Content Management Help

[jayne193]

Hi Guys & Girls,

I was wondering if anyone can help me out with a Content Management question?

I've been asked to create websites by several people recently who want the functionality to be able to update gallery images & descriptions themselves.

I've been having a look on the web for free CMS resources, and have found one or two, but the setup all seems a bit complicated.

I don't have a programming background and I find that I'm a bit out of my depth and am glazing over after the 1st line of the instructions!

Can anyone point me in the direction of a basic CMS system that will allow this functionality that is easy to implement on just one or two pages - I don't want the whole site to be editable, just this gallery section.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

[tommylogic]

Take a look at Adobe Contribute. Basically, you create your pages as normal, then you create "Editable Regions" on the pages your client will need to edit. This is done typically through Dreamweaver.

I have a series of tutorials on my website that explains the entire process.

[jayne193]

Thanks for the suggestion, I've had a look on your website.
I'm not quite clear on how Adobe Contribute works, does every user have to purchase the software before they can edit anything?

I was ideally looking for something that was free (or cheap) to download and then just had a basic control panel or something that they can log into and upload new images and descriptions.

Do you know of anything that would fit this criteria?

[tommylogic]

THere are a few, but I can't be sure that they are any easier. On the developers end, you will put a LOT more time into it to make it easier for the end user. Thats where you have to draw the line. For me, it may be easier to build in the cost into the site upfront to include Contribute.. if I spend extra hours coding a site for Joomla or such, my time is worth more than the money I would make off it, in this case.
When it comes to selling it to the client, I would just explain that they will have the control over their site content.. or they can pay you to do the updates.
There are a couple threads in here about some of the Free CMS solutions, search around. You could always do a wordpress site, it's free, but I don't think its the right solution in this case.

[SidekickWD]

Hey Tommy,

Could this be used for a client who would like a single section, in two or three pages, that he can edit as he sees fit. adding information and changing news, etc?

[tommylogic]

When choosing a solution.. yes, that is specifically why I would choose Contribute in this case. A sitewide CMS.. perhaps Joomla, Drupal.. but in thin this case, its definitely Contribute.