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I have some questions for everyone.  I am very new to Joomla! and have been reading about stuff and playing around as much as possible to learn and get up to speed but I am wondering if you guys can help me get there faster.  I am building a directory/networking site and currently have it up and running at myChristianConnection.org.  It's an expensive way to do what I want though and I have to learn there system almost by myself.  What I am looking to do is have a place for people to post their professional field and allow others to find them based on there location, college graduated from, local church, etc.  I want to make my site have a on-line business card directory basically with the following:

A Blog
Map system (to show where people's business's are located)
Forum
subscription system (for payments) monthly, yearly, expiration, renewal, etc.
Differing levels of memberships
community software for private messages, my account, etc
possible a mobile version of my search engine for pda's
Expert Advise and Articles from experts in different professional fields
Membership Application Forms

So far some of the modules/extensions/plug-ins that I see myself needing are the following:
Community Builder (for members not sure what all)
Payment system (subscription based)
GMAPS (map system)
MISSUS (Private Message System)
(Forums)
Fabrik (Form Creator)

What type of advice could you give regarding modules/extensions/plug ins I should use (do you have a favorite?)  Is there a way to create an on-line business card (this is the most important part of my site)?  How would you go about building/transferring the site I was building to become a Joomla! site?

Lastly, I thank you in advance for any help you can give, I am really excited about everything I am learning and I will probably be lurking a lot from here on out.

For the "online business card" you probably want to work with a link directory... like Sobi or MosDirectory.

I also like Chronoforms for putting forms into Joomla, although you have to be able to make each element/control yourself (I use Dreamweaver to speed it up).  I've tried almost every form component out there, and I think Chronoform is the best so far... but that's just my opinion.

I like Joomlaboard for forums for when you want something super basic... but if you want anything with complexity of topics, you want SMF and the Joomla bridge to SMF (Simple Machines Forum).

If you haven't browsed the extensions section yet (extensions.joomla.org) do so! I actually get *ideas* from looking in the newly added, highest rated, etc... found things I didn't even know I needed that way, but now I can't live without.

Is there a way to install either of the Joomla version without all of the news etc?  Also, anyone out there from the South Bend, IN area?

I have been working on my site for some time now and I have run into a couple of trouble spots that maybe you guys can help me with.  I was wondering if there is a way (or how) to do the following.

1.  How do I create a larger e-mail box for people to contact me on my site?  I have seen several people who have made there boxes wider and I can't for the life of me figure out how.

2.  How do I move the drop down box on my contact us page to line up on the left hand side of the page?  This way it could like up with the rest of the things, i.e. email, name, department, etc.

3.  How do I change the credits footer so that I can customize it for my own company?

4.  When I set up my member directory I have seen people customize those profiles to the point were they look very nice, how do I do this?  I can't seem to get the map into the profile or to re-arrange the profile so that I can place things in different spots.

Mod note: removed bumped message.  Please don't bump.