= How To Build Facebook Clone with Dolphin 7 = -- Many people are looking for the best solutions in the world of Free and Open Source Software for Community and Social Networking sites to take a challenge and make their sites a successful "Facebook Clone". Dolphin is '''Free''' and '''Open Source'''. This fact reveals great advantages and opportunities. And its key features, like flexible Modular and Template structure, Language file system, Page-Menu-Fields Builders make Dolphin the most appropriate software to choose when start building "'''Facebook Clone'''" from scratch. -- '''Warning''': Below instructions are performed by simple click-and-save actions from Dolphin Administration Panel directly. Frankly speaking, I don't know other simple process than this. And even if you are advanced webmaster you may find this info useful. -- [http://www.boonex.com/trac/dolphin/wiki/Dol7Installation ("How to install Dolphin" if you didn't know that before)] == Modules == '''Dolphin Administration Panel -> Tools -> Modules''' [http://www.boonex.com/trac/dolphin/wiki/DolphinAdminModules Read More] Choose appropriate modules and put them together, like: Wall, Photos, Friends, Groups, Events, Ads, Sites, Simple Messenger, Forum, etc. [[Image(Modules.jpg)]] == Builders == '''Dolphin Administration Panel -> Builders''' Use the power of menu Builders to manage [http://www.boonex.com/trac/dolphin/wiki/DolphinAdminNavigationMenu '''Navigation'''] and [http://www.boonex.com/trac/dolphin/wiki/DolphinAdminMemberMenu '''Member'''] menus - tweak the order and placement of menu items of the modules you have chosen. With Page Blocks builder you can compose pages, their blocks and columns. By default Dolphin has 2 columns and you can do 3 columns rearranging blocks between them. Drag-n-drop blocks and tune values easily. [http://www.boonex.com/trac/dolphin/wiki/DolphinAdminPagesBlocks Read More] Profile Fields builder 3 Configure it. Simplify join process (using Profile Fields Builder) with key fields to fill in at the first step and let your members fill in the rest information about themselves later in Member Account. Give your future site members freedom, confidence and comfort. It means you need to set flexible Memberships - for access different part of the site and allow different actions. Enable Privacy settings and controls for the use of your site members. -- 4 Present it. At this stage you would want to personalize the site and put your own logo on the top. Add/replace pics on splashscreen on the home page. Also you can do from minor to superior CSS Styles changes from Administration Panel of particular pages, of course, if you have special knowledge and experience in that. The Language file system will help you in adding/replacing texts on "About Us" and "Terms of Use" pages, etc. Also adjust/edit any other wordings overall your newly established site. All in one place, no need to go here or there, just find and replace. Adjust/edit current Email templates according to your own format from what they are by default. -- Above are the basic tips how you can start with "in-the-box" features and modules of Dolphin. Moreover, like we said in the beginning, Dolphin is Free and Open Source and that gives much opportunities for all kinds of additional "out-of-the-box" extensions, mods and hacks, templates, etc., to be developed by 3d parties. And Unity Market offers great set of competitive products from professional web-developers and designers to enhance your Dolphin sites with different kinds of "Dolphin-2-Facebook" or "Facebook-for-Dolphin 7" extensions, Facebook-fashioned templates. As well as other enhancement mods you may find useful like "Games", "Friend Inviter", "Contact Importers", and the list goes on and on... -- Here are some interesting picks for you from Unity Market -- Auto Friend - Facebook Connect - http://www.boonex.com/unity/extensions/entry/Auto_Friend_Facebook_Connect -- Facebook for Dolphin 7 - http://www.boonex.com/unity/extensions/entry/Facebook_for_D7 -- Facebook Template for Dolphin 7 - http://www.boonex.com/unity/extensions/entry/Facebook_Template_for_D7 -- Dolphin 2 Facebook - http://www.boonex.com/unity/extensions/entry/Dolphin_2_Facebook_The_Ultimate_Mod -- Find the rest for "Dolphin and Facebook" - http://www.boonex.com/unity/extensions/search/facebook -- '''Note: Most of the extensions and templates has own installation instructions provided by the owner. Most of the extensions and templates can be installed only if you have done full installation, including at least 3 steps of the above directions. Please contact the owner of the product via Unity personal messaging to clarify the details you have doubts in.'''