I have a project and to be honest, I am a little out of my comfort zone. So I thought making the right decisions from the start would be a good idea, and I am hoping I can get some ideas from the forum.

 

The project:

• 
   
  
• 12 page website
  
• Including client editable areas
  
• being able to upload images and related data, that then appears on the products page (without writing over any current items)
  
• a simple search
  

 

My initial solutions are:

• 
   
  
• xhtml with external CSS style sheets
  
• 'Cushycms' for client interaction or concrete5-cms or MODx-cms (all cms apart from Cushy would need to be learnt from scratch).
  
• Insert some kind of simple search (free or commercial (but cheap)) – yet to research this.
  
• I have a mysql databse ready to go
  

 

I want to make sure I am heading down the right path before I start the design process next week.

 

Thanks in advance for any pointers

 

Cass

I'd suggest making your own theme for your chosen CMS.

I personally find it's easier that way than trying to implement parts of a CMS into an already made website

 

PS. Not sure if you already had this planned, I just thought I'd mention it since you put XHTML & CSS separate to the CMS point!

I'd suggest making your own theme for your chosen CMS.

I personally find it's easier that way than trying to implement parts of a CMS into an already made website

 

PS. Not sure if you already had this planned, I just thought I'd mention it since you put XHTML & CSS separate to the CMS point!

 

 

Hi Andy,

 

I guess I put them on the list separately becuase that is the order I imagine I will do them. Hand write the code and the css them import it into the cms, making it a theme or a template (difference escapes me). Activate it as a theme in the cms and away I go – terrified really, as all this is conjecture on my part!

Hi Andy,

 

I guess I put them on the list separately becuase that is the order I imagine I will do them. Hand wrtie the code and the css them import it into the cms, making it a theme or a template (difference escapes me). Activate it as a theme in the cms and away I go – terrified really, as all this is conjecture on my part!

 

Fair enough; I didn't want to see you create a complex template then realise you needed to integrate it to the theme files later on!

I was hoping someone would suggest a search add-on/plug-in or discuss in some way what might be a good or better approach. Hell even a link to a tutorial or related article would have been great.

 

So only Andy answered, thanks to Andy but otherwise it has been a bust!

 

I will just have to get on with it.

Well, a search function is included in most CMS', so that's your first worry out of the way.

You'd need some form of shopping system on the website - I certainly know Topshopper runs a small company(?) which sells this sort of system in a seemingly simple form (a good thing in my opinion), perhaps try that out, otherwise there's plenty available I'm sure.

 

As long as you're comfortable with XHTML & CSS, making a theme for a CMS should be revision for you, with perhaps some new code (PHP) mixed in which you can usually ignore (or move around) if you're just theming.

 

It's a shame no-one else has replied, but I've done my best.

It's a shame no-one else has replied, but I've done my best.

 

 

Dear Andy,

Thanks for replying and you did do your best and I honestly do appreciate it.

 

bye for now

 

Cass