Razormedia CMS - Boardroom Project

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Razormedia CMS - Boardroom Project

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This thread is for ideas, updates and suggestions to improve the CMS for the boardrooms first project.


The initial files are available here.

The CMS can be viewed here.

The PHP code is very simplistic and at the moment is not commented, I will get round to this in the next few days.

The database used is a MYSQL database. The table currently has two fields, these are:

• pnumber - integer (3 digits long - primary key auto incrementer)
• ptext - text

The SQL to set up the database table is:

Code:

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CREATE TABLE cms (
  pnumber int(3) NOT NULL auto_increment,
  ptext text,
  PRIMARY KEY  (pnumber)
) TYPE=MyISAM;

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Currently, there are 5 options, you can:

[list=1][*]Add an item[*]Edit an item[*]View an item[*]Delete an item[*]Upload a file[/list=1]

Obviously, this is quite limited in what we can do. We are simply adding a text item into the database, be it html or simpy raw text. This can be output as a text string which flash could read and parse.

So where do we go now, what features should be added / deleted / edited?

Comments appreciated, as are bugs found etc (I'm new at PHP).

hi razor,

thanks for posting this! Sure we can make something out of it. Just a thought though - shouldn't this thread be in the server-side board?

hope the files become available again soon :)

cheers - n.

Boardroom project... boardroom project... boardroom project!!!!;)

Some quick points:

- updating text seems to work fine - I guess that's been fixed

- inserting images is a bit tricky (you need to know HTML, remember the filename, 'know' the upload path and (if this updates a site) guess which text item to put the img tag in)

- for client use, in my opinion, it's too close to the concept of the Flash text file format. there's no real need to show variable names for instance + pictures need to be made more automated

BUT

it's also nice and easy to use, clearly set out - doesn't offer a bewildering amount of choices or anything.

not trying to come across as really critical, just some thoughts that I had while looking at it :)

- n.

thanks enemem. I want to keep this in the boardroom because I see it as a collaboration of us all to create a useful yet open source tool that we can give to our clients.

I started this off as simple as possible to get opinions on improvements (and yours are very much appreciated), this is by no means the cms that we should be using, it is merely a foundation for commencement of a succesful cms package.

anyone else care to comment before we decide on the next course of action ?

is it supposed to echo &text7 next to each entry or is that there as a place holder for title type text? or is that a bug?

Quote:

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Originally posted by serpent star
is it supposed to echo &text7 next to each entry or is that there as a place holder for title type text? or is that a bug?

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its a bug, I'll kill it.

Quote:

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Originally posted by RazoRmedia
thanks enemem. I want to keep this in the boardroom because I see it as a collaboration of us all to create a useful yet open source tool that we can give to our clients.

I started this off as simple as possible to get opinions on improvements (and yours are very much appreciated), this is by no means the cms that we should be using, it is merely a foundation for commencement of a succesful cms package.

anyone else care to comment before we decide on the next course of action ?

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yeah, cool. that's how I meant my comments too, just some ideas for the future :)

oh - any idea when the source files might become available again?

thanks again for this - n.

files are back there

Shame these can't be executed offline. They're simple enough for clients, so that's a good start.

Quote:

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Originally posted by phantomflanflinger
Shame these can't be executed offline. They're simple enough for clients, so that's a good start.

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hmmm, you mean like a desktop version where the client makes the changes and then simply a 'make it live' button which automatically ftp's the lot to a live server?

I think clients should not have to bridge the gap of online offline. I wouldn't want them to even have to conceptualize uploading. I like enter content, click submit. Also, I think a little button work might be in order on the interface. Tastefull but still big and click me like... useability is the only factor when it comes to client controlled CMS IMO.

right, finally managed to download + have a look :)

two points straight off:

- password protection: wouldn't it make more sense just to restrict access to the whole lot using .htaccess (saves you a lot of hassle)

- depending on security settings, from php 4 upwards variables submitted by the form might not be available automatically to the php script. there are 2 arrays: $_POST and $_GET you should use to access them instead:

$_GET['fieldname']
$_POST['fieldname']

etc.

not sure that will help but just a thought :)

how are we going to handle all this? this way, you will end up doing all the hard work razor :D

- n.

Quote:

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Originally posted by thodya
Sorry...a CMS is what? I'm going to take a stab and guess content management system?

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yeah :)

updating text seems to work fine - I guess that's been fixed
it was never broken!?

inserting images is a bit tricky (you need to know HTML, remember the filename, 'know' the upload path and (if this updates a site) guess which text item to put the img tag in)
Yes, I know, I think we need to plan the whole image placement carefully so that as well as being simple enough for the client to use, it is very useable. I'll have a think about this.

for client use, in my opinion, it's too close to the concept of the Flash text file format. there's no real need to show variable names for instance + pictures need to be made more automated
I completely agree

how are we going to handle all this? this way, you will end up doing all the hard work razor :D
At every point we make a change, the zip file will be updated so that at any point, the content is available to all. I think we'll each find who is good at what as we progress and delegate work to each other.

password protection: wouldn't it make more sense just to restrict access to the whole lot using .htaccess (saves you a lot of hassle)
Yes, it would, I haven't even thought of security, I'll sort this in the next few days

depending on security settings, from php 4 upwards variables submitted by the form might not be available automatically to the php script. there are 2 arrays: $_POST and $_GET you should use to access them instead:

$_GET['fieldname']
$_POST['fieldname']
I have come across this but never used it, can you point me to a better source of information

Quote:

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Originally posted by RazoRmedia
hmmm, you mean like a desktop version where the client makes the changes and then simply a 'make it live' button which automatically ftp's the lot to a live server?

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Nay lad, I mean it's s shame I can't execute your files offline because they're PHP. No matter, I've got DW MX, I can simulate a server and execute them.

FrontPage is a desktop version! I reckon Clients would like to be able to edit their sites whereever they are, hence I think an on-Web interface would be best. If they HAVE to be at their PCs, it limits it.

Quote:

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Originally posted by phantomflanflinger
...FrontPage is a desktop version! I reckon Clients would like to be able to edit their sites whereever they are, hence I think an on-Web interface would be best.

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I'm looking at the perspective of a number of my clients who have absolutely no knowledge of the web at all, let alone HTML, the kind of people that shouldn't be allowed on a computer.

if I can send them to a web page and let them update a site without getting confused or destroying something, I will be a very happy man. I want useability but I also want foolproofedness (if there is such a word).

just caught up with this thread...

great idea guys, we have developed smaller scales of such systems for clients... but to be able to take something as broad as this and modify it for individual use would be great.

My suggestion, based on my experience, would be (and im sure most of this is coming anyway)...

1. Have the main page (after first log in) display a list of the different "pages" to be edited... by recognizable names. Each page would then have the editing options already developed.

2. Now addressing the picture problem... in the "add picture" section of editing, each picture on the page could be displayed with the option to "replace". That way, the user could see exactly where their new picture will go. I think if we, the designers, develop the initial layout, with original placement of pictures... that gives the clients enough room to change those pictures without messing up placement of content. (also set dimensions of the picture, so the user can't screw it up that way).

If the user would like "additional" pictures, I think it would be suitable for them to contact us initially, have us add the picture to the layout the first time around. Then if they ever wanted to change the pic they could do it using the system.

Hope that explanation makes any sense at all

this is interesting, at the moment we're putting together a simple CMS system for a client who wants to generate their own newsletters and send them out on various mailing lists.

we've just started on this project and it will be template based rather than a broad multipurpose system but many of the same problems and solutions will apply.

are you thinking of doing any text formatting within the input fields? I have spent today developing a rough system using javascript and CSS that emulates the sort of formatting you can do in posts at flashkit but utilising the IE only "document.selection.createRange().text" to allow the user to highlight portions of the text and apply formatting that way.

I'm not big on the back end system, my partner takes care of that side of things, but I'm pretty good with the front end.

I've got an upload script I hashed together for a site a while back, if you'd like to see it. Rather than have clients use FTP, just use this upload script. It can't delete files, but it does check the file extension, type and file size :)

M