Web Design Forums

JiRaffe · 13-01-2004, 06:06

I'm in a slight predicament so if anyone could help i'd be much obliged.

I have a prospective client who would like a fairly straight forward website containing about 20 pages. the crucial part though is that for a few of the pages they would like to have it so that an untrained member of their staff could make a limited number of changes to the pages.

I've not done anything like that before so I haven't agreed to anything. how would it be done? would it be possible to use templates or would it be neccessary to use specialised content-management programs? is this something i will be able to learn or should i not agree to do this?

cheers for anybody's help

Brown · 13-01-2004, 06:13

macromedia contribute is a good package, maintains beaver templates.

open mozilla and press control 'e' - another v.cheap (but dangerous) option.

depends how much they want to spend (of your time) typo3.com

gray · 13-01-2004, 06:37

i second contribute for ease, and its only 70 quid or something innit?

Mik · 13-01-2004, 06:40

depends what they are going to update - easier and free just to include a text file (either as php/asp include or ssi )

oli · 13-01-2004, 06:41

yep, an include file would be better if its just text changes. Or a simple php or asp page with admin section to update it is easy enough to make.

Bill Posters · 13-01-2004, 06:48

I recently picked up a copy of Contribute (tryout) with a view to working it into an existing site (to help with maintenance and update duties).
(I also have an upcoming project which will require client(-side) updates via DB, so that's another partial consideration.)

I didn't take a proper look, but at first glance it appears to be best (only?) suited to sites being built with cms/contribute in mind.
I'm curious to know whether it's a good option for introducing into an existing site.
The site in question is not templated per se, but uses modular includes (for the sake of maintenance).

Given that I don't wish to rebuild the site from scratch (and i definately don't want to start using DW templates) - is it worth me taking another look at Contribute? Or are there more suitable options tha I should take a gander at?

TIA

Mik · 13-01-2004, 07:15

not convinced with contribute as it allows the user way to much control / options. They can change all manner of things and you end up with a site that cannot go into your portfolio as its pants.

If i was you bill (shudder) I would look at other cms systems out there - will pay off defo in long run.

If the site is designed // constructed as it should - you really shouldnt have a lot of trouble introducing any cms system.

gray · 13-01-2004, 07:19

you can restrict users though cant you?

ie joe bloggs can only change text.. etc

JiRaffe · 13-01-2004, 07:20

thanks for the feedback. I'm going to investigate both Contibute and using txt files so that i have a variety of options to fall back on. are there any books on content management that people would recommend?

lucidcreations · 14-01-2004, 05:44

I'd use the ASP admin page route, then you have complete control.

Brown · 14-01-2004, 06:00

if you use a beaver template then contribute can only change what you allow it to. i looked into it when contribute 1 came out and thought it was a fairly impressive tool, for the price.

JiRaffe · 14-01-2004, 07:34

i agree about Contribute. it looks like the way to go. if i use some templates then i know that the chances of it being screwed up are minimal, as it will only be used by a few different people, who i will be showing how to use it.

that for all the other suggestions but i think it'd take me a while to pick them up.

Contribute may just have saved my bacon

14-01-2004, 07:46

dude you want to look into using Rivendell.

www.poweredbyrivendell.com its easy to learn how to use, a few big names use it like Royal Sun Alliance, Chrysalis Books.
Plus you don’t need to buy it the company rent the use of it, and when they no longer want it they stop renting it

JiRaffe · 14-01-2004, 08:02

Hmmm Rivendell sounds like it can do a good job, but I'm a bit wary of the fact that they base the price on the number of fields within your database. minimum costs are going to be £25 a month but they could easily balloon.

Contribute is a one off payment of about 80 quid (unless more copies are required). I know which one the client will prefer.

i'll bear it in mind though

13-01-2004, 06:06	#1 (permalink)
JiRaffe Ur mother's ur brother? Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Liverpool Posts: 880	Content management? I'm in a slight predicament so if anyone could help i'd be much obliged. I have a prospective client who would like a fairly straight forward website containing about 20 pages. the crucial part though is that for a few of the pages they would like to have it so that an untrained member of their staff could make a limited number of changes to the pages. I've not done anything like that before so I haven't agreed to anything. how would it be done? would it be possible to use templates or would it be neccessary to use specialised content-management programs? is this something i will be able to learn or should i not agree to do this? cheers for anybody's help __________________ ::: TC Magazine :::

13-01-2004, 06:41	#5 (permalink)
oli Low flying star™ Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester, England.™ Posts: 10,007	yep, an include file would be better if its just text changes. Or a simple php or asp page with admin section to update it is easy enough to make. __________________ Linked In :: Last.fm :: Twitter me ..................

13-01-2004, 07:20	#9 (permalink)
JiRaffe Ur mother's ur brother? Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Liverpool Posts: 880	thanks for the feedback. I'm going to investigate both Contibute and using txt files so that i have a variety of options to fall back on. are there any books on content management that people would recommend? __________________ ::: TC Magazine :::

14-01-2004, 05:44	#10 (permalink)
lucidcreations Part of the 3 out of 4 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: cheshire Posts: 2,077	I'd use the ASP admin page route, then you have complete control. __________________ Jase

14-01-2004, 07:34	#12 (permalink)
JiRaffe Ur mother's ur brother? Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Liverpool Posts: 880	i agree about Contribute. it looks like the way to go. if i use some templates then i know that the chances of it being screwed up are minimal, as it will only be used by a few different people, who i will be showing how to use it. that for all the other suggestions but i think it'd take me a while to pick them up. Contribute may just have saved my bacon __________________ ::: TC Magazine :::

13-01-2004, 06:13	#2 (permalink)
Brown volkswagen yellow & gold Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: london, england. Posts: 6,147	macromedia contribute is a good package, maintains beaver templates. open mozilla and press control 'e' - another v.cheap (but dangerous) option. depends how much they want to spend (of your time) typo3.com

13-01-2004, 06:37	#3 (permalink)
gray i still want paying Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: newcastle, uk Posts: 4,839	i second contribute for ease, and its only 70 quid or something innit?

13-01-2004, 06:40	#4 (permalink)
Mik Magazines™ Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Glasgow.. Posts: 11,875	depends what they are going to update - easier and free just to include a text file (either as php/asp include or ssi )

13-01-2004, 06:48	#6 (permalink)
Bill Posters trouble free and loverlee Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: YooKay Posts: 2,967	I recently picked up a copy of Contribute (tryout) with a view to working it into an existing site (to help with maintenance and update duties). (I also have an upcoming project which will require client(-side) updates via DB, so that's another partial consideration.) I didn't take a proper look, but at first glance it appears to be best (only?) suited to sites being built with cms/contribute in mind. I'm curious to know whether it's a good option for introducing into an existing site. The site in question is not templated per se, but uses modular includes (for the sake of maintenance). Given that I don't wish to rebuild the site from scratch (and i definately don't want to start using DW templates) - is it worth me taking another look at Contribute? Or are there more suitable options tha I should take a gander at? TIA

13-01-2004, 07:15	#7 (permalink)
Mik Magazines™ Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Glasgow.. Posts: 11,875	not convinced with contribute as it allows the user way to much control / options. They can change all manner of things and you end up with a site that cannot go into your portfolio as its pants. If i was you bill (shudder) I would look at other cms systems out there - will pay off defo in long run. If the site is designed // constructed as it should - you really shouldnt have a lot of trouble introducing any cms system.

13-01-2004, 07:19	#8 (permalink)
gray i still want paying Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: newcastle, uk Posts: 4,839	you can restrict users though cant you? ie joe bloggs can only change text.. etc

14-01-2004, 06:00	#11 (permalink)
Brown volkswagen yellow & gold Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: london, england. Posts: 6,147	if you use a beaver template then contribute can only change what you allow it to. i looked into it when contribute 1 came out and thought it was a fairly impressive tool, for the price.

14-01-2004, 07:46	#13 (permalink)
oqpo Posts: n/a	dude you want to look into using Rivendell. www.poweredbyrivendell.com its easy to learn how to use, a few big names use it like Royal Sun Alliance, Chrysalis Books. Plus you don’t need to buy it the company rent the use of it, and when they no longer want it they stop renting it

14-01-2004, 08:02	#14 (permalink)
JiRaffe Ur mother's ur brother? Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Liverpool Posts: 880	Hmmm Rivendell sounds like it can do a good job, but I'm a bit wary of the fact that they base the price on the number of fields within your database. minimum costs are going to be £25 a month but they could easily balloon. Contribute is a one off payment of about 80 quid (unless more copies are required). I know which one the client will prefer. i'll bear it in mind though __________________ ::: TC Magazine :::

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