Welcome!

[bkirkham23]

Hello,
I currently use HTML and CSS in Dreamweaver to build my websites, but now need to start employing content management systems in order to allow users of my sites to manage images and text.

How would I learn how to build content management systems in order to edit some of the text and images i have on a site i have built using dreamweaver?

[EvoDy]

your best bet is to use one already created and adapt your style into the CMS. Why re-invent the wheel when your wheel options are wide open and free? My CMS of choice is Joomla, but this is one of those to each their own situations.

[r_jake]

I agree with EvoDy, when I first started out I thought "yeah, I'll get a few books and learn how to write my own CMS!". After not too much research I released the scope of this task was too big to make it worthwhile.

Instead, download and play around with some of the many open-source platforms out there. Start with WordPress, then maybe have a go at ModX before tackling Drupal.

Transferring static HTML to templates is fairly straightforward once you've got to grips with the CMS tags, and most systems have things like search functions, form validation, commenting, etc built in and ready to use.

The trick, however is to identify which system is the most relevant to your clients needs. Find out what they want from their website first, before settling on anything!

[bkirkham23]

Thanks so much for the swift replies!

I have installed joomla in the past, but found it somewhat awkward to do the simplest of CMS tasks.

My current project involves my client being able to upload images and text, aswell as being able to edit the text, delete/change the image for each post. The images would have to resize themselves as the client would most probably be uploading the file straight from a camera.

I'm going to have a go with wordpress, any more suggestions would be great in my mission to becoming CMS literate...

Love this forum already

[Benjash]

I would recomend playing with a few existing CMS's. Especially Wordpress, Website Baker and even have a look at contribute.

Contribute isnt ideal but is a very easy way of adding CMS like functionality to a site. A big downside being you have to pay for it.

Once you get comfy move on to DRupal, Joomla and expression engine. Dip your toe see what you like. I think it would be better developing plugins / contributing to existing cms' rather than start a full blown one....

[MegaMan1311]

I'm going to suggest Wordpress to you. I've tried out almost every popular CMS in existence, and none of them are very easy. Building your own sounds good, but, in reality, it is not an easy task. Save it for when you are confident with your PHP/Ruby/(insert language of choice) skills.

Joomla is not bad for the developer, but a nightmare for the client. It is just far too difficult to use. There are Sections, Categories, and Articles that you have to deal with. You may be able to pick up on it and figure it out, but try teaching it to your computer-illiterate client. I have lost many hours teaching clients this system.

Drupal is much better, but is more difficult to work with for the developer (but it is much more flexible than any other CMS). I do not have any really bad to say about Drupal other that that. I built two sites off of it, and I was pleased with the system.

Wordpress, however, is currently my favorite. It is very simple for the client to understand (especially after installing a few simplification plugins). They simply make a page, if they want to make a page, or an article, if they want to update the blog (which you can remove with a plugin if it is not needed). It is also easy for any developer who can work with PHP. There are many plugins that can save the developer a lot of time.

[bkirkham23]

Thanks again, im going to jump onto wordpress to try and manage my latest project...

I have used wordpress in the past to simply create a blog, had no real idea of how powerful it could be for content management of actual sites...

Other than simply researching the various templates and plug-in's available to wordpress, how would you suggest I begin using wordpress to manage a sites content other than just a simple blog entry???

Great insights, im looking into Drupal too.

[kidslovemusic]

yes yes! Wordpress rocks I was using joomla but its to difficult for my clients.. and with wordpress i can just send some instructions via e-mail, and that is it. Wordpress is made is easy, simple and friendly way. If you are looking for starting point for your template, i recommend thematic framework from http://themeshaper.com/thematic/ I heard about this framwork from one of SM articles,,and its just great.

[mzslater]

Wordpress is great as long as your needs fit within its natural boundaries. You go off a cliff in terms of the complexity of customization if you want custom data structures (such as a business directory), and the translation from a static HTML/CSS design to a Wordpress template is not as simple as one might hope.

If you're interested in exploring something new, check out http://www.webvanta.com, a hosted CMS created for designers by my startup.

With regard to the "roll your own" comments: I used to do this for simple needs. One thing led to another, and after 3 man-years of work, we have a very nice hosted CMS. But it was easily 50 times as much work as we anticipated.