Your start as a TYPO3 newbie: Controlled acceleration
Tips for TYPO3 beginners
The time has come: The installation is running, your TYPO3 training has been successfully completed and you’ve just received your password. It’s time to start!
But hold on.
Put the mouse aside for a moment. After all, no one becomes Formula One World Champion overnight. Speed alone is not enough, you also need to think about the track. Protect the car and above all yourself. Let’s make sure we can get you across the finish line safely. Okay, we’re done with the analogies now.
IMG_144504367-18.JPG? Seriously?!
With your new back-end you will work with filenames. Filenames like »IMG_144504367-18.JPG« are only helpful for people with a photographic memory. Unless you are one of these lucky people this type of filename will definitely not help you when trying to organize a CMS. Uploading an image one more time, with a different name and possibly even a lower resolution into the temp folder is not a suitable option either.
Before you start uploading files, consider a robust descriptive naming structure. What are the most important characteristics that will identify the file easily for you? Do image rights or privacy matter? Do you work with a variety of travel photos where location is important? Does the specific year a picture was taken matter? Is it an image, a document or a video? Having a robust and descriptive naming system for your files will allow you to find files quickly and efficiently.
Files as »Single source«
With that in mind, just think about prioritizing the two, three main factors that will help you easily find the file later in back-end listing. There is no golden rule when it comes to naming structures. This may be a good team activity where you and your team can decide what »descriptive« filenames will work best for your company.
When handling the files, please also bear in mind that, especially for large websites, many content elements created in toujou may source back to the same file – one of the big advantages of file handling in TYPO3. That’s when we talk about a »single source«. If information or parts of it are changed in this file, these changes are automatically visible everywhere. (Attention: Only in file list mode! More info here.)
TYPO3 – more than just one way
You'll quickly find that certain settings and features are available in several different places. TYPO3 gives you several different ways to do a specific job or change a setting. Uploading files, changing page properties or editing content elements can seem visibly different, depending on the context.
You do not have to remember each and everyone of these ways. Imagine being on a network of trails. Of course, you're never allowed to say this to a techie: »Trampling trails in the back-end.« Howeverwhen working with toujou, you'll quickly find the right track for you that might differ from your training. Great, because now you've automatically found the most efficient way to use the back-end: your own.
No bureaucracy: the tab structure.
The tabs you come across in the back-end are by no means bureaucratic. No: The tabs are helpful guideposts for settings and functions. For your work with toujou, it does pays off to gradually work the tabs in sequence. This way, you keep track of the order of your work steps and quickly become familiar with the inherent logic of the back-end. (For example, when creating four blocks of text or editing page properties.)
Ask the community – they are there to help
Regardless of whether you are a newbie or a seasoned developer, there is no question too big or small that hasn’t already been discussed in the TYPO3 community. No problem that was not treated anywhere. We recommend the TYPO3 YouTube Channel. Beyond that, with the help of a search engine, you should be able to find what you are looking for in most cases. And if not, contact us – we'll be happy to help!