I have been looking in loads of CMS options from WebYep to EE.
I have stumbled across Pulse that is really simple to use and the pro version does have a lot of nice features and nice admin interface. Just wondering if anyone has any experience in modifying any elements in Pulse.
Basically the area that it looks like it is lacking in, is multiple block entries. For example, if I have a testimonial page, it would be nice to create a ‘block’ and embed that code, then with the admin, create multiple entries, rather than having to create a new block for each one as that would require me to embed new code for each block.
Does anyone know if that is possible? Or if it’s too much for Pulse and I would need a more customisable CMS.
Seriously, look at WebYep for this. It allows repeating blocks like this, and it’s very flexible. EE is a gigantic ICBM of an application, and from your initial request, it sounds like you need an RPG. (Couldn’t resist, I watched the Mythbusters blow up a travel trailer last night.)
Walter
On Oct 4, 2011, at 9:32 AM, BigG wrote:
Heard back from Pulse and no their product does not adapt to allow for what I want to do.
Most of these smaller cms packages are just too limited, so I suspect I will be going the EE route…
Basically you sign up for an account and download the Perch files which you upload to the root of your website.
You have to make sure you have a database installed on your server - this is where all the perch info is stored. This can be done yourself through a cPanel (or other admin that came with your hosting account).
You then have to fill in some information in the install process (perch walks you through this - it’s not too complex).
Then you can start using Perch. On each page you have to put a piece of code in the /head of the page (easy to do in FW) and then wherever you want a content managed piece of the site, you add a markup item and put in another piece of code. Then when previewed in a browser, it triggers pulse to see the areas and add them into into your admin area.
It’s all pretty slick and my explanation may make it sound more confusing than it is.
It definitely the best one I’ve used to date and would highly recommend it.
Once you have mastered the built in templates, you can start creating your own and come up with some really good work.
Mark it is very easy in FW. You will add a bit of php include code in the Page HTML Markup - Before - that’s for every page that you want editable. Then every instance where you want editable content, a short bit of Perch code using the Crowbar action. You will also need to rename your page name extensions from .html to .php
When you say ‘built in templates’ is the design part still done in Freeway?
Todd here.
In Perch-speak, a template refers to a code snippet that controls how data is manipulated. For instance, if your client needed the ability to upload a file and attach a link to that file for the purpose of downloading then you would write a template, using the Perch-specific syntax, that would create the controls necessary to do this, i.e., an upload button and a text field for specifying the link text.
Perch does come with several default templates for simple text blocks etc. but what’s really nice is that you can write a template to do almost anything you require, all you need to do is familiarize yourself with the basic Perch tags and syntax.
Templates can also refer to certain add-on Apps like the Pages app which allow you to duplicate an existing layout when creating a new page.
So unlike some CMS that supply a fully designed webpage “template” which you modify to your needs, with Perch you design the page as you want and add the requisite Perch tags later.
Hello Walter,
I’ve had a look at Plone and it does look like a pretty useful CMS. The most recent version is for Intel Macs only which is a bit disappointing as I am still working on a Powerpc mac. Looking at the ease of use demonstrated on their demo I really like the look of it.
The installation for the Unified Installer 4.01 seems a bit complex as well.
Just wondering if you have any advice on the installation process at all? Is it worth the effort or would I get the same apparent ease of use out of another CMS?
You have to install it on your server to run it. There are hosting providers who specialize in Plone, just google that and you’ll find some. If all you need is what it does “out of the box” then it is a potent and amazing tool for building community sites. But if you need to go even a little bit off the tracks, you will find yourself knee-deep in Python code, wondering which one of 10,000 tiny text files is the one you need to edit to make the change you need.
I’m also looking into CMS. I’ve used Web Yep and love the simplicity and ease of use. Especially the way the client can physically see what item they are editing.
However, I have a client that needs to change images. From what I have read Web Yep can’t scale or crop / position images within the graphic item I have created.
Do other CMS have this facility?
In comparison to WebYep, Plone looks like a much steeper learning curve and less support / no Freeway Actions to help? Surreal looks good, but I read on another thread that it doesn’t work with FW?
There is a method to give the client a multiple choice of picture sizes in WebYep.
Most editable regions are in columns of text. That column has a width say 600px and has a limited options of picture alignment of left, right or full column width.
In WebYep you can create these three picture items for the client draw upon when needed (anything not used is invisible)
So…
Picture 1 would be a full column 600px width picture.
Picture 2 would be a third of a column 200px floated right
Picture 3 would be a third of a column 200px floated left
or add more if needed
(you add styling/float in the Extended box ~ or add a class to style in CSS)
Put all this in a loop with h2 heading and p text it provides solution that is very flexible story editor for the client, and still peace of mind for the web designer knowing the client can’t blow away whole layout with a Rich Text editor when he uploads adds oversize 1200px images or creates distorted images in all odd positions.
The client could then use something like this (or any combination of):
H2 Story Heading
full column pic
text
floated right pic
text
floated left pic
text
–
David
On 6 Oct 2011, at 21:37, Mark wrote:
However, I have a client that needs to change images. From what I have read Web Yep can’t scale or crop / position images within the graphic item I have created.