Top 10 Plugins and how to get them to work

That's the title of a post I'd like to see that actually led to what it says!

I'm a relative Joomla Newbie, and a CB newbie, but reasonably technically literate. The wealth of info on Joomla, CB, and various plugins is both impressive and also overwhelming - how to get a good solid CB installation up and running is not obvious, particularly when there is more than one solution.

E.g.
How do I get a blog running for all users?
How do I get the forums running for all users?
How can users upload a photo gallery?
How can they instant message each other?
How can they invite someone to be a user?
How can they announce events?

All of the above appear to require Joomla plugins, that then need to be configured, plus CB plugins that need to be configured, etc etc.

It's not easy for the newbie! More "how-to" type posts would be great. The "how-to's" should include the URL of the relevant plugin (not "get the mamblog plugin and install") so it's obvious what has to be done.

The above are all obvious community features, basic to pretty much all installs, so it would be great if we could tie them all together to make it easier to set up a useful site.

Joomla plus CB looks like an awesome solution for community sites, congrats to all involved!

I don't have a lot of time but I will give you some starting points (ie what I have used).

How do I get a blog running for all users?

I use MyBlog (a commercial component). Google: Azrul's MyBlog

How do I get the forums running for all users?

I use fireboard. Google: Fireboard

How can users upload a photo gallery?

I use nant's profile gallery. Search the forums here.

How can they instant message each other?

I use Clexus PM (a commercial component). Google: Clexus

How can they invite someone to be a user?

I use PlaxoInvite (a commercial component). Search the forums here for Mike!

How can they announce events?

I use GigCalendar, but there's no true CB integration, so perhaps others can suggest something.

After researching and trying prety much everything out there, these are the components I chose. I consider them the best at what they do. Of course, this is only a subjective opinion.

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll check them out, much appreciated. Anyone else have opinions, either in agreement or with other preferences?

I plan to use Joomla, Community Builder, JoomlaFish, and SEF Advance as the key framework - making sure that all other components I install are compatible with these is critical. Reading the forums, it's difficult to know at a glance which components are compatible with which others - and which incompatibilities have now in fact been resolved!

Maybe we should put up some kind of component-compatibility table, grouping components by functionality and which versions are compatible with which others. No small task!

im agree with dsendecki

hhmm.. why dont you try sh404SEF. new SEF Component, supports Joomfish, Community Builder, Virtuemart and Fireboard

review
www.alledia.com/blog/joomla-urls/review-of-sh404sef-url-extension/

download
extensions.joomla.org/component/option,com_mtree/task,viewlink/link_id,2380/Itemid,35/

Good tip, scary avatar! I had thought SEF Advance was the only reliable solution out there, but this looks like a good option to road test. Thanks!

How did you get Azrul's MyBlog plugged in to CB? I need this badly...

Thanks in advance!