Practical - 5

Read More, Formatting Date and Time, Finding CSS Styles, Creating
Individual Pages, Uploading Files, Using WordPress Themes, Templates,
Template Tags, Template Hierarchy, Validating a Website, Know Your
Sources, WordPress Site Maintenance
In this practical guide, we will focus on essential WordPress skills tailored for college
students. Whether you're building a personal blog, a portfolio site, or an academic project,
mastering these WordPress essentials will empower you to create and manage
professional-quality websites.

1. Read More:

Learn how to use the "Read More" tag in WordPress to control the excerpt length displayed
on your blog post archive pages. This feature allows you to provide a teaser of your content
while encouraging visitors to click through to read the full post.
2. Formatting Date and Time:

WordPress offers built-in functions for formatting date and time according to your
preferences. Explore how to use functions like the_time() and get_the_date() to display
dates and times in various formats within your WordPress themes and templates.

3. Finding CSS Styles:

Customizing the appearance of your WordPress site often requires modifying CSS styles.
Discover how to locate and modify CSS styles using browser developer tools or by
inspecting your theme's CSS files. Experiment with making changes to fonts, colors, layouts,
and more to personalize your site's design.
4. Creating Individual Pages:

WordPress allows you to create individual pages to showcase specific content, such as an
"About Me" page or a contact form. Learn how to create new pages, add content using the
WordPress editor, and organize them within your site's navigation menu for easy access.

5. Uploading Files:

WordPress enables you to upload various file types, including images, documents, and
multimedia files, to enhance your content. Practice uploading files through the WordPress
media library and embedding them into your posts or pages to enrich your website's visual
and interactive elements.

6. Using WordPress Themes:

Explore the vast selection of WordPress themes available and learn how to install, activate,
and customize them to suit your site's style and purpose. Experiment with different
themes' layouts, color schemes, and customization options to achieve the desired look and
feel for your website.]
7. Templates, Template Tags, and Template Hierarchy:

Gain an understanding of WordPress template files, template tags, and the template
hierarchy, which govern how WordPress renders different types of content. Learn how to
create custom templates, use template tags to display dynamic content, and leverage the
template hierarchy to control the layout of your site's pages.

8. Validating a Website:

Ensure your WordPress site adheres to web standards and best practices by validating its
HTML, CSS, and accessibility features. Use online validation tools to identify and fix any
coding errors or accessibility issues, ensuring that your site is compatible with different
browsers and devices.
9. Know Your Sources:

When working with WordPress, it's essential to rely on credible sources for information,
themes, plugins, and tutorials. Verify the credibility of sources before integrating any third-
party resources into your site to maintain security and integrity.

10. WordPress Site Maintenance:

Regular maintenance is crucial for keeping your WordPress site secure, up-to-date, and
performing optimally. Familiarize yourself with essential maintenance tasks, such as
updating WordPress core, themes, and plugins, performing backups, monitoring security
vulnerabilities, and optimizing performance for a smooth user experience.

By mastering these WordPress essentials, you'll be equipped to create and manage

dynamic websites that effectively communicate your ideas and showcase your skills to the
world. Continuously explore new techniques and stay updated with WordPress
developments to refine your expertise and stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of
web development.
 Practical - 6

Integrate PHP & MySql with WordPress

Objective:

The objective of this practical session is to understand and implement the integration of
PHP, MySQL, and WordPress. By the end of this practical, you should be able to:

1. Understand the basics of PHP and MySQL integration within WordPress.

2. Create custom functionalities using PHP and MySQL within a WordPress
environment.
3. Implement database operations such as querying, inserting, updating, and deleting
data from MySQL using PHP in WordPress.

Requirements:

1. Local server environment setup with WordPress installed (XAMPP, WAMP, or

similar).
2. Basic understanding of PHP, MySQL, and WordPress.

Prerequisites:

Before starting this practical, ensure the following steps are completed:

1. WordPress installed and configured on your local server.

2. Familiarity with WordPress theme and plugin development.
3. Basic knowledge of PHP and MySQL.

Procedure:

Step 1: Create a Custom Plugin

1. Navigate to your WordPress installation directory and locate the wp-

content/plugins folder.
2. Inside the plugins folder, create a new directory for your custom plugin. Name it
something relevant, like custom-plugin.
3. Inside the custom-plugin directory, create a new PHP file. This will be the main file
for your plugin. Name it something like custom-plugin.php.
 4. Open custom-plugin.php in a text editor and add the necessary plugin header
information. For example:

php

Copy code

<?php

/**

* Plugin Name: Custom Plugin

* Description: A custom plugin for integrating PHP and MySQL with WordPress.

* Version: 1.0

* Author: Your Name

*/

// Your plugin code will go here

Step 2: Connect to MySQL Database

Inside your custom plugin file (custom-plugin.php), add PHP code to establish a connection
to the MySQL database. You can use the mysqli_connect() function for this purpose.
Example:

// MySQL database connection parameters

$host = 'localhost';

$username = 'root';

$password = '';

$database = 'wordpress';

// Connect to MySQL database

$mysqli = new mysqli($host, $username, $password, $database);

// Check connection

if ($mysqli->connect_error) {
 die("Connection failed: " . $mysqli->connect_error);

Step 3: Perform Database Operations

Once the database connection is established, you can perform various database operations
like querying, inserting, updating, and deleting data.

Use appropriate PHP functions to execute SQL queries and handle the results. For
example:

// Example query to retrieve data from a table

$query = "SELECT * FROM wp_posts WHERE post_type = 'post'";

$result = $mysqli->query($query);

// Check if query executed successfully

if ($result) {

// Fetch data from result set

while ($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {

// Process each row of data

// Example: echo $row['post_title'];

} else {

// Handle query execution error

echo "Error executing query: " . $mysqli->error;

// Close database connection

$mysqli->close();

Step 4: Implement Functionality

 1. Based on your requirements, implement the desired functionality using PHP and
MySQL within your custom plugin.
2. You can create custom shortcodes, widgets, or admin pages to integrate your
functionality seamlessly into WordPress.

Step 5: Testing

1. Test your custom plugin thoroughly to ensure all functionalities work as expected.
2. Debug any issues encountered during testing and make necessary adjustments to
your code.
 Practical - 7

Install Moodle & various plugins

Objective:
The objective of this practical session is to guide students through the process of
integrating Moodle, a popular learning management system (LMS), into a
WordPress website. Additionally, students will learn how to install and configure
various Moodle plugins within the WordPress environment. By the end of this
practical, students should be able to:

1. Install and set up Moodle within a WordPress website.

2. Understand the concept of Moodle plugins and their significance in
enhancing the LMS experience.
3. Install and configure different Moodle plugins to extend functionality within
WordPress.

Requirements:
1. Access to a WordPress website (either self-hosted or on a web hosting
service).
2. Basic understanding of WordPress administration and plugin installation.
3. Moodle installation package downloaded from the official Moodle website
(https://moodle.org/).

Prerequisites:
Before beginning the practical session, ensure the following prerequisites are met:

1. A WordPress website installed and accessible.

2. Access to the WordPress administrator dashboard.
3. Familiarity with installing and activating plugins in WordPress.

Procedure:
Step 1: Install Moodle Plugin for WordPress

1. Log in to the WordPress administrator dashboard.

2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
3. Search for the "Moodle Plugin for WordPress" in the search bar.
4. Click on the "Install Now" button next to the Moodle Plugin for WordPress.
5. Once installed, click on the "Activate" button to activate the plugin.
Step 2: Configure Moodle Integration

1. After activating the Moodle Plugin for WordPress, navigate to Settings >
Moodle Integration in the WordPress dashboard.
2. Enter the Moodle URL, Moodle service name, and other required details to
configure the integration.
3. Save the changes once the configuration is complete.

Step 3: Install Moodle Plugins

1. Log in to the Moodle administrator dashboard.

2. Navigate to Site Administration > Plugins > Install plugins.
3. Browse the Moodle plugins directory (https://moodle.org/plugins/) to find
the desired plugins.
4. Download the plugin ZIP file to your local machine.
5. Return to the Moodle dashboard and upload the plugin ZIP file using the
plugin installer.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the plugin installation process.
7. Once installed, configure the plugin settings as per your requirements.
Step 4: Explore Installed Plugins

1. After installing Moodle plugins, return to the WordPress dashboard.

2. Navigate to the pages or sections where Moodle content or functionalities are
integrated.
3. Explore the features provided by the installed Moodle plugins within the
WordPress environment.

Step 5: Testing and Troubleshooting

1. Test the integrated Moodle functionalities within WordPress to ensure they

work as expected.
2. If any issues arise, refer to the plugin documentation or community forums
for troubleshooting assistance.
 Practical – 8

Create a Moodle site and Database Schema

Objective:

The objective of this practical exercise is to guide you through the process of setting up a
database schema for a Moodle site after the installation of Moodle. You will learn how to
understand the data requirements of Moodle and design a database schema to support its
functionalities.

Requirements:

1. Moodle installed on a server.

2. Access to the internet.
3. Basic knowledge of MySQL and database design principles.

Procedure:

Step 1: Understanding Moodle Data Requirements

1. Analyze the data requirements of Moodle:

 Users: Information about users including administrators, instructors, and students.

 Courses: Information about courses including course title, description, enrollment
key, etc.
 Enrollments: Information about users enrolled in courses.
 Activities and Resources: Information about course activities and resources such as
assignments, quizzes, files, etc.

2. Identify other data entities and their relationships as per Moodle's functionalities.
Step 2: Designing the Database Schema

1. Create a database schema using a tool like MySQL Workbench or draw it manually.
2. Identify the tables needed to store the required data and define their structure
(fields, data types, constraints).
3. Establish relationships between tables using foreign keys to ensure data integrity.
4. Normalize the database schema to minimize redundancy and improve efficiency.
5. Consider indexing key fields for faster data retrieval.

Step 3: Implementing the Database Schema

1. Access your MySQL server either through command-line interface or a GUI tool like
phpMyAdmin.
2. Create a new database for your Moodle site.
3. Execute SQL scripts to create tables based on the designed schema.
 4. Test the database schema by inserting sample data and performing basic CRUD
(Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations.
5. Ensure that the database design is efficient and optimized for performance.

Step 4: Integrating the Database Schema with Moodle

1. Configure Moodle to use the MySQL database you have created.

2. Provide the necessary database credentials in Moodle's configuration files.
3. Test the connection between Moodle and the database to ensure that data retrieval
and storage are functioning correctly.

Step 5: Testing and Deployment

1. Test your Moodle site thoroughly to ensure all functionalities are working as
expected.
2. Conduct usability testing to ensure a smooth user experience.
3. Backup your Moodle site and database regularly to prevent data loss.
4. Once testing is complete, deploy your Moodle site for users to access.
 Practical – 9

Design Site appearance, Front page, Front page settings, My Moodle, User
profiles, Navigation, Course list, Themes, Theme settings, Header and
footer, Language settings, Using web services, Publishing a course, Blogs,
RSS feeds
Objective:

The objective of this practical exercise is to guide you through the customization and
management of various features of a Moodle site. You will learn how to design the site
appearance, configure front page settings, manage user profiles, set up navigation,
customize themes, utilize web services, publish courses, manage blogs and RSS feeds, and
more.

Requirements:

1. Access to a Moodle site with administrative privileges.

2. Basic knowledge of web development concepts.
3. Familiarity with Moodle navigation and administration.

Procedure:

1. Designing Site Appearance:

1. Navigate to the Moodle site's administration panel.

2. Access the "Site administration" section and select "Appearance."
3. Customize the site's appearance by changing the logo, favicon, colors, and fonts.

2. Front Page Settings:

1. Adjust front page settings to control what users see when they first access the site.
2. Set up featured courses, site news, and other relevant information to display
prominently.

3. My Moodle:

1. Configure the "My Moodle" page to personalize the user experience.

2. Allow users to customize their dashboard layout, add blocks, and manage course
overview preferences.
4. User Profiles:

1. Customize user profile fields to collect additional information from users.

2. Enable profile pictures, user bio, and other relevant details to enhance user
engagement.

5. Navigation:

1. Customize site navigation by rearranging menus and adding custom links.

2. Enable navigation blocks and configure their display settings for easy access to key
features.
6. Course List:

1. Configure the course list to display courses in a user-friendly manner.

2. Enable course categories, filters, and sorting options to help users find relevant
courses easily.

7. Themes and Theme Settings:

1. Explore different themes available in Moodle or install custom themes.

2. Customize theme settings such as layout, colors, fonts, and block arrangement to
match your site's branding.
8. Header and Footer:

1. Customize the header and footer of your Moodle site to include important links,
contact information, and copyright notices.
2. Modify HTML and CSS templates to achieve the desired layout and styling.
9. Language Settings:

1. Configure language settings to support multiple languages if necessary.

2. Install language packs and set the default language for the site.

10. Using Web Services:

1. Enable web services in Moodle to integrate with external systems.

2. Generate API keys and configure permissions for accessing Moodle data through
web services.

11. Publishing a Course:

1. Create and publish a new course on Moodle.

2. Add course content, resources, and activities to facilitate learning.

12. Blogs and RSS Feeds:

1. Enable blogs for users and courses to encourage collaboration and reflection.
2. Set up RSS feeds to allow users to subscribe to site updates and course
announcements.
 Practical – 10

Manage Moodle site, Managing authentication, Manual accounts, No

login, Email-based selfregistration,Account
Objective:

The objective of this practical exercise is to guide you through the process of managing
authentication methods in Moodle. You will learn how to configure manual accounts,
enable the "No login" option, and set up email-based self-registration for user accounts.

Requirements:

1. Access to a Moodle site with administrative privileges.

2. Basic knowledge of Moodle administration interface and user management.

Procedure:

1. Accessing Moodle Site Administration:

 Log in to your Moodle site with administrator credentials.

 Navigate to the site administration panel.

2. Managing Authentication Methods:

 In the site administration panel, click on "Users" and then "Authentication."

 You will see a list of available authentication methods.
3. Configuring Manual Accounts:

 Select "Manual accounts" from the list of authentication methods.

 Click on the "Settings" link next to Manual accounts.
 Set the "Self registration" option to "Disabled" if you want to manually create user
accounts.
 Save changes.

4. Enabling "No login" Option:

 Scroll down to the "No login" authentication method.

 Click on the "Settings" link next to No login.
 Enable the "No login" authentication method by selecting "Yes" from the dropdown.
 Save changes.

5. Setting up Email-based Self-Registration:

 Scroll down to the "Email-based self-registration" authentication method.

 Click on the "Settings" link next to Email-based self-registration.
 Configure other settings such as email domain restrictions, confirmation email
settings, etc.
 Save changes