Hello fellow web designers

 

OK I have just been given a brief from a client who requires their existing XHTML website to be converted to a full Wordpress powered website. They insist on Wordpress, so there is no other CMS I can use to achieve what I am about to explain.

 

I'm going to try and keep the points brief, and if more explanation is needed just let me know. But I really do need some advice on some of these points and which direction to take with each. I am aware that Wordpress is probably not the best CMS for this project, but that's pretty much out of my control, however if there are any points that you don't think can be achieved using Wordpress then just let me know.

 

I have never built an entire website using Wordpress, so this will definitely be a case of me learning as I develop. So some advice will help so much as I am looking forward to a challenge

 

- The client wants to pretty much edit everything within the website, this includes images and text in the obvious elements of the page (main content areas, logo, footer)

 

- They need a login system on the website which allows users to either register or sign in, which then allows them to access certain pages within the website unavailable to those that are not registered. Will it be possible on Wordpress to allow users to sign up? If so, how?

 

- On one of the pages will be a 'content tree', where the admin must be able to edit the information within that tree

 

- Once the user is logged in, the client wants them to be directed to a completely different template. I assume you can assign different templates to certain pages in Wordpress?

 

- There needs to be a way that the users can fill out a form which gets sent to the admin, where the admin is able to add 'points' to that particular user's account. This is one of the requests I am unsure about, and wonder how I would even go about doing that with Wordpress

 

- The admin needs to have the ability to edit any user's points whenever they can

 

- Is there any way to intergrate Support Suite (by Kayako) within Wordpress? Or even better, a way to link the user's account on the site with a Support Suite account? Not as important as the other points, but would be a bonus if possible.

 

- Any forms that I use for the Wordpress powered website, will they allow the admin to edit their fields?

 

Thanks

Sounds like what he really wants is BuddyPress - http://buddypress.org/ - it's based on WordPress so I don't think he'd have any problems if you were to go that route.

whats the differnce between wordpress and buddy press?

whats the differnce between wordpress and buddy press?

 

BuddyPress is a kind of social network platform, based off of Wordpress.

Buddy Press looks like it would be perfect for the functions he wants. I will look into that in more detail over the next few days.

 

Only thing that I am concern about with BuddyPress is that it might be too advanced for what I need. At a first glance it seems to be more suited for a solely social networking site whereas I only require it for a particular section of the site. Is it completely separate from Wordpress or a sort of 'add-on'?

 

EDIT - If it is separate from Wordpress, and requires different logins then this is not the solution. Very strict client and insists on Wordpress only any advice on the other points?

 

Another thing that's just crossed my mind...when developing a site using Wordpress only, how are you able to make other elements on the page editable for the client? There's the obvious main content/blog style editing but is there not a way to make other elements (e.g. the footer) editable?

 

Thanks

Can anyone shed some light on this? Still unsure how exactly I will be able to achieve the points system he wants.