Confused about capabilities...

[jefferis]

I'm considering this solution for a client. I'm not sure I understand how it works from one of the FAQ's...
Do you add behaviors to pages you create from your own templates using SA Pro or your own designs? Or must you use the CMS default template design?

When the FAQ says you cannot add pages, you mean that the client cannot add pages but that a developer can, but then must add code to make the pages editable? Or you cannot add pages at all to the default setup?
Thanks
Jeff

[Ray Borduin]

You create your own templates using whatever tools you want.

Then you replace the design with a snippit of code that refers to the content and that content is then editable.

When it says you cannot add pages, that means that the end user cannot add pages. The developer can make any portion of any number of pages editable.

[jefferis]

You create your own templates using whatever tools you want.

Then you replace the design with a snippit of code that refers to the content and that content is then editable.

When it says you cannot add pages, that means that the end user cannot add pages. The developer can make any portion of any number of pages editable.

Cool. So it functions a little bit like Adobe's new trial service? I tried that but the client was too un-tech to be able to use Adobe's interface...

Once you add code to the pages, do they automatically show up in the admin area?

[jefferis]

Also, if the client wants to edit text, and I don't have iRite, what is the interface for control of look and feel? Tinymce? Or something similar? It seemed that the editing box in the feature tour has some ability to control bold, italic, etc..
Jeff

[Ray Borduin]

It uses FCKeditor for the iRite functionality. It can be updated according to their documentation.

[jefferis]

It uses FCKeditor for the iRite functionality. It can be updated according to their documentation.

If I don't have iRite, what affect does it have on the client's ability to update pages with CSS style layout?

[Ray Borduin]

None. It just means you as the developer would have to use the fckeditor documentation and update the code by hand instead of having the ease of a DW extension to update it for you.

[jefferis]

You create your own templates using whatever tools you want.

Then you replace the design with a snippit of code that refers to the content and that content is then editable.

When it says you cannot add pages, that means that the end user cannot add pages. The developer can make any portion of any number of pages editable.

Ray, say the client wants to be able to add pages to the site and she has all the password access I do as the developer.... In order for her to add pages, what would she need?
Dreamweaver & the Templates?
Could it be done with Contribute?
Would she need a copy of PowerCMS?

I am evaluating this product vs. setting up a simple cms...
Thanks
Jeff

[Ray Borduin]

There are quite a few ways it could be done...

Contribute wouldn't really work. It is for editing html pages that are already created I believe.

PowerCMS won't perfectly fit the bill because it can't create pages it is just for editing content on existing pages.

Dreamweaver and the templates would certainly give that possibility but that is usually a lot to ask of the end user.

Usually you would design something with DataAssist to allow someone to create Blog-like or other data on multiple pages.

[biz295654]

If a site is already set up so that a new page is added using DataAssist system, which I can do now, would the PowerCMS "see" those pages in the database? In my current set ups, the short coming is the client can add a page, but I have to add a menu item for them.

Thanks

[Ray Borduin]

PowerCMS could be added to those pages to effect content for all entries. It doesn't currently support per-entry differentiation on a dynamic page.

[jefferis]

Hi Ray, I have yet to deploy this solution although I have purchased it and iRite, but another client approached me today about adding pages to his current site, which he wants to be able to update as needed. If I already have a DW templated site going, and say I want to add a new section to the site under the nav menu, can PCMS be deployed only on those new pages, or do I have to redesign the whole site to be a PCMS site?

[Ray Borduin]

For true dynamic pages like that you would want to use DataAssist and create a database driven pageset. PowerCMS is for use on static pages or on the templates themselves for the surrounding content in the dynamic page scenario.

I would probably still use powerCMS to manipulate most data, but for the type of pages he wants to be able to add I'd do a specific implemenatation of the DataAssist wizard.

[jefferis]

For true dynamic pages like that you would want to use DataAssist and create a database driven pageset. PowerCMS is for use on static pages or on the templates themselves for the surrounding content in the dynamic page scenario.

I would probably still use powerCMS to manipulate most data, but for the type of pages he wants to be able to add I'd do a specific implemenatation of the DataAssist wizard.

I may not have made myself clear. He wants me to add the pages ( a specific number), but within those pages he wants to be able to update them by adding for sale property items, using images and descriptions... so the question is, can I have a site created with
Home | About us| Etc | NewPage only that is PowerCMS editiable for content by the client?

[Ray Borduin]

Yes, that should be pretty easy to create and set up.

[mds119803]

I don't know if this bit of information will be too late for you but have just been reading through previous threads to look for answers to some questions I have myself and noticed that you mention Adobe Contribute. I've been using that for quite a few years now with various clients/sites and your user certainly can add new pages themselves. You can give your user the option to add a blank new page, create a page from an existing page or create a page based on a template. You can also choose which templates to make available to your user if you have more than one. You just set all these options under your admin role (and that bit is really easy to do).

If you are still evaluating, I find Contribute a great product especially with DW templates but it is turning into a problem for me now because you have to load it onto your user's pc and I have quite a few users. That doesn't sound too much of a problem in itself but I have users who suddenly can't get Contribute to work because they've downloaded something, changed their pc, etc ... and you have to sort it out. Sometimes getting the ftp to work, especially within firms that have their own network can also be problematical. Also it is restricted to one user/pc per licence and each new release puts the price up. There's obviously lots more pros and cons but I'm trying out PowerCMS as an alternative as I want to get more of my clients onto an online CMS to avoid all these problems.

[jefferis]

Also it is restricted to one user/pc per licence and each new release puts the price up. There's obviously lots more pros and cons but I'm trying out PowerCMS as an alternative as I want to get more of my clients onto an online CMS to avoid all these problems.

Thanks, Let me know how it works for you. The one problem I can foresee with Contribute and PowerCMS is that you wouldn't be able to modify the navigation menus for the site easily or automatically... But it is an option, as you say.
Jeff

[mds119803]

Yes, that can be a problem. I usually like to keep the navigation as an area I update myself but if you really want your clients to do it, then I make the nav an include file and then give them a link to that so that they can update it themselves. Doesn't work for every site but if you think along those lines when designing it, it is ok. That way they can add a new item to the nav as and when required and your include file will populate throughout the site. I have done that with Contribute and although haven't tried it yet, can't see any reason why you couldn't do the same with PowerCMS.