Website Design in Matlock Derbyshire

Joomla! backend and how to access It

In this article I shall be explaining the concept of the Joomla! backend, how to gain access and then have a general look at the various buttons and menus displayed in the backend.

 

Lose the Internet Explorer - so say many web designers!

 

Before we start getting really into this Joomla! thing, I might suggest that you equip yourself with a good internet browser.  If you are currently using Internet Explorer, then its time to move on.  Ask any website designer about internet explorer and I'm sure they'll have a lot to say about it's non-compliance with web standards.  I'm not going to go into it here, but if you are using Internet Explorer, as a web designer then I plead with you to swap to another browser.  I can recommend Mozilla's Firefox.  Its completely free and it will work on your PC just as well as Internet Explorer, but even better!  Here's a link www.mozilla.com - go get it.  The first screen should determine what type of computer you are using and the browser, all you will need to do is click on the button and follow the instructions.

 

What is the backend?

 

OK, the backend is the part of your Joomla! based website where all the administration of the site takes place.  The people who have access to the backend are generally the original designer or creator of the site, the owner of the site, ie usually the customer, and other selected individuals.  These individuals could be other people to do with your business and/or people who solely provide content.  At the end of the day there's no limit to who has access apart from they must have first been designated.

 

How do I access the backend?

 

Access to the backend is usually straightforward.  If you have a website and it has a domain name (in the case of this site the domain name is www.aquamandesign.co.uk), then to gain access to the backend login screen you must type into your browsers address bar (not your google search box) your domain name followed by /administrator .  So for this site you would type www.aquamandesign.co.uk/administrator.

 

 

Joomla! backend login screen

 

OK if you've successfully typed the correct address with the administrator suffix into your browser's address bar, the Joomla! backend login screen will appear.

 

 

Here you will see a box to enter your username and password.  You should have been supplied these details when your website was first set up.  Type your details into the boxes and then click the Login button.

 

Joomla! Control Panel

 

Once you have clicked on the Login button you will be transferred to the Joomla! Control Panel.  The Control Panel is the initial screen displayed everytime you login and should look something like the image below.

 

 

That's it!  You're in!

 

In the next article I'll go through the different functions displayed in this control panel and what they all mean.