks Studio
About Jon Diamond
What's not in the file structure
This is a related point that you probably already understand, but it might be helpful for a newcomer who reads this later:
For the record, what you *won't* find in the file structure are actual files for each of a Drupal site's pages. The pages don't exist as files, and are generated by Drupal on the fly. That's obvious to most Drupal users, but some new users do expect to find such files, per the conventional, static HTML-based sites you mention.
I think what's key for a newbie is, if the basic Drupal installation is already done, there may be no need to deal with, or even know, the structure of files on the server! That should be a comfort for a non-technical user who just wants to admin a Drupal site, not initially install one or perform modifications to internal files. Such an admin can just work on the site via the usual Drupal admin forms, and ask a techie to do more technical tasks including upgrades, module installations, and so on.
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Easy Drupal Admin Manual, Drupal questions, other stuff for the newbie: http://www.drupalace.com
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Manuals, Q&A and more for the Drupal beginner
php/mysql
If I'm not mistaken, mysql is where the databases go, all of Drupal's data...
php is the server-side script that drupal is written in...
-drupal is written in php...that's why you see so many .php files...
-somebody please correct me if I got any of this wrong...
I have a question...does php direct mysql?
Thanks