How to Get Help with Drupal

If you’re looking to get help with Drupal, there are several resources available, depending on your needs. Whether you’re a beginner looking to get started, an advanced user needing technical support, or a developer contributing to the Drupal project, you can find assistance in various ways.

1. Drupal Documentation

Drupal’s official documentation is one of the best places to start. It covers everything from installation and configuration to more advanced topics like module development and theming. Here are some key sections:

• Getting Started: Ideal for beginners who need help setting up Drupal.
• Drupal Core Guides: These provide insights into managing content, site-building, and maintenance tasks.
• Theming Guides: For designers looking to customise the look and feel of Drupal.
• Developer Docs: In-depth technical documentation for developers.

You can access the official documentation here.

2. Drupal.org Forums

The forums on Drupal.org are a great place to ask questions and get community support. You can post your queries in different sections such as:

• General: For general questions about Drupal, including site building, module selection, and troubleshooting.
• Support: For technical issues, debugging, and troubleshooting.

Visit the forums at Drupal.org Forums.

3. Drupal Stack Exchange

Drupal Stack Exchange is part of the Stack Exchange network and is dedicated solely to Drupal-related queries. The community here is highly knowledgeable and responsive. You can ask questions related to:

• Development and coding issues.
• Best practices in configuration and theming.
• Debugging and performance optimisation.
• Contributing to core and module development.

Make sure to follow the community guidelines for asking questions to get the most effective responses.

4. Slack & IRC Channels

Drupal has an active community of developers and users who offer support on both Slack and IRC:

• Slack: Drupal has a dedicated Slack workspace where you can find help on different topics like module development, theming, core contributions, and more. Join the Slack workspace at Drupal Slack.
• IRC (Internet Relay Chat): IRC is an older platform, but still widely used in the Drupal community. You can join channels like #drupal for general support or #drupal-contribute for contribution-related discussions. More information about IRC can be found here.

5. Issue Queue

Every Drupal project (modules, themes, etc.) on Drupal.org has an issue queue where users and developers discuss bugs, new features, and improvements. You can find help in these queues by searching for similar issues or posting a new one.

• To post or search issues related to Drupal core, visit the Drupal Core Issue Queue.
• For module or theme-specific issues, visit the respective project’s issue queue.

6. Drupal Meetups and Camps

Drupal meetups and camps are organised all over the world, offering opportunities for learning, networking, and getting hands-on support. These events range from beginner tutorials to advanced developer sessions. You can find a list of upcoming events on Drupal.org’s events page.

7. Paid Support and Professional Services

For more dedicated help, many Drupal experts and agencies offer paid support. You can find professional service providers at:

• Drupal Marketplace: The official directory of Drupal service providers, including agencies and freelancers. Visit the marketplace at Drupal Marketplace.

8. Video Tutorials and Learning Platforms

If you prefer video-based learning or structured courses, there are several platforms that offer comprehensive Drupal tutorials:

• Drupalize.me: This is a paid resource, but it offers high-quality tutorials on everything from site building to module development.
• OSTraining: Offers Drupal training for all levels, including site builders and developers.
• YouTube: There are various channels that provide free Drupal tutorials, but the quality and depth of these resources can vary.

9. Drupal Planet

For those looking to stay updated on the latest in the Drupal community, Drupal Planet is an aggregation of blog posts and articles from around the web about Drupal. It’s a great resource for keeping up with news, tutorials, and case studies.

10. Local User Groups

Many regions have local Drupal user groups where you can meet with others who are using Drupal. These groups often host meetups, workshops, and offer support. You can find local groups on Drupal.org’s Community Section.

Summary of Drupal Support Resources:

• Drupal Documentation – For learning the basics and more advanced topics.
• Drupal.org Forums – For community discussions and support.
• Drupal Stack Exchange – For technical questions and issues.
• Slack & IRC – For real-time help from the community.
• Issue Queues – For module/theme-specific issues or contributing to Drupal.
• Drupal Camps/Meetups – In-person events for learning and networking.
• Paid Support – Professional help for those who need it.
• Video Tutorials – Structured video content for Drupal learning.
• Drupal Planet – For news and blog updates.
• Local User Groups – Meet with other Drupal users in your area.

This tutorial will show you how to get help with Drupal

1) Click the Administer link

Now let’s learn how to get help understanding and using Drupal

2) Then click Help

This is the Drupal help guide that provides context sensitive help on the use and configuratiuon of Drupal and its modules

3) Simply click any of the Help topics listed here to learn more about them

4) You can get further and more extensive help by going to the Drupal handbook… a link to which is located here

This is the end of the tutorial. You now know how to get help using Drupal from within your Drupal installation, or from the Drupal handbook