MODX CMS

Off Topic
21

Sure Dave.

Essentially what’s going to happen is that we’ll create an active link between MODX and static (in this case, FW) file(s) that will serve as the template(s). So when you edit and Publish the FW file the resulting code-level changes will be pushed to MODX automatically.

  1. Setup your FW doc to publish to the MODX folder, or to a folder within the MODX folder, it’s up to you.
  2. In the MODX Manager click the ‘Elements’ tab in the sidebar.
  3. Click the ‘New Template’ button.
  4. Give the template a name and enable the ‘Is Static’ checkbox.
  5. This will open a ‘Static File’ picker which will open a file Browser.
  6. Navigate to the FW file that you want to use as the template and OK it.

If the template code is not automatically added to the ‘Template Code’ area in the page you’re currently on then simply copy/paste it then after that any changes should just happen.

  1. ‘Save’ the template. (in the floating toolbar)

That’s it. You now have a working template. Of course you need to add content tags but in my tests any layout changes I made in the FW file were reflected in the MODX code when I previewed it. If you’re moving a preexisting FW site you may have to fiddle with FW to adjust for resource paths and such. If you use an editor, not FW, then you can edit any static files in your fav editor (or in the MODX Manager if you prefer) and those changes will be reflected either from MODX > static file or from static file > MODX.

There’s also an Import HTML function for importing existing static sites but I haven’t tried that yet but it’s possible it may offer an even more streamlined process than what I mentioned. In any case, whatever the import process, it would seem to be a completely doable prospect … so far. All my work has been done locally so how it fairs when moving everything to the remote server I can’t say yet. But as long as the file structure remains identical, meaning MODX can still find the static files you use then it should work. But I’ve thought that before. [laughs]

Todd

Thanks Todd

As someone who has only looked at it very quickly it is still a bit of a mystery to me.

Can you - as a FW user - outline how you would work with ModX and FW created pages. I am interested in the workflow and whether or not you can easily add ModX components to your FW page.

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

22

Just to clarify what you mean here, you don’t mean a Freeway document (.freeway), but rather “an HTML file generated by Freeway”. Critical distinction missing in otherwise crystal-clear directions!

Walter

On Jun 15, 2012, at 4:37 PM, Todd wrote:

  1. Navigate to the FW file that you want to use as the template and OK it.

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

23

Essentially what’s going to happen is…

OK - I understand the basic process now. Will have a play with it over the next few days and see how I get on.

Thanks

D

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

24

Just to clarify what you mean here, you don’t mean a Freeway document (.freeway), but rather “an HTML file generated by Freeway”. Critical distinction missing in otherwise crystal-clear directions!

Yepper. I haven’t needed to think in FW terms for some time, I’m rusty.

Todd

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

25

I suggest installing the CodeMirror plugin, System > Package Management, which adds syntax highlighting to the MODX editor. So much easier on the eye.

Todd
http://xiiro.com

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

26

And anyone with a PRO-HOST can play along at home (there’s MODX in the hosting account)

Including me!

David

On 15 Jun 2012, at 23:06, “DeltaDave” email@hidden wrote:

OK - I understand the basic process now. Will have a play with it over the next few days and see how I get on.

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

27

And with regard to the ‘static file’ option, it can also be used with Chunk and TV (Template Variable) areas as well as Templates. All 3 of which are ‘content structures’ in MODX (which is Todd-speak for MODX-speak).

Todd
http://xiiro.com

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

28

sNews http://snewscms.com/

Todd

On Jun 14, 2012, at 11:38 AM, Ernie Simpson wrote:

I remember that little cms from Solucjia or whatever that some of tried used years ago – I ended up rewriting so much
of the PHP code that I grew a third lobe in my brain (which, predictably, now sits on the couch all day drinking beer and watching tv).

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

29

Yep. Been there, done that. Not looking for anymore.

I’m not saying Wordpress is the pinnacle, but I still haven’t found
anything as easy to use out of the box with as many resources for help and
development. MODx may be technically cool, but it doesn’t feel cool. At
least not yet anyways.

–
Ernie Simpson

On Sat, Jun 16, 2012 at 8:08 PM, Todd email@hidden wrote:

sNews http://snewscms.com/

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

30

They definitely target very different end goals. This guy illustrates those differences very well http://tipsfor.us/?p=2694.

WP is first and foremost a blogging platform and excels at that on most counts. No question. Very easy to get up and running quickly but it was never conceived as a CMS despite being pressed into service as one, and it shows.

MODX is designed to mange all sorts of content in a very scalable way. It’s not a blog, that can edit content, it’s an entire MVC framework that can be used for blogging and a lot more. It’s more hands-on, yes, but ultimately far more flexible for a broader range of applications.

Like most things it depends on what you need and want. The fact that MODX (might) fit in with FW is just the cherry on top. I use WP for a client site and in many ways I like it for what it is, but as I’ve said before, hacking templates is pure !#@% even if you know what you’re doing.

Todd

On Jun 16, 2012, at 7:50 PM, Ernie Simpson wrote:

I’m not saying Wordpress is the pinnacle, but I still haven’t found
anything as easy to use out of the box with as many resources for help and
development. MODx may be technically cool, but it doesn’t feel cool. At
least not yet anyways.

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

31

OK, I setup a very basic live working demo using the FWP ‘Charcoal’ template and MODX. As soon as I setup Editor privileges in MODX I’ll post a link so you can sign in and interact with it.

In short, integrating the two really is as easy as I thought. It does require a lot of cache clearing in MODX to recognize FW-made changes but other than it’s a snap.

Example template page: http://xiiro.com/demo/modx/

Todd
http://xiiro.com

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

32

OK, I setup a very basic live working demo using the FWP ‘Charcoal’ template and MODX. As soon as I setup Editor privileges in MODX I’ll post a link so you can sign in and interact with it.

The demo is running.

Here’s the modified ‘Charcoal’ template with a few MODX tags tossed in. The only page I modified was the index page.
http://xiiro.com/MODX.zip

You can sign in to the demo here:

http://xiiro.com/modxdemo/manager/

Username: Guest
Password: 9RV4ht5E

For obvious reasons I restricted Guest user privileges so you won’t be able to see or change the Resource settings but you can edit the actual content (with the exception of the 2 images which are disabled) and create new ‘pages’, albeit with the same default template. I may expand what Guest users can do at a later date as time permits but this was more of a proof-of-concept demo than anything else. Have a question, ask.

Have fun.

Todd

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

33

Or if you just want to see the MODX controlled Freeway-made page here it is, http://xiiro.com/modxdemo/.

Todd

The demo is running.

Here’s the modified ‘Charcoal’ template with a few MODX tags tossed in. The only page I modified was the index page.
http://xiiro.com/MODX.zip

You can sign in to the demo here:

http://xiiro.com/modxdemo/manager/

Username: Guest
Password: 9RV4ht5E

For obvious reasons I restricted Guest user privileges so you won’t be able to see or change the Resource settings but you can edit the actual content (with the exception of the 2 images which are disabled) and create new ‘pages’, albeit with the same default template. I may expand what Guest users can do at a later date as time permits but this was more of a proof-of-concept demo than anything else. Have a question, ask.

Have fun.

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

34

I added a Blog to the Freeway/MODX demo, http://xiiro.com/modxdemo/

Or sign-in as a Guest to edit the article or create a new one: http://xiiro.com/modxdemo/manager/.

Username: Guest
Password: 9RV4ht5E

Todd
http://xiiro.com

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

35

Reading that interesting Wordpress v. MODx article, I get the feeling that what most Freeway users would like is MODx-Lite :wink:

Doubt whether we’ll get that, though!

Hugh

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

36

I should have added that for several years I used pMachine quite successfully with Freeway - because it was tag based. You just needed to add a pMachine tag using a markup item, and do some styling work.

pMachine became, I suppose, Expression Engine Lite! I’m afraid I lost the plot (and interest) when EE was launched.

I think scale is important with all these CMSs - scale of complexity, scale of learning curve, scale of installation, scale of coding knowledge etc.

I can’t speak for others, of course, but my gut feeling would be that most Freeway users contemplating or deploying a CMS are at the light to medium use end of things.

Hugh

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

37

The MODX Revolution/Freeway Pro demo has moved.

Front-end: http://xiiro.com/modx/

Back-end/sign-in: http://xiiro.com/modx/manager/

User: Guest
PW: 9RV4ht5E

Todd
http://xiiro.com

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

38

Reading that interesting Wordpress v. MODx article, I get the feeling that what most Freeway users would like is MODx-Lite :wink:

Doubt whether we’ll get that, though!

My experience with MODX (and you’ll find this to be a recurring opinion among new MODX users) is how (in most, but not all ways) bloody easy it is to implement. The first few times you stare at the Manager (admin) I admit it appears overwhelming but I can also say that about Joomla and EE and any number of other robust CMS. But I’m not kidding when I say you can learn the basics very quickly even if you’ve never used one of the other Big Boys. The tagging system is very similar to other CMS and it’s really not as intimidating a system as it appears on first blush and it does makes sense. Of course you need to put some effort in to learn the basics but when is that not the case?

Honestly, for designers who prefer creative freedom MODX was built for you. The fact that you choose to use FW should not dissuade you from trying it. I’m not saying it’s the be all/end all but it’s worthy of consideration, to be sure.

Todd

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

39

Are you committed to MODX Todd? Over Perch?

Would be really interested in you thoughts. I know you have delved in to Modx quite a bit but would like to know whether you think it’s you número UNO over perch.

Nathan Garner
Senior Designer

+44 (0)1202 597 140
email@hidden
http://www.rla.co.uk

Sent from my iPhone

On 13 Jul 2012, at 19:29, “Todd” email@hidden wrote:

The MODX Revolution/Freeway Pro demo has moved.

Front-end: http://xiiro.com/modx/

Back-end/sign-in: http://xiiro.com/modx/manager/

User: Guest
PW: 9RV4ht5E

Todd
http://xiiro.com

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options
RLA - INDISPENSABLE IN WHAT WE DO
part of the mission
RLA is a trading name of RLA Group Ltd
Registered in England no: 3679160
If this email has found you by mistake, please do not share or reproduce any of its contents as they may be confidential or contain material subject to copyright. Instead let us know and delete the email immediately. This email does not necessarily represent the views of the RLA Group. Please consider the environment before printing.

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options

40

Hi Nathan,

I’m not committed to either as a one-size-fits-all CMS. I think they
both have their place and I’m even more impressed with Perch 2 which is
just a kick-ass update (you FWers who have been on the fence about Perch
need to rethink it when v2 launches this month). But just as Drupal,
Joomla or Wordpress may be appropriate for certain projects I wouldn’t
expect WebYep or Perch to fill those big shoes either. MODX can
definitely run with the Big Boys but what I’ve found cool is that it’s
also good for smaller sites too. My site is not big or demanding in any
respect and I thought it might be overkill, but it’s not. I have room to
grow.

I have a client who is on Wordpress http://michaelrookeronline.com and
I fully intend to move him to MODX when it comes to redesign because
it’s going to be soooo much easier for me as a designer. Plus we have
numerous editors and a lot of posts (thousands) which I can easily
import into MODX and I can also fine tune access for each editor with
laser precision. I just can’t do that with Perch.

In some ways I think of MODX as Perch with a whole lot more horsepower
but without the requisite learning curve for most tasks. They’re both
great, no question.

Todd

Nathan.Garner mailto:email@hidden
July 13, 2012 3:03 PM

Are you committed to MODX Todd? Over Perch?

Would be really interested in you thoughts. I know you have delved in
to Modx quite a bit but would like to know whether you think it’s you
número UNO over perch.

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options
Todd mailto:email@hidden
July 5, 2012 12:20 PM
I added a Blog to the Freeway/MODX demo, http://xiiro.com/modxdemo/

Or sign-in as a Guest to edit the article or create a new one:
http://xiiro.com/modxdemo/manager/.

Username: Guest
Password: 9RV4ht5E

Todd
http://xiiro.com
Todd mailto:email@hidden
June 23, 2012 1:24 PM

The demo is running.

Here’s the modified ‘Charcoal’ template with a few MODX tags tossed
in. The only page I modified was the index page.
http://xiiro.com/MODX.zip

You can sign in to the demo here:

http://xiiro.com/modxdemo/manager/

Username: Guest
Password: 9RV4ht5E

For obvious reasons I restricted Guest user privileges so you won’t be
able to see or change the Resource settings but you can edit the
actual content (with the exception of the 2 images which are disabled)
and create new ‘pages’, albeit with the same default template. I may
expand what Guest users can do at a later date as time permits but
this was more of a proof-of-concept demo than anything else. Have a
question, ask.

Have fun.

Todd
http://xiiro.com

Todd mailto:email@hidden
June 22, 2012 5:32 PM
OK, I setup a very basic live working demo using the FWP ‘Charcoal’
template and MODX. As soon as I setup Editor privileges in MODX I’ll
post a link so you can sign in and interact with it.

In short, integrating the two really is as easy as I thought. It does
require a lot of cache clearing in MODX to recognize FW-made changes
but other than it’s a snap.

Example template page: http://xiiro.com/demo/modx/

Todd
http://xiiro.com

Todd mailto:email@hidden
June 16, 2012 8:10 PM
They definitely target very different end goals. This guy illustrates
those differences very well http://tipsfor.us/?p=2694.

WP is first and foremost a blogging platform and excels at that on
most counts. No question. Very easy to get up and running quickly but
it was never conceived as a CMS despite being pressed into service as
one, and it shows.

MODX is designed to mange all sorts of content in a very scalable way.
It’s not a blog, that can edit content, it’s an entire MVC framework
that can be used for blogging and a lot more. It’s more hands-on, yes,
but ultimately far more flexible for a broader range of applications.

Like most things it depends on what you need and want. The fact that
MODX (might) fit in with FW is just the cherry on top. I use WP for a
client site and in many ways I like it for what it is, but as I’ve
said before, hacking templates is pure !#@% even if you know what
you’re doing.

Todd
http://xiiro.com

offtopic mailing list
email@hidden
Update your subscriptions at:
http://freewaytalk.net/person/options