GigCalendar: How to Use GigCalendar Component for Joomla

GigCalendar is a component for Joomla, an open source content management system used for developing professional looking PHP web sites. The Gigcalenar component allows a person using joomla to build a web site to display upcoming events. Venue names, band or event names and events, including all of their information are stored so they do not ever have to be entered again. There is also a Gigcalendar module that automatically shows a set amount of upcoming events on the homepage of your site (or wherever you publish the module).

To install the GigCalendar component, you will have to download it from the downloads area of www.gigcalendar.net.

1. Type http://www.yoursite.com/administrator into your web browser to access the administration area of your Joomla site.

2. Log in with your user name and password.

3. Look along the top of the page after logging in. You will see menu titles such as "home", "site", "content", "components". Click "install" and choose "components" from the drop down menu.

4. Use the browse button to find the gigcalendar component you downloaded.

5. Hit upload.

6. To install the module, go to Installers>Modules and use the browse option to find and upload the module file.Adding Calendar Events

When you need to add a band, show, or other event to your calendar, you will need to follow the instructions below to add it to the site calendar. The next five upcoming events will automatically show up on the home page of the Rustic Frog web site.

1. Type http://www.yoursite.com/administrator into your web browser to access the administration area of your Joomla site.

2. Log in with your user name and password.

3. Look along the top of the page after logging in. You will see menu titles such as "home", "site", "content", "components". Click "component's" and choose Gig Calendar" from the drop down menu.If it is the first time adding an event with a specific band or group, you will need to add that band or group to the database. After you do this once, you will be able to adding an event.

1. Click "add new band".

2. Type in the information it asks for about the band. ( you may copy and paste a band's promo information here, include a link to their web site, etc).

3. Click the disk icon at the top of the editing area to save the band information.If it is the first time you have entered an event at a specific venue, you will need to add the venue to the database. After you do this once, you'll be able to skip to adding the event.

7. Click "add new venue" at the top center of the page or go to Components>gigcalendar>venuemanager

8. Fill in the information and click save.

You are now ready to add the event.

9. Click "add new gig" at the top center of the page.
10. Type in the date of the event in mm/dd/yy
11. Choose the band or group from the "band" drop down menu.
12. Choose the venue from the "venue" drop down menu.
13. Enter a cover charge
14. Enter information for the event.
15. Click the disk icon at the top of the editing area to save the event

You're done! You have now successfully added an event.

Editing Calendar Events or Band Information

To Edit an event that has already been added to the site, you will follow steps 1-3 above and then click "gigmanager" Choose the date you need to edit from the list by clicking on the date. Edit and then click the disk icon to save.

To edit band information, follow steps 1-3 above and then click"bandmanager" at the top of the page. Choose the band or group from the list by clicking the name of the band. Edit and click the disk icon to save.

To edit venue information, follow steps 1-3 above and then click"venuemanager" at the top of the page. Choose the band or group from the list by clicking the name of the band. Edit and click the disk icon to save.

Setting Module to show events on homepage

To show a certain amount of upcoming events on the homepage of your site,

1. Type http://www.yoursite.com/administrator into your web browser to access the administration area of your joomla site.
2. Log in with your user name and password.
3. Look along the top of the page after logging in. You will see menu titles such as "home", "site", "content", "components". Click "site modules" and choose upcoming events in the list of modules.
4. When the module options load, make sure that the checkbox next to "yes" is checked in the "published?"field.
5. You can change the name of the module to whatever you like or choose for the title to not show.
6. From the drop down box, choose the area of the page (module location) where you would like the upcoming events to be displayed.
7. Scroll down and choose how many events you would like to be displayed.
8. Click the save (disk icon) button.

As long as you have entered events ahead of time, the module will automatically rotate/change them as event dates pass. This is a great add on for your joomla site if you want to manage upcoming events.