What Is MDPro?

Duster

In simple terms, MDPro (MDP) is a PHP based content management system used to create and administer websites. To better understand how it can be used, one needs to be familiar with what MDP can do. Due to its modular nature, it can have many different functions added (through the addition of modules) and be tailored for nearly any use and any type of website (as far as subject matter).

MDPro is also described as a weblog (see definition below) based on PHP.

Unlike simple HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) page websites, MDP allows direct input by visitors to a site. It also allows many different functions, all accessible from a single registration (if registration is required) and a common interface. The administrator also has a common interface.

Aside from the standard features, there are third party modules covering a variety of interests from hobbyist to commercial to allow administrators to tailor a site specifically for their area of interest.

Furthermore, the site can be administered online and remotely.

There is far more to MDP than these few paragraphs reveal and you should become better acquainted with MDP from practical, hands on experience to learn more.

Why the name MDPro?

MDPro is a product of the MAXdev project. MAXdev is short for maximum development, a reflection of the commitment the programmers have made to redefine the open source CMS and develop it to its utmost capability. The Pro from the use of the program in many professional applications at universities, institutions and other organizations, many overseen by MAXdev programmers, who thus have a personal interest in the quality of the program they continue to refine. Max is also the name of the project manager and founder of MAXdev so there is an added meaning to that part of the name.

What is a weblog?

See this site, Weblogs: a history and perspective, for a detailed explanation as well as the history of weblogs. The term weblog is sometimes shortened to blog.

From this site, a shorter definition is as follows:

A Weblog (which is sometimes written as "web log" or "weblog") is a Web site of personal or non-commercial origin that uses a dated log format that is updated on a daily or very frequent basis with new information about a particular subject or range of subjects. The information can be written by the site owner, gleaned from other Web sites or other sources, or contributed by users.

A Web log often has the quality of being a kind of "log of our times" from a particular point-of-view. Generally, Weblogs are devoted to one or several subjects or themes, usually of topical interest, and, in general, can be thought of as developing commentaries, individual or collective on their particular themes. A Weblog may consist of the recorded ideas of an individual (a sort of diary) or be a complex collaboration open to anyone. Most of the latter are moderated discussions.

What is a CMS?

There is no single definition of a content management system (CMS). Following are some examples I found on a few different websites:

As you may know, a CMS stores content in a database separately from the templates that control its appearance, so content can be updated or reused in various contexts without anyone touching the HTML. The practical result? Self-service

The definition of a content management system (CMS) is as diverse as all the people creating them, but at the very core of a CMS is the concept of separating Website layout and design from content. By doing this you provide a means for the Web Developer to do his job and not get bogged down with endless requests for content changes/additions, more importantly though, this empowers the non-Developer, (content creators) to update/create their own web pages.

Content Management Systems (CMS) are used to store and subsequently find and retrieve large amounts of data. Content Management Systems work by indexing text, audio clips, images, etc., within a database. In addition, CMS often provide version control and check in/check out capabilities. Using robust built-in search capabilities, users can quickly find a piece of content from within a database by typing in keywords, the date the element was created, the name of the author, or other search criteria.

Content Management Systems are often used to create information portals for organizations and can serve as the foundation for the practice of knowledge management. They can also be used to organize documents and media assets. For example, a newspaper agency may use a content management system to provide an archive of every story ever written for the paper. Likewise, they might use the CMS to provide an extensive library of photographs that are reusable for future stories.

What is PHP?

The definition on the PHP website defines it as:

PHP is a widely-used general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for Web development and can be embedded into HTML.

If you want to learn more, follow their advice:

If you are new to PHP and want to get some idea of how it works, try the introductory tutorial. After that, check out the online manual, and the example archive sites and some of the other resources available in the links section.

PHP Hypertext Processor website

How does MDPro differ from Front Page, GoLive, DreamWeaver etc.?

Those programs and others create a website on your personal computer via HTML pages which are then uploaded to a server. MDPro is a PHP based content management system installed on the server which allows input from others directly into the site.

What is the connection to MySQL?

MDPro stores much of its data in a database, as many PHP programs do. Presently, MySQL is the primary database it uses. Oracle is supported as well and the capability to use other ones such as PostgreSQL may be added in the future.

What is a block?

A block in MDP is a section of a page that contains certain specific information. As an analogy, think of a newpaper page. Each story on a page would be a block. Some blocks consist of weather information, advertisements, a brief mention of other sections inside, and other types of information. When the newspaper page is laid out, these "blocks" may be placed at different locations on the page, although some will typically be placed at the same location in each issue.

Some examples of blocks in MDP are the main menu, login block, RSS news feed, and many others.

What is a module?

A module is a program that adds functionality not otherwise present in MDP and requires MDP for integration. Just as personal computers have an operating system (Linux, the Macintosh OS, Windows or others) and have programs that are added (say Photoshop) that add functionality not otherwise present, so it is with MDP and modules. Photoshop uses the operating system (OS) printer driver, clipboard, video display and other components of the OS. It cannot run on its own. You can think of MDP as the OS and modules as the programs that are added to it, although the level of integration is higher with modules.

What is a core block or module?

It is one that is distributed with MDP as opposed to a third party one that is added by individual administrators.

What is an add-on block or module?

It is one that is officially supported by MAXdev but is not included in the MDP distribution nor is it a third party one. Beginning with MDlite, several modules that were once core modules were removed form the distribution package and became add-on modules.

What is a theme?

One of the characteristics of a CMS (content management system) is that it separates the visual elements of a site from the content. This is done through the use of themes. Unlike desktop themes and "skins" used in many programs, a MDP theme controls far more than the color and graphics of a site. It also controls the layout of a site and the placement of various elements. This includes not only the placement of blocks but also elements within them and whether or not those elements are displayed at all.

For example, it is a theme that controls whether or not a title is shown for blocks, including center blocks. Most anything you will do to affect the appearance of your site will be done by way of themes.

What is AutoTheme?

AutoTheme (Lite) is a popular, HTML based theme engine that is part of MDPro. Its creator is one of the MAXdev developers. A licensed commercial version is available as well.

Some of the highlights of MDPro are

from user/member's perspective:

• a single registration and login for every feature on site
• a common interface for every function on site
• ease of submission of articles and news via the site
• greater potential participation and functionality than on sites with separate programs

from administrator's perspective:

• integration of programs and functions
• a common administrative interface
• the ability to integrate other PHP programs
• being able to allow access to others to specified parts of the site
• being able to grant access to others to submit articles
• being able to grant access to others to administer parts of the site