New ExpressionEngine 2 Book!
I’m pleased to announce the immediate availability of Building an ExpressionEngine 2 Site for Small Business, a 362-page book covering the complete implementation of a sample Small Business web site on ExpressionEngine 2.
This is the revised version of the EE 1 book available here on Train-ee for over two and a half years, now updated and expanded for ExpressionEngine 2.
What’s Changed?
This rewrite effort was much more than simply swapping out EE 1’s “weblog” for EE 2’s “channel”, we also:
- Split up some longer chapters for tighter and more focused content
- Filled in some existing content areas that were okay on the “how” but not so much on the “why”
- Reworked how templates got chunked up to both take advantage of EE 2’s Snippets and for simpler parent templates
- Added details on how to work with EE 2’s new File Manager
- Added troubleshooting tips to each chapter
- Added a chapter on 404 Management
- Added a chapter on Improving Performance
- Added a chapter on Configuring EE for Client Access
- Added a bonus chapter on Extending EE with Matrix
- Had the contents reviewed by some fellow ExpressionEngine folks (see below)
- Added a foreword by Leslie Camacho, President of EllisLab
- Finessed the book layout with a better table of contents, headers and footers, etc.
- Resized the book to the “Crown Quarto” size of 7.5” by 9.5” to fit better with existing tech books
- Added professionally-illustrated covers
Many Thanks To
The book has its own acknowledgment section with specifics, but I still want to thank the following folks for helping birth this baby::
- MsBoyink, Love of my Life
- Leslie Camacho, President
EllisLab, Inc
http://www.ellislab.com - Scott Thigpen, Illustrator
Thigpen Designs
http://www.sthig.com - Paul Burton, Creative Director/Principal
16toads Design, LLC
http://www.16toads.com - Jenn Lukas, Interactive Development Director
Happy Cog Studios
http://jennlukas.com - Emily Lewis, Emily Lewis Design, LLC
http://emilylewisdesign.com
- Marcus Neto, Creative Director
Blue Fish Design Studio, LLC
http://bluefishdesignstudio.com - Steven Grant, ExpressionEngine Developer
Digital Evangelist
http://digitalevangelist.net
Other Versions?
Yes, I will be making the book available in both print and ePub forms. Print will be first, and ePub last as there is a cost for the conversion to the ePub format. This cost will be incurred with each revision of the book, so I plan to hold off for a little while to see if any significant errata are reported before incurring that conversion cost.
Each version will be a separate product - so purchase the version you’ll use the most.
Need a Link?
The .PDF version of the book is available for immediate purchase here on Train-ee.com.
Enjoy!
Previous Comments
by Keith Heustis
Date: Friday, August 6th, 2010
Comment: #3
Thanks Mike,
I just bought my copy! I think it’ll be a nice reference for me so when I’m a little unsure about something I can always ask “How would Mike do this?” then go and look and see what you did.
Keep up the good work!
-Keith
by Steven Grant
Date: Friday, August 6th, 2010
Comment: #4
The missing manual.
Was good to have the chance to review it for you. Picked up a few pointer on implementation methods as well, particularly with regard to misc content in footers and headers. Never thought about making them editable that way before :-)
by Mike Boyink (Author)
Date: Friday, August 6th, 2010
Comment: #5
Thanks guys…such a relief to get this out there.
by Ryan Battles
Date: Friday, August 6th, 2010
Comment: #6
It’s finally here! Looking forward to grabbing the print version.
by Bruce Floyd
Date: Friday, August 6th, 2010
Comment: #7
If we purchase the PDF now, will we have access to the ePub once it’s released?
by Mike Boyink (Author)
Date: Friday, August 6th, 2010
Comment: #8
Good question, and one I can’t honestly answer yet as I have no idea what the work & costs of generating that format will be.
If it’s relatively painless then yes, I’d bundle the digital versions together. If it looks like it’s going to require a fair amount of effort (and create another parallel version we need to keep revised on an ongoing basis) then we’d have to charge extra for that.
One challenge is that I’m not (and don’t plan to be) an iPad user, so don’t know the benefits of the ePub over just bringing PDF books into iBooks. It’s all stuff I need to research yet.
by Bruce Floyd
Date: Friday, August 6th, 2010
Comment: #9
The advantage of ePub is the ability to resize text, change font style, inverse colors (white text on black background).
I’ll keep the “you need to get an iPad” mantra to myself. :)
by Mike Boyink (Author)
Date: Friday, August 6th, 2010
Comment: #10
Hah - yea, I know. I’d think about it were it not for our upcoming RV Adventure. I’m already concerned about the amount of tech we’re bringing with, and a full-featured laptop just serves more purposes than an iPad.
by Tony Geer
Date: Friday, August 6th, 2010
Comment: #11
Hey Mike congrats on wrapping this up! Bruce covered the benefits of the epub over PDF very well, and I’d throw my hat in the ring for that version as well as it’s easier to read on the iPad, where I do most of my reading now. Hopefully it won’t be very difficult to create in that format.
by marco
Date: Friday, August 6th, 2010
Comment: #12
really useful book, indeed…
about ePub, here’s an interesting resource:
http://www.simplehelp.net/2010/04/05/how-to-convert-pdf-files-to-epub-files-to-read-on-your-ipad-with-ibooks/
by Mike Boyink (Author)
Date: Friday, August 6th, 2010
Comment: #13
OK - after a bit of research here’s what I plan:
- The print version of the book will come next via Lulu.com. I’ll do the preparation work early next week but will need to order a copy for myself for review before it’ll be publicly available. If it all goes well, I estimate it will be available around the 18th or 19th.
- I’ll also use Lulu for the ePub version. They have a conversion process to create the ePub file, and once converted the completed book will be available in the iBookstore.
That conversion process is a paid service, and it would be incurred with each revision of the book. For that reason I’ll hold off for a little while and see if any significant errata are reported before submitting the book for conversion.
Each version of the book (PDF, Print, ePub) will be a separate product, so buy the most convenient version based on your needs.
by Mike Boyink (Author)
Date: Friday, August 6th, 2010
Comment: #14
Thanks Marco - I discovered that app in my research this afternoon, but all in all it sounds like a headache. Especially when I consider the amount of formatting the book has (table of contents, code samples, screen captures, numbered and bulleted lists, etc).
Based on everything else going on in life right now I don’t mind paying for the Lulu service - as then it also shoots right into the iBookstore.
by Ryan Battles
Date: Monday, August 9th, 2010
Comment: #15
Glad to hear that you are going with Lulu for the print version. I have used them in the past with good results. I’ll keep a close eye on this thread and twitter to hear when it officially becomes available. I’ll want to have a print version open next to my computer while I explore the new stuff in EE2.
by Ray Brown
Date: Friday, August 6th, 2010
Comment: #1
Congrats, Mike! I can’t wait to get my hands on this.