Web Design Forums

Dusteh · 01-09-2007, 07:00

I am trying to find an article I stumbled across a while back about the issue of letting a client edit their website, 'just because they can doesn't mean they should' sort of thing.

Anyone know what I'm on about? Or any other articles relating to the implications for designers of CMS usage for that matter.

freelancr · 01-09-2007, 07:45

You need to find the right balance between allowing the client to edit the existing website enough for it to be useful, but at the same time not being able to fubar it up.

Those WYSIWYG javascript textarea editors are useful, but when you start getting clients copy and pasting tables/formatting from word, you really do want to scream.

pgo · 01-09-2007, 08:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by freelancr

Those WYSIWYG javascript textarea editors are useful, but when you start getting clients copy and pasting tables/formatting from word, you really do want to scream.

Yep. And no matter how often you tell them...they KEEP DOING IT.

Dusteh · 01-09-2007, 10:21

I'm doing a final project on the future of webdesign and the increased use of the CMS, now that its widespread enough for clients to request this kind of functionality as standard - I think theres a fair bit of work to be done on finding the balance between design and editability (?) and perhaps re-education of the client regarding just how much they should be able to edit - understanding that the design of content itself is just as important as its container is probably the first step.

So any online articles would be great, or peoples thoughts for that matter. Lessons learned from bitter experience?

Regarding the nightmare of WYSIWYG editors, this is worth a read: Evaluation of WYSIWYG editors (2007)- Standards Schmandards

freelancr · 01-09-2007, 12:36

Cheers for that link Dusteh, seems I will be using a very cut down implementation of TinyMCE again.

01-09-2007, 07:00	#1 (permalink)
Dusteh Right time, wrong thread Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 8,023	Letting clients use CMS I am trying to find an article I stumbled across a while back about the issue of letting a client edit their website, 'just because they can doesn't mean they should' sort of thing. Anyone know what I'm on about? Or any other articles relating to the implications for designers of CMS usage for that matter.

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01-09-2007, 07:45	#2 (permalink)
freelancr Web Developer Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3,767	You need to find the right balance between allowing the client to edit the existing website enough for it to be useful, but at the same time not being able to fubar it up. Those WYSIWYG javascript textarea editors are useful, but when you start getting clients copy and pasting tables/formatting from word, you really do want to scream.

01-09-2007, 10:21	#4 (permalink)
Dusteh Right time, wrong thread Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 8,023	I'm doing a final project on the future of webdesign and the increased use of the CMS, now that its widespread enough for clients to request this kind of functionality as standard - I think theres a fair bit of work to be done on finding the balance between design and editability (?) and perhaps re-education of the client regarding just how much they should be able to edit - understanding that the design of content itself is just as important as its container is probably the first step. So any online articles would be great, or peoples thoughts for that matter. Lessons learned from bitter experience? Regarding the nightmare of WYSIWYG editors, this is worth a read: Evaluation of WYSIWYG editors (2007)- Standards Schmandards

01-09-2007, 12:36	#5 (permalink)
freelancr Web Developer Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3,767	Cheers for that link Dusteh, seems I will be using a very cut down implementation of TinyMCE again.

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