Working On My Business: JTC Forum Setup

Written by: Tim Davis Created: 10 January 2024

Category: Watch Me Work Live Streams

Hot!Hits: 794Reading time: 01:51

The Joomla Training Cohort Forum is a place to help me and others manage the increasing number of questions and requests for kind support with Joomla sites. In this live stream I work on setting up the forum so the forum is more useable.

00:00:00 - Introduction & Business Focus
00:04:24 - Forum Structure & Organization
00:21:08 - Template CK & Layout Adjustments
00:39:16 - Forum Search Functionality
01:19:38 - PHP 8.2 Troubleshooting
01:34:12 - Menu Cleanup & Final Thoughts

✅ Summary

Shift from "In" to "On" the Business:
The video kicks off with a focus on improving systems instead of just daily operations—highlighted through the acronym WOMB (Working On My Business).
Forum Structure & Cleanup:
Major focus on organizing the Kunena Forum: adding clear categories, rules, headers (like "Be Kind") and removing clutter like the “Catch All” category.
Template Tweaks for User Experience:
Using Template Creator CK, key layout adjustments were made—fixing spacing, padding, and H1 margins to enhance readability and design.
Improved Content Spacing:
Refined spacing between content blocks and sidebar elements—addressing visual clutter and maintaining a clean forum layout.
Search Functionality Challenge & Creative Solution:
The CaniSearch module didn’t yield results, so a workaround was created using a direct URL and custom button via Canva and Page Builder CK.
Button Integration with Custom CSS:
A search button was built and styled with custom CSS, solving layout issues and enhancing the forum’s functionality despite module limitations.
PHP 8.2 Migration & MySQLi Issue:
Upgrading PHP caused a "MySQL extension not available" error—solved by identifying the missing MySQLi extension, installing it via WHM, and confirming successful PHP 8.2 use.
Forum Speed Boost on PHP 8.2:
Post-fix, forum search performance improved noticeably, validating the PHP upgrade after resolving backend compatibility.
Menu Cleanup for Simplicity:
Old or redundant menu items (like “Consultation”) were removed, streamlining navigation and focusing attention on key features.
Personal Touch & Wrap-Up:
The video ends with weather reflections and birdwatching (robins returning early), tying the personal to the professional with a calm, thoughtful outro.