content management systems - good for newbies

edwin said: "since it was brought up in another thread, i though we should talk about how a content management system (cms for short) can help a newbie webmastery. a cms is script that will rebuild your website after you input data. this is really good for a newbie because you don't have to know the particulars of html to get your site to work. it's also very organized, because it keeps all the files in one place, so the site that's presented to browsers and crawlers is uniform. it also uses templates, so you can change the look and feel easily, by making a change in only a couple places! i suggest newbies take a look at some content management systems."

quinny said: "without a doubt the way to go... i have two cms sites running at the moment and there good because you can start with the default version and as you get to know it you can edit to the way you want. oh and a good website to look at cms is [URL=http://]http://www.opensourcecms.com[/URL] since where on about cms but this maybe a small bit advanced i came across this tutorial [URL=http://www.intranetjournal.com/php-cms/]Creating a PHP-Based Content Management System [/URL] the guy created it over six months. It should appear soon at [URL=http://www.ottercms.com/]OtterCMS[/URL] is something i plan to do soon :D"

edwin said: "thank you quinny for the detailed answer. that should prove helpful to the neophytes. if anyone else has a list of content management systems they like, please list them and the reasons why."

Darksat said: "Mambo is probably the most well known and widely supported, or for something a bit more stripped down try Limbo"

edwin said: "here's a link to [url=http://www.mamboserver.com/]mambo open source[/url] it's an open source program so its free to download and use. they also have a large third-party community so finding add-ons should be easy. here's a site with [url=http://www.mamboportal.com/]mambo mods[/url]. you can add-on and make your website more flexible."

<h1> said: "I've always felt that full CMS's change the look of your site...so the solution most people use is to get the script working, and then change it (the css etc) to suite their theme. So essentially all the content of the site can be managed, but it's almost impossible to have the scripting working exactly with the setup or design you had originally planned. I like to include smaller management scripts like cutenews to control all the text content and make a simple php sript to control the setup of the site, the html. This works best for me cos then I still have full control over the look and design of the site, and essentially I can call it my own site. ;) I'm currently working on a site with this approach i'll show ya'll when it's finished +-2 weeks. peace"

edwin said: "i'm almost done with my own custom cms. i keep all the data in a mysql database. i then run the main design template, and it pulls the data from the mysql database, runs the php logic, and then presents it in the template format."

<h1> said: "[QUOTE]i'm almost done with my own custom cms. i keep all the data in a mysql database. i then run the main design template, and it pulls the data from the mysql database, runs the php logic, and then presents it in the template format.[/QUOTE] It would be great to see your methods of accesing a mysql db could you share with us your php template?"

Darksat said: "I would like to see that as well."

Darren said: "I "rolled" my own CMS using PHP and MySQL. This [url=http://forex-trading.superiorinvestor.net/]Forex Trading[/url] domain is an example. Notice the subdirectories and filenames? All fake, of course :) I made it go up to 6 words each for the sub-directory name and 6 words each for the pagename. For certain keyphrases, this is about all you have to do to rank. Plus the XHTML is validated. This makes keeping your data together much easier. All the records are kept in one database, so you just add or edit from PHPMyAdmin. You could easily add some forms to make your life easier, but actually it's very easy to manage this way. This way every page is validated, because the template is. When you add the XHTML you just make sure that your markup is good, and the page is done! Voila, SEO'd and validated. You notice the menuing structure on the left hand side. Very nice for SEO purposes as you can imagine. All pages are linked from all pages! Before this is was editing files by hand, and I was making a lot of mistakes and the websites were getting sloppy. Now they're all uniform."

Darren said: "BTW, the [url=http://directory.sootle.com/]Sootle Directory[/url] uses the same technology. Requirements: Mod_Rewrite Php MySQL It needs design work, but the mechanics are all in place. I'm not much of a programmer, but I'm getting better in my spare time."

AngelaCea said: "One of the finest CMS ASP's is [url]www.squarespace.com[/url] I have two sites with them that you all can view. [url]www.searchwars.squarespace.com[/url] [url]www.webcenter.squarespace.com[/url] You can start for free and they give you the professional version, if you decide not to purchase the plan it moves to the free version without all the features. The greatest thing since sliced cheese folks. Plus, if you wish you can use your own URL, you do not have to use a sub-domain. :) :D"

quinny said: "no thanks how much are you paying for it?"

AngelaCea said: "Got one on the 10.00 a month plan and another on 7.00 a month. I don't know if those packages are still available to late comers to the game, but this is one of the best services out there, PERIOD."

quinny said: "if you say so"

AngelaCea said: "No Oneill, whatever you say :rolleyes:"

Darksat said: "I see why its called squarespace, all the sites have the same shape."

quinny said: "you're paying $120 a year for one ...and yet you have no creative control over it nor do you own it."

Darksat said: "Anthony, have you even tried products like mambo?"

AngelaCea said: "Remember when I told you guys you were nuts for thinking phpBB was better than Vbulletin because you were saying how great it was because it was free. Well, I am telling you the same thing here, you have to pay money to get features that this ASP offers. I could not care less if you like it or not to be Frank about it (or Jean about it, or Jack about it or Oneill about it). The guy that designed the ASP is one of the brightest programmers in computing and he will be worth 100's of millions. What have you guys designed that can make you that much? Oneill, please let me know when you have something better, won't you?"

AngelaCea said: "[QUOTE=Darksat]Anthony, have you even tried products like mambo?[/QUOTE] I know about Mambo and other portal software products and have sent you links on them DarkSat, are you sitting on your hands or did you just forget :confused: I have complete CMS systems that can run a portal and even a dummy can create a fantastic portal without a web designer on staff. These CMS systems are available for any type of website, portal, blog and many other applications, so you guys are acting like they are something new or unknown. Let me ask you a question, who do you really think you are dealing with when you communicate with me? PS: not the 4th stooge :p :p :p"

mark said: "What's wrong with phpBB? I had a bit of a look into incorporating it into my website. Not too sure if I will use that or just a simple guest book as I don't expect a lot of traffic at my site or mulitple threads so I would really only be using it for 2 or 3 threads which may be overkill? I have noticed though that this site is using vBulletin as well as another site that I frequent [url]www.misticriver.net[/url] (it's become a second home of late) :D When it comes to these CMS programmes is there much room for adaptability? I find these kind of things pretty stale and don't want to feel encumbered by structure and rigidity."

Darksat said: "[QUOTE=AnthonyCea]I know about Mambo and other portal software products and have sent you links on them DarkSat, are you sitting on your hands or did you just forget :confused: [/QUOTE] Actually I have quite a few projects to work on right now, ive had to prioritise. [QUOTE=AnthonyCea] Let me ask you a question, who do you really think you are dealing with when you communicate with me? PS: not the 4th stooge.[/QUOTE] Actually you remind me of my friend Simon, good business sense, fairly smart but a pain in the ass to deal with sometimes, very preachy and loves to lecture. ;) :D :p"

AngelaCea said: "Actually you remind me of my friend Simon, good business sense, fairly smart but a pain in the ass. *********above pulled from DarkSat's post. :p ********* ------------------------------------------------------------------ FAIRLY SMART? Who do you think you are dealing with, Oneill????? Here is the deal D, if I drop you it would be like a 20 ton boulder in the deep blue Pacific ocean. Any ideas where it would end up :confused: :) :)"

edwin said: "[QUOTE=mark]What's wrong with phpBB? I had a bit of a look into incorporating it into my website. Not too sure if I will use that or just a simple guest book as I don't expect a lot of traffic at my site or mulitple threads so I would really only be using it for 2 or 3 threads which may be overkill? I have noticed though that this site is using vBulletin as well as another site that I frequent [url]www.misticriver.net[/url] (it's become a second home of late) :D When it comes to these CMS programmes is there much room for adaptability? I find these kind of things pretty stale and don't want to feel encumbered by structure and rigidity.[/QUOTE] there's nothing wrong with phpbb. just keep in mind that the code is floating around the internet so many people will attempt to hack it. if you install phpbb, you need to stay on top of all the security patches or you'll be hacked too. there is a lot of flexibility in design for these programs. they use a template system so that, if you are motivated, you can adjust all the design elements."

Darksat said: "[QUOTE=AnthonyCea] Any ideas where it would end up :confused: :) :)[/QUOTE] underwater would you believe. :p"

mark said: "[QUOTE=Darksat]underwater would you believe. :p[/QUOTE] Well he got you there bigT. Didn't think about anyone hacking my site but now that you mention it it would obviously be very easy if everyone can get access to the code. :eek:"

quinny said: "phpBB has had alot of hacks of late one the main reasons this site changed to vBulletin. Be sure to update."

AngelaCea said: "Quinny Oneill and Edwin, I am still waiting for both of you to post your CMS systems that are better than [url]www.squarespace.com[/url] :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:"

quinny said: "i am working on one at present"

AngelaCea said: "[QUOTE=quinny]i am working on one at present[/QUOTE] Working on one what Oneill :confused: You know Oneill, it is a wonder that folks don't give up on you sometimes with the responses you post on forum :eek: :confused:"

quinny said: "and wtf is that meant to mean what you can't have someone "working" :rolleyes:"

AngelaCea said: "Explain wtf you are talking about once in a while so people can understand wtf you actually say, that's wtf it means.........."

quinny said: "ok i said i am working on a cms website at present :rolleyes:"

AngelaCea said: "Great, DarkSat and Edwin, can you guys get a straight answer out of Curley for me, let me know when you do please :confused: :p :p"

mark said: "No way :eek: The flames here are just great :D Keep it up guys :D"

raven said: "LOL @ Mark! :D"

AngelaCea said: "Mark, as you hang around you will find out that Quinny/Oneill (QO) likes to start trouble every now and then and understand why he gets the responses he does from us. You get back what you put out, right Oneill :confused: :p It is all fun and games most of the time for QO :rolleyes: It is not a flame, DarkSat knows how to deal with QO better than me as they are both drunks from Ireland :p"

Darksat said: "[QUOTE=AnthonyCea]Great, DarkSat and Edwin, can you guys get a straight answer out of Curley for me, let me know when you do please :confused: :p :p[/QUOTE] you asked for a link to a better CMS than squarespace and oneil said he is building one. I was as well, but I got distracted, oh look a butterfly."

AngelaCea said: "Oneill could not build an ant hill, he was talking about being on one, this forum DD (dumb bell DarkSat). :p :p :p"

Darksat said: "Darksat looks around for his Tazer.[IMG]http://www.aaitechnologies.co.uk/chat/images/smiles/icon_twisted.gif[/IMG]"

AngelaCea said: "Funny how Oneill will bad mouth a programmer that will be doing about 10 million a month in sales, but on top of that he can't even post a link on any competitive CMS systems or even make a comment that any reader could possibly understand. :p :p :p"

quinny said: "what the hell are you on about biy!! (sorry old man :D )"

AngelaCea said: "[QUOTE=quinny]what the hell are you on about biy!! (sorry old man :D )[/QUOTE] Funny Oneill, that is the exact same question I just asked you, what the hell are you talking about :confused: This forum is about communication, not ramblings and mumbling, if you want to communicate your ideas, please do so. :) How could you make a movie if you can not communicate on forum???? I guess in your case a picture would have to speak a thousand words because you seem to have a problem getting the correct message across at times. Most of your posts leave folks wondering what the hell you even meant. :confused:"

raven said: "[QUOTE=Darksat]but I got distracted, oh look a butterfly.[/QUOTE] Where???? :confused:"

quinny said: "wtf do you want to know :confused:"

AngelaCea said: "DarkSat says that you are creating your own CMS ASP like Edwin claims he is working on. Can you tell us a bit about how you are programming it :confused:"

quinny said: "no i'm not! never said i was, said i plan to do it some day ....i am however working on a [URL=http://www.cpgnuke.com]cpg-nuke[/URL] site"

AngelaCea said: "OK DarkSat, am I ever wrong :confused: They don't call you 3 the WM3Stooges for nothing :) :p :p"

Darksat said: "Anthonies is confused again. :D :p ;)"

quinny said: "he always is :D"