This version of the book was mainly about re-working the Product section of the sample site to use EE 2.4’s more advanced Image Manipulations for dynamically creating resized versions of images as they are uploaded.  But the Control Panel of EE 2.4 is different enough from EE 2.1 that every single Control Panel screenshot also had to be updated.

I also fixed errata reported by readers, removed sections for features that were removed from EE, and added bits where features were added or enhanced. 

If you have purchased the EE2 PDF version in the past you can download the update from your Train-ee profile page. If you purchased the discontinued ePub version shoot me an email with your Train-ee screenname and I’ll make the updated PDF available to you (there are no plans for an updated ePub based on low sales volume).  If you purchased the EE1 version then you’ll need to re-up (a family has to eat..:)

I’ll be working on updating the print version via Amazon but do need some time to order and approve a review copy - I’m hoping that process will only take a week or so.

So here’s my thought: I find an actual restaurant that needs a new website.  They pay a significantly reduced rate for the work.  Together we create a custom design that serves both our purposes.  I build out the site on ExpressionEngine, using the build as a basis for new learning materials here on Train-ee.  When the site build reaches an agreed-upon point the restaurant takes it over and uses it as their primary marketing tool.

Restaurant Benefits

• A dramatically reduced price for a custom-designed killer mobile-friendly website delivered on ExpressionEngine
• Extra visibility and traffic from their site being featured in a series of learning resources

Restaurant Requirements

• A reasonable budget (more info forthcoming)
• Ability to wait longer for a completed site than a normal project
• Able to host the site on EngineHosting

Train-ee Benefits

• Custom design costs will be covered by a paying client
• The effort of building out the site will result in a website that actually gets used
• Train-ee will retain ownership of the design for use in forthcoming learning resources

EE Student Benefits

• Example site uses a fresh, current design
• Example build is real-world, not just created for the purposes of the training materials

Can You Help Me?
So, I’m looking for that restaurant client.  Maybe you turned one down because their budget wasn’t enough?  Or you didn’t have the bandwidth?  Or they are a family member so too close to you to be a good working relationship as a client? 

If you have any leads for me I’d appreciate hearing about it - contact me!

I am not looking for free or spec work but - in addition to paying for the work - will also credit you as the designer where it makes sense to do so.  The design requirements are listed below and what I am seeking are quotes to produce the deliverables specified.  In addition to the requirements below there may be additional future work required to develop designs for content types not specified in the initial set of requirements.

This design will be used both for some new free tutorials but also for some new commercial tutorials.

Type of Site:
Restaurant with a decently-sized menu and multiple locations, exact type of restaurant as yet unknown.  This may be decided by finding an actual restaurant client or, failing that, be decided by you and I.

Site Outline / Content Types
Home Page
Home page to have considerable space for photography, clean/obvious navigation to locations and menu, and room for social updates (Twitter, Facebook, etc).

Menu
The menu section needs to be able to communicate a rich and multi-level menu, with choices organized both by type (salads, appetizers, etc) but also full multi-course meals designed around holidays.  An example might be a fully-designed Valentines dinner where the complete experience from drinks to appetizers to entrees to dessert is specified for you.

About (static)
I’ll need a standard “content” page with sub-navigation.

Locations
I’ll need a locations page that can accommodate a restaurant with multiple locations with proximity search, etc.

Photo Gallery
I’ll need a photo gallery with category and single-view templates.

Blog
I’ll need a blog with index, single-entry and comments.

Contact (forms)
I’ll need a contact page with form elements styled.

Technical Requirements
One main goal for the resources I’m planning is to show how ExpressionEngine can be used to power a killer front end - so here’s what I’m looking for in the design:

• Standards-Compliant
• Responsive (displays well on desktop, iPad, iPhone, Android, etc).
• HTML5/CSS
• Browser compatibility: IE9, Chrome, Firefox, Safari
• Printable via a print stylesheet

Deliverables

• Option 1: .PSD Files of all templates required to deliver specified content types.  I’ll source the front-end coding.
• Option 2 (preferred): Static HTML/CSS/JS files comprising the specified content types. 

Schedule
Not immediate, not months out.  Sometime over the next 4-6 weeks most likely.

Questions? Ask in the comments below so they’re answered for everyone.

Numbers? Shoot ‘em to me at my first name (short version) @ last name .com.

This was the biggest EECI yet with an attendance of around 300 people.  There’s much to say about the event, from the lodging (I was part of a group of 8-9 in an AirBnB booking in a Brooklyn Apartment), to the venue (a raw, industrial art gallery where the “invisible dog” toys used to be made), to the speakers (some new faces, but still a who’s who in the EE world), to the attendees (a show of hands revealed the audience was ~ 70% new to EE & EECI).

One of the most rewarding things about this EECI was the number of Train-ee classroom students who attended.  If my count is right there were eight, with five of those being from the very first class which took place over three years ago.  In the midst of the conference bustle we managed a photo with some of them.  From the left is AJ Penninga (who TA’d the first class), Keith Heustis, Bree Rodriguez. myself and Tony Geer (thanks to Tony for sending the photo which was shot by Jonathan Longnecker using Tony’s camera).

It’s quite rewarding to see past students still active, engaged and contributing to the ExpressionEngine community.

While the EE Podcast has been around for some time it recently went on a vacation and came back all buffed, tan and sporting a new tattoo.  The rebirthed version features hosts Lea Alcantara and ExpressionEngine and Train-ee was happy to both be a sponsor for the episode and was featured nicely in the discussion. 

A Student
One of the things I’ve always liked about working with ExpressionEngine is that I don’t ever feel like I’m done learning it. New addons aside, there are always interesting new ways to string together it’s native functionality to either solve new puzzles or better solve old puzzles.

But in my years with EE I’ve played mostly at the EE template level, only once in a while looking at ways to tweak addons to do what I needed. I was probably bringing up the rear of the short-bus in terms of existing PHP skills to build on, but after taking this class I have a much better understanding of the various files that comprise addons and the courage & direction to start poking around in them to tweak & learn more. I will also be much more confident in being able to scope out and specify custom addons for client projects.

Overall though? I came away with a newfound respect for the EE developer community. I’ve been in and around the software and web world for over 15 years now and am ever amazed at the skillz you folks have.

A Host
Typically when I’m teaching an EE class I have MsBoyink acting as class host. She makes sure our food and drink needs are met, schedules venues for meetups, makes sure the class starts and ends on time, etc. For this class I also played host - both to allow my wife and kids some time for local activities and to make sure that I had something to do if I really got lost trying to code. Thankfully the latter never happened and other than an odd empty water pitcher here and there the class ran smoothly. Not that MsBoyink still wasn’t helping…

A Business Owner
When I recognize my own skill set shortcomings and hire more talented people to fill those voids the end results are better. This is a lesson I seem to relearn continually as a business owner - and I learned it again last week as Erik skillfully communicated a level of knowledge that it would take me years to attain. I’m very happy with how the class went and look forward to being able to offer it in more locations.

In the two years that we’ve been doing classroom training for ExpressionEngine I can’t count the number of times we’ve heard that.  Now I can answer - in April!

The trick with the advanced class was to get someone more qualified than myself to put the class together and teach it.

I’m very happy that Erik Reagan accepted my invitation to be that person. The new class is a partnership with Erik’s company Focus Lab and will cover the process of creating addons for ExpressionEngine.

Full details can be found on the class detail page. 

Note that we’ve scheduled the advanced class for the week following my own “beginner to intermediate” class, so if you really need the complete education around ExpressionEngine you can just book two weeks in the sunny Phoenix area..

Thanks again Erik, and see you all in Phoenix!