Backend Admin

Alright...I am getting close to finishing up this website for my client. I need to set a back end admin, so the client can update the database for the product catalog. I want the client to be able to go to "www.myclient.com/admin"

First, would that be possible...I am sure it is. Then how to do that. Do I need set up a folder under the root folder labeled "admin" and then do I do a site design (like the main one) and put all the stuff in the admin, such as CSS menu, dataassit, etc in the admin folder.

Thanks for any assistance.

see the "How to create an Administrative back-end" tutorial in the How to Section of the DataAssist support page:
dataassist/

I have followed the gsg. However, when I place everything on the admin folder and I try to see the pages in preview, it does not look like the site I created. That is where I am confused. Do I need to start another site?

can you please clarify a little bit. What is the result you getting versus the result you expecting?

Sorry about that. I created the data assist pages using the site sculptor templates based on the website; however, when I move those pages to the "Admin" folder as suggested, those pages lose all the CSS that was used to create the main site.

What do I need to do to carry over the CSS and any other pertinent info required, so that the admin pages look like he main site? When I move those pages to the admin folder, and I preview them, they do not look the templates I used.

you will probably find that path which links to the CSS files is wrong, as you are one folder further into the heirarchy.

Okay, what is the best way to confirm and/or update the css files to point in the right direction? Thanks

ok, here's a typical situation, i hope its relevant for you

i would guess that index.php for example, which is in the root folder, has a path to the css which looks like...

<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" type="text/css" href="css/content.css" />

or something like that.

files within your admin folder, with the above path will not point to the css file

you would need something like

<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" type="text/css" href="../css/content.css" /> (note the ../ which takes you back a folder)

if this doesn't help, post a page which works and one which doesn't, and i will try to help further.

if, when you created the admin pages, they were based on a template, this should have been done for you automatically in dreamweaver.

also, when the page is open in dreamweaver, all of the linked pages should be shown under the page tab.
if you try to click on one of these and it isn't where it should be, an error messge will be displayed.

another way around the problem is to have DataAssist create the pages in the admin directory to begin with.

On the first step of the DataAssist wizard, where you can name the pages, you ccan also add a folder name in front of the page name:

admin/tableName_Insert.php for example.

Craig and Jason, thanks for your assistance.

Jason, I figured out your method about 12 am last night and it worked. Now here is another question, once I do that, what is the best way to set up the first page?

What do I mean? When the client wants to update the catalog, they should be able to type in "www.thesite.com/admin" and get the log in screen to update the catalog. I obviously need to run the Security Assist extension to set up login/logout; however, will that set up a log in screen for me that will automatically show up when the client goes to "www.thesite.com/admin" (like typing "www.thesite.com" and getting the index.php).

With all the help I am getting from you, your fellow staff and other members, I am getting closer and closer getting this done. Thanks for your assistance.