Must-Have Drupal Modules

Drupal-based sites have the luxury of adding modules to extend the functionality of the app. Modules add functionality such as Google Analytics, Location Awareness, Maps, Newsletters, eCommerce, etc. All of these are functionality add-ons used to make the site do more.

That there are a few modules that are what I believe are base-line requirements. These modules are what I make sure to add every time I install a new instance of Drupal.

• Pathauto
• FCKEditor
• IMCE
• Google Analytics
• webform
• views

Pathauto

Pathauto is a module which creates what are called URL Aliases. in other words, every page on your Drupal site is based on a node - or a piece of content. This node has an ID, and it is that ID that is the real URL of your pages. For example, the ID of this page is 49. So, the REAL URL for this page is:
http://webfeathers.com/node/49

That's not very helpful, though from an SEO context, so we use the Alias to change the URL of the page to something more meaningful:
http://webfeathers.com/must-have-drupal-modules

FCKEditor

FCKEditor gives us what is called an RTE or Rich Text Editor. Now, I'm pretty good with writing HTML, but not everyone is. And even those of us who are still find it easier at times to use an RTE to write content. For example, want to make this text bold? Simple, select it and click on the 'B' - it's just like writing in MS Word, or other Word Processors.

IMCE

IMCE allows us to easily add photos to the RTE (FCKEditor). In the old days, we'd have to use another FTP program to upload photos to the web site and then link to the in the HTML. Now, we just click on an image button and upload from there. Web pages are way more fun with pictures ;)

Google Analytics

Google Analytics lets you know who comes to your site, where they've come from, what type of computer/browser/monitor they're using... and so much more. Again, if you've got a for-profit web site - you need Google Analytics. Period.

webform

Drupal has a Contact Form built-in. And it's OK, but WebForm allows you to keep track of the emails sent by your site as well as create customized forms that go well beyond the Your name and Your Email baseline. It's fully customizable, and you can add anything to a form. This is what we use to replace the Contact Us form by default, but also for creating things like this: http://norcalpurewater.com/free-water-analysis

views

Keeping in mind that everything on your web site is a node, the views module allows us to create aggregative groupings of the nodes based on literally thousands of configurations options. Want a single page with all of your Contact us emails? Use views. Want to see the last fifteen blog posts you've made? From your iPhone? That you posted on a Thursday? From Starbucks? Use views. Views is terrible complicated to understand, but fortunately there is a lot of help content, and once you "get it" you begin to understand the power. Basically, because of Views, the answer to any web site layout question is "Sure".

Based on your particular web site needs, there may be more modules that will help you increase the usefullness of your web site, but if you're ot using these, you're missing out.

Need help getting these Must-Have Drupal Modules installed on your Drupal web site? Let us know.