[chiPHPug-discuss] Themes/Drupal

[Janine S. <jr...@ba...>]

What exactly are themes?  I have used several PHP-based message boards, 
and have just modified the default theme to the colors I want and done 
everything else (layout, logos etc) by modifying the header and footer 
files.  How does this differ from themes?  I guess I'm not sure what 
their purpose is, and don't know how to easily find an explanation.

My overall site is basically hand-coded and mostly static, I've added 
PHP features as I've learned them.  I would like to convert it to a true 
CMS.  The format is a hybrid of portal/newspaper style as best I can 
describe.  So far it looks like Drupal is a good fit.  I know there was 
a Drupal talk recently, is there a summary anywhere?  Any recommendation 
on going with 5.0 RC vs. 4.7?

Also I've found two books, Building Online Communities With Drupal, 
phpBB, and WordPress  by Robert T. Douglass, Mike Little, and Jared W. 
Smith and Drupal: Creating Blogs, Forums, Portals, And Community 
Websites by David Mercer.  I'm currently using SMF for a message board.  
Which book is better for starting out?

Thanks!
Janine