As suggested in part 1 of this series of tutorials, a PHP based template system can use PHP commands or keywords. Here we'll tackle the same task as before but this time we'll use keywords instead of PHP functions. The tricky part about this is that we have to "parse" the template instead of simply including it in the handler script!
This system is much more complex and is really only suggested when you want someone other than yourself to create templates. The first thing you should do when creating a template based website using PHP with keywords is to decide on the exact method of keyword implementation! You have to make the keywords easy enough for anyone to use but unique enough to keep the script from confusing regular content or words with keywords. Some little used non-alphanumeric character and/or all capital letters is one method while a prfix and underscore is another. For example:
{KEYWORD1}
{KEYWORD2}
or
[temp_menu]
[temp_header]
[temp_footer]
or
%_MY_MENU_%
%_MY_FOOTER_%
%_MY_HEADER_%

By making the keyword syntax rules early, you can avoid complications later.

The thing I like most about Joomla and for that matter Mambo, is the ability to create menus and set different permissions for different menus and menu items. For example, you can offer many more menu items to registered users than guests which makes sense for a lot of reasons. Why would you show a menu link to guests for a section of the website that is only accessible to registered members? More importantly, Why would you show the link to the Admin Control Panel to anyone other than your staff? It is unbelievable the number of Joomla based websites I have visited that show the link to the ACP. The first thing I always do is hide that link. That is just a very small step to adding a bit of security to your website. I'll explain the process here.

Are you unclear on how to use your JoomlaBoard or FireBoard SearchBot from Handy PHP? Well, I'll see if I can get you going in the right direction. To begin with, I think an explanation of the SearchBots should help.

The JoomlaBoard and FireBoard SearchBots are identical in coding and use since the FireBoard forum component was developed from the JoomlaBoard forum component and as a result, the database structures are nearly identical which allows the SearchBots to be identical. These SearchBots are used to allow the forum database to be searched from the default Joomla search component. This allows your visitors to effectively search the entire website all at once instead of needing to enter the forum area to search it separately. Most visitors will not bother to use each of the several search boxes many websites offer. This results in visitors not finding the information that they were looking for so they move on to the next website that might be able to help them. The think is, if a person finds information on your website, they are more likely to return than if they don't!

Learn about free hosting, free domain names, and free web-scripts!

A couple of years ago, I decided I wanted to learn PHP and set up a new website at the same time. I originally wanted to set up a forum which would double as a place for me and my college friends to interact. Well, a simple forum changed to a Volkswagen site and now a PHP site. I've learned a lot of PHP during the journey and had a lot of fun but how did I do it?