The document introduces the Panels module for Drupal, which allows customizing layouts and placing content in a drag-and-drop interface. It recommends downloading the Panels and CTools modules to begin using Panels. CTools provides context about the current page. The demonstration will show how to use Panels for the front page, landing pages, overriding nodes, and using mini-panels instead of blocks. Additional modules are recommended and the document encourages further exploration of Panels capabilities.

1. Panels: An Introduction

2. The Block System in Drupal Excellent for small sites, frustrating for regular sites.

3. The Block System in Drupal Excellent for simple layouts, frustrating for complex layouts.

4. The Block System in Drupal Excellent for simple nodes, frustrating for complex nodes.

5. Enter the Panels Modules The Panels module allows a site administrator to create customized layouts for multiple uses. At its core it is a drag and drop content manager that lets you visually design a layout and place content within that layout. Integration with other systems allows you to create nodes that use this, landing pages that use this, and even override system pages such as taxonomy and the node page so that you can customize the layout of your site with very fine grained permissions. -- http://drupal.org/project/panels

6. Let's Get Started! Download the Panels and CTools modules

7. Wait, why do we need CTools? CTools provides "context" about the current node/user/page (along with a ton of other stuff). Think of it like a wrapper to get at all of the information about the node/page.

8. What Modules Do We Need? Vital: ctools panels page_manage Extra Modules (in order of Importance): views_content panels_mini ctools_custom_content ctools_access_ruleset panels_ipe stylizer panels_node

9. Time to Demo! We'll be back momentarily.

10. Panels And Your Workflow Step 1: Front Page Step 2: Landing Pages Step 3: Node Overrides Step 4: Mini-Panels Step 5: Forget blocks, just use panels for everything

11. Want to Dig Deeper? Features-compatible Panels Everywhere Stylizer Relation Module (still in development)

12. Thanks! Questions and comments welcomed.