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May i know , if you use any Template Framework ?

No. I removed all templates, just using 1.6 default.

It's highly unlikely that you'll find a template *that* specific in 1.5 land let alone for 1.6. So far, the clubs that are shipping 1.6-ready templates are JoomlArt and YooTheme. That said, the core Beez 2 template is rather easy to customise.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the info., ... and for the advice. I will build (customize) starting with the 'Beez 2' template.

I will be off and running (installing and developing) shortly. Your initial guidance has been a big help and a confidence builder for a newbie like me!

Best regards ....

That's correct, there is no version control for content in 1.6. You'll need to rely on custom extension for that.

Best bet is to stick with 1.5 and use this: http://www.fatica.net/downloads/simple-content-versioning.html

Yeah I do use Fatica currently - great extension - I have a list of core extensions I use: http://www.webstrategiesinc.com/blog/tag/google-analytics-tracking-plugin/ that I am constantly checking back on for 1.6 - i was just hoping I'd missed something and version control was part and parcel of 1.6

Were working on 1.6 version control and have a 1.5 extension. It's a bit different in concept to traditional version control in that we wanted real previews first and we solved that prob with version control. I think Joomla user/admins are so used to publish an article live that the concept of a draft version and real preview never occurs.....

Tricky question to answer Steve - if you are a designer/developer then yes but if not then there's a little learning todo. I would still say yes but for example if your first template uses the position "user" but the second does not then any modules listed in "user" will not show up. Joomla! as a rule generally makes things easy so hope that helps a little? You will be delighted by all that's available in Joomla! Best of luck Steve - lemme know if you have other questions.

That's right. Changing templates in 1.6 will be no worse than changing them in 1.5 based on the correlation of template positions. One up side though is that in 1.6, the positions for modules is a bit smarter than it was in 1.5 and you can see what's available in different templates.

David and Andrew,

Thanks for your feedback. I can understand now that positioning of 'features' (not sure if this is proper terminology) in any given template will vary depending on the modules employed in that given template. Therefore, appearance of a developed web page (and available 'features') may be different from template to template.

Do I have that right in my mind?

Kinda ... a template uses positions (defined in the template.xls file) and (via the admin backend) you can create module X and assign it to position Y ... and THEN assign module X to whichever specific menu links (or articles let say for sake of keeping it simple). Google "youtube joomla! positions tutorial" and I have no doubt something will pop up ... videos are great for explaining things and there are some wizards out there that will bring you through it all step by step.

I would say 1.5 simply because you will fast find that you use a lot of third party extensions that haven't caught up with the awesome new 1.6 yet. rsForms, Wordpress for Joomla! Etc. Etc. are still tweaking and getting ready for the change. April will be go time I'd imagine ... Keep in mind you can use things like Akeeba backup should you create a 1.5 site now only to find you want to transfer all your content with ease to 1.6 later.

Thanks David,

I'm digesting all of the Joomla 1.6 Group feedback information and recommendations.

It's a great help to me to better judge how to start out learning and using Joomal!

Regards ...

Helen you are a poet,
and you don't know it. ;)