K2 is a Joomla extension that allows for more advanced content creation and layout customization compared to core Joomla articles. This document provides an overview of key K2 concepts like categories, tags, image handling, and layout options. It also discusses how to configure K2 settings, create templates to customize layouts, and highlights some useful K2 plugins and modules.

1. Getting started with K2 Ruth Cheesley Copyright © 2011 Virya Technologies

2. Hello, I’m Ruth Cheesleyfrom Virya Technologies Find my social media stuff here! @RCheesley

4. Extends what Joomla! articles can do

5. Allows cool features

6. Tags

7. Per-category styling

8. Close control of layout

11. You can use tags to link related items

12. Images added via K2 are automagically resized to the required dimensions

15. Category View Options

16. Item Image Options

17. Item View Options in Category Listings

18. Item View OptionsShould be other way round (in my opinion)

20. Once you understand what each group of settings control, it’s easy!

21. Some settings must be set in global parameters, others in category

23. Global Parameters Easier to show you in K2 itself We’ll look at 1.5.x and 1.7.x (SVN) on a localhost installation

24. Category View Options Title (Category) RSS Feed icon/link Item counter (Category) Image (Category) Description (Category)  This is controlled by the language file Show subcategory blocks displays this area, columns determines number of columns for the icons, ordering determines how to show the subcategories Sub-Category Image Sub-Category Title Sub-Category Item Counter Sub-Category Description

25. Category Item Layout 1 COLUMN 2 ARTICLES Leading Story Leading Story 2 COLUMNS 4 ARTICLES Primary Story Primary Story 2 COLUMNS 4 ARTICLES Primary Story Primary Story 1 COLUMN 4 ARTICLES Secondary Story Secondary Story Secondary Story Secondary Story 2 COLUMNS 8 LINKS Links Links Links Links 2 COLUMNS 8 ARTICLES Links Links Links Links

26. Image options Generally set these in global parameters UNLESS you have a category which needs to have different sizes to the rest of your site (e.g. a portfolio where you want different size thumbnails) Set in pixels, this controls the image WIDTH only (proportional resizing)

27. Item view options in category listings

28. Item view options

30. Copy the default template and rename it to something relevant

33. Change CSS classes (e.g. to left align images in category view and flow text around them)

34. Tweak how dates are displayed

36. Hurrah, this is great! – avoids core hacks

38. K2 Dynamap (http://nick.texidor.com)

39. K2 Multi Notifier (http://k2joom.com)

40. Land of Coder (http://www.landofcoder.com)

42. Thank you! Ruth Cheesley Find my social media stuff here! @RCheesley