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Useful Drupal modules

These are the Drupal modules that I install in essentially every site I set up:

For image and file handling, it depends on whether images and/or files will be primary content (that is, every image/file having a node/page of its own) or merely included within bodies of text.

For publishing workflow & access control, especially for sites where there are multiple content contributors with different user roles & permissions, these four modules work well together and allow for a very sophisticated system.

These modules I use frequently, but aren't necessary for some sites:

These modules I am still trying out:

Modules should be installed in the /sites/all/modules directory of your Drupal installation. If no contributed modules have been installed yet, you will first need to create a modules directory in the /sites/all directory. (Never install modules in the main /modules directory — only Drupal core modules should be in that directory.)

If you have access to the command line, an easy way to install a module is to use the unix "curl" command. Go to /path/to/your/drupal/installation/sites/all/modules/ and, for each module, type:

curl http://ftp.drupal.org/files/projects/admin_menu-6.x-1.5.tar.gz | tar -zxv

replacing the strongly emphasized text with the appropriate link to the latest recommended version of the desired module (the one linked to the "Download" link on the module's project page).

If you have Drush installed, an even easier way to install a module is to use the "drush dl" command. Go to /path/to/your/drupal/installation/ and, for each module, type:

drush dl admin_menu

replacing the strongly emphasized text with the computer-friendly name of the desired module (which can be found in the last part of the URL for module's project page at Drupal.org). [Stanford users: note that Drush is installed at the system level on corn.stanford.edu.]

Submitted by Sharon Krossa on 28 March 2010 - 12:54pm