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I have spent much time using Joomla trying to figure out the nuances of it and apparently learning the hard way.  I have read through lots of tutorials, forums threads, and some componet sites, all helpful, but leaving me still not quite grasping stuff the way I had hoped.  I have played with lots of web builder software and can pick up basics somewhat fast and then I reach a point where I can't go any further...that's were I am at now.  I love Joomla, the resources, and the community...now I just need help to start rolling again.

Here is what I am doing:
I have completely laid out my site on paper, by category, sections, and content, each part organized with what I want my site to accomplish. 

My purpose is to create a business professional directory made up of Business Professionals.  This site is a way to network with other business professionals that are in the business world in your local area.

I would like to create an on-line community (using community builder) that ads business card's for (some) members with pictures and maps to that persons place of business (someone recommended SOBI), with a forum (fireboard) and almost most importantly differing levels of membership (I would like to have people fill out a form in order to determine which level of membership that person would receive). 

Is it possible for me to make all of the components work together so that everyone has only one log in?  If so how?  Is there a way to create forms that setup accounts based on the outcomes of those forms?  I want them to be able to fill out forms that would then auto populate their profile in community builder.  I also would like to be able to place feedback (Ebay style) to community members profiles (I have seen some new extensions that I will have to check out).

Does what I want to do seem overly complex?  Is it easier than I think?  How much editing (using an HTML editor) do you have to use?  I must admit, I am not very familiar with languages and I can recognize patters sometimes but over how much do you think I would have to know in order to do this?  I know this is a lot of questions-most of them about components so if this isn't in the right place let me know (I put it here because my site is a .org), but I kinda am looking for someone to point me in the right direction.

Im not sure about membership levels. Fireboard integrates very well with CB. SOBI 2 has a CB plugin as well.

Most of what you propose is possible in CB - the membership levels bit is tricky, as matthewhayashida said. Do you want to offer different access to information depending on level, or simply have a 'rank', a bit like in a forum? (Cos the latter is much easier than the former!)

As far as some of the other stuff goes, CB can do (Google) maps, if I recall correctly. Use the CB login and that will unify the login process. If CB can't do all of what you need, Facile Forms is very powerful, if a horribly steep learning curve, and requiring some programming knowledge to get the most out of it.

I strongly recommend setting up a local server and installing Joomla and all the likely components and having a go at getting it working in a test environment to gain valuable experience for later. Appserv works brilliantly under Windows and gives you the full WAMP environment in one (hefty) download.

I appreciate the responses...I am trying to create several levels of membership for paying vs. non paying members.  I don't know how to do this other than differing levels of membership.  The site I am trying to create should allow anyone to join for free and become a part of the community, but some members will need a paid membership and I would like to allow them different degree's of a paid membership.  That is what I am trying to do, I hope that helps.  If anyone has another way of going about that then I would definitely be interested in their ideas.

I just launched my first joomla site doing much of what you're requesting. Christian business women are able to sign up for membership, have thier own business listing on our public directory, and have a personal profile in the member's only area. If you email me I'd be happy to help as much as I can. I am a "figure-it-out, do-it-yourselfer"  (of course because there's never any money for things like this).

I'm using community builder and it really is close to a one source solution. There are many plugins available too. Fireboard is extreamly easy.

Joomla isn't based in any way around HTML. It truly is all about php & css. The good new is that you don't need to know these languages (I sure don't) unless you're trying to create a template.
I would like to create an on-line community (using community builder) that ads business card's for (some) members with pictures and maps to that persons place of business (someone recommended SOBI), with a forum (fireboard) and almost most importantly differing levels of membership (I would like to have people fill out a form in order to determine which level of membership that person would receive). 

The only thing I wouldn't even know where to begin, and as you've heard, is extreamly difficult is the membership levels. Anyway, visit my site and PM me if you need any more help.

http://www.godlybusinesswomen.org

Community Builder, I found, is suppose to offer this differing levels of paying memberships but it has not been released as of yet...I haven't completed my site yet, but once I do it would be great to network at some point.  I looked at your site, I will try to email you at some point...

Does anyone know how to add a image or font re-sizer on the main page?  Is that html or a Component/module/mambot?

For paid/non-paid membership
https://globalnerd.org/
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