Content Managing Systems - any ideas??

[FoxRocks]

I've been looking through some of the available CMS in Fantastico and I'm not sure which one to use...anyone have any insight to share? I sure would appreciate it.

Thanks!!

~FOX~

[kobra]

Mambo is end of life and replaced with Joomla which is good and full featured and has a great support and module repository along with a robust community.

Drupal is also one that many like,

There are many others and I only suggest that you use fantastico for a evaluation install and if you decide on one that you get the distribution from the the site and do a manual install as this will assist in later upgrades and general management issues

[FoxRocks]

thank you for the reply, does your advice regarding a manual install go for everything in fantastico? I've got os commerce installed through fantastico and I now notice there is an update for it, but I don't know how to do it, and I'm worried about losing all of my store info.
As for CMS, I'm under the impression that I can use this type of software in order to allow my clients to update the content on their site...am I right? the only reason I ask is that I've installed Drupal on a trial basis now, but I don't really get how it works. I've used Macromedia (now Adobe) Contribute for that purpose in the past and I really liked it...it was super easy but it was only a trial period.

Thanks for the help,

~FOX~

[DeanClinton]

Try OpenSourceCMS.com - I know my fave [i'm biased] CMS is listed there (Etomite)

[kobra]

the only reason I ask is that I've installed Drupal on a trial basis now, but I don't really get how it works. I've used Macromedia (now Adobe) Contribute for that purpose in the past and I really liked it...it was super easy but it was only a trial period.

These CMS apps require some knowledge to setup and skin and a bit of php helps. But once setup and skinned the tools to manage content are all included and very simple to add change and publish and can be apportioned to different groups within an organization. Only simple html knowledge is required.
As most are php applications - there is not an economical way to use Dreamweaver or any WYSIWYG interface as the actual complete pages do not exist and are assembled server side(SSI) on the server from many parts and then transfered to the requester over the inet on the fly.

does your advice regarding a manual install go for everything in fantastico

Yes, and especially for the reason of upgrading as a fantastico install automates things like DB prefix, DB user, DB name, DB password and does not provide these for you to record so you have to know where these are in the script to be able to manage them. Do one manual upgrade to a fantastico install and it looses track of it and you can not manage from fantastico anymore.

here is an update for it, but I don't know how to do it, and I'm worried about losing all of my store info

Get "anal" and always backup files and the DB before you do any upgrade and a daily DB back on any busy site.

[FoxRocks]

Thanks Dean and Kobra for the replies, very helpful! I'm going to try and set up a database as I've never done this before, then I'll go with the fresh install of os commerce. I should just be able to copy my backed up files over the new install and have all my settings back to normal, right? I guess it's not a huge loss as it's only a trial commerce site right now anyways.

Thanks again guys,

~FOX~

[kobra]

I should just be able to copy my backed up files over the new install and have all my settings back to normal, right? I guess it's not a huge loss as it's only a trial commerce site right now anyways.

If you relocate the directory this is in or the FQDN then this will have to be edited in the current configure.php files to reflect the change and the new DB name, user, and pass.

As an aside: OSC is near end of life and has not had a core upgrade in ??? long even though they keep promising one.

Zen Cart on the other hand is current and being robustly developed and more like CRE Loaded (OSC with many Modules added) and Open Source

PM me if you want assistance with installing this (Zen Cart).

[FoxRocks]

excellent, I'll keep that in mind!

Thanks a million!

~FOX~

[FoxRocks]

Ok I've gone ahead and downloaded the Zencart software. It tells me how to install it, so that should be good, but it's the database that I need help with. I've gone to my cpanel and added a new DB and added my username to the DB, but I'm not sure where to go from there.

Thank you,

~FOX~

[Huaren]

Joomla! we have a team work on this system, it's awsome, very easy to use and customize