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Mambo Open Source/Components

< Mambo Open Source
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This page is very old and the links no longer work. Mambelfish has been abandoned and has not been developed since 2005.

The components are supplements and additions to mambo's core functions. Mambo can publish text, upload images, manage users, etc., but components are extra functions that can perform additional tasks. Examples of these are: download managers, forums, commerce, galleries, guestbooks, wikis, newsletters - the list is almost endless.

These components are installed with an installer in mambo, found under "components > install/uninstall" in the mambo administration panel. This is how most of the components are installed, but it should be noted that some of them will need modification to core files. However, that is very seldom needed, as the components installer is usually sufficient.

Example

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Complete list of components

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Mambelfish

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The MambelFish project is a extention hack and component for the content management system Mambo. It enables Mambo to handle multi lingual sites especially in all dynamic contents which are stored in the database.

The key features of the fish are
  • Possibility for an unlimited amount of languages
  • Possibility to MANUAL translate all dynamic content of your Mambo installation in ONE database
  • Overview of the changed contents in the Translation list
  • Support for all the core components/modules of Mambo's
  • Frontend component for language selection

The MambelFish project is maintained and hosted on Mambo's project forge http://mamboforge.net/projects/mambelfish/ by author Alex Kempkens <MambelFish (at) ThinkNetwork (dot) com> , Copyright (C) 2003-2005 Think Network GmbH. When ever you have questions or new ideas please visit this page and post your comments there.

Installation

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The basic installation of the MambelFish goes along with the Mambo (version 4.5.2.3) standards.

1. Install the component thru the Administrator -> Components -> Install routine.
1.a) start in the backend to install mambelfish:
1.b) file 'Mambelfish_1.5.zip' with the component installer
1.c) file 'Mbf_module.zip' with the module installer
1.d) file 'Mbf_searchbot.zip' with the mambot installer
2. Now the difference starts: Applying the corresponding patch.
2.a) BACKUP YOUR ACTUAL MAMBO INSTALLATION DIRECTORY!
2.b) MAKE SURE YOU BACKUP THE DIRECTORY
2.c) The patch is a zip file which corresponds with the directory structure of the Mambo sources. Please unzip (how-with ftp?) the latest known corepatch 4.5.2 file from mamboforge to the root of your Mambo installation, overwriting all files.

For a simple test please switch to the peeklime template. Within this template you should see a combobox with the language name "English" in it - next to the search field (upper right part). Also in the Administrator the Version should now say something about the MambelFish.

Language configuration

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The first step is to upload at least a second language to your Mambo installation. Do this with the help of the Language Manager (Administrator -> Site -> Language Manager).

After you installed the language go to Administrator -> Components -> MambelFish -> Component Configuration

Choose the tab "Languages" and activate the new language. Also define the ISO code and the Name, which is the visible name in the frontend component. Save the new configuration.

This kind of activation must be done for each language added to the system.

Translation process

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The translation process is based on the translation overview (Component -> MambelFish -> Translation). In this overview you have to select the language you want to translate into and a content element.

The content elements represent the possible dynamic content in your database. This includes normally all your sections, categories, content items but also the information from other components, like the web links, polls and so on.

It is possible to add new content elements just by adding new XML files in the folder /administrator/components/com_mambelfish/contentelements. These files describe how the table structure is organized and which fields of the table should be translatable and how.

After you selected one language and one content element you will see all the items of this filter. Best start with your new language and the content elements "menues". Click on one item in the list to translate it.

Now you see the details of the translation - go ahead. Second tab publish the translation of this item and make sure the language is correct - Save.

Now you can go back to the frontend and you should already find your menu translated (of course after a reload or change to your new language ;-)).

Small hints

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  • I found out that it is the best to start creating your site in one language and translate anything to a second, third one. In this way it is most easy for you to build the structure and finally translate it to the other languages. Anyhow if you once have original content in a second language don't worry, just translate it into your primary language and you are fine.
  • The language switcher appears when you add <?php mosLoadComponent( 'mambelfish' );?>

at the place where you wish in your template.

  • You can also just use the module (if you have installed it) and place it at any module position that you like (and that you have published) - but as far as I know the module just uses the Component ;-)
  • about the languages, that don't change... have you checked the URL? at the end there should be the parameter lang=XX ... if you see only 'lang=' and nothing more you just have to type an identification code of the languages in your mambelfish configuration [components-mambelfish-language configuration]
  • check your language configuration in the Mambo Backend (Components > Mambelfish > Language Configuration)

See also

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wrinting Your own component

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nitric oxide

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