CMS software

[TreasureChest]

Anyone evaluated any CMS software? Portal software? If so, any with forum/blog built in? Database backend?

Looking at artisteer for CSS templates and quickersite for CMS backend using .NET.
I have not used wordpress but i assume wordpress.com is not the way to go if you want to change themes.

[Players Luck - Jamie]

Anyone evaluated any CMS software? If so, any with forum/blog built in?

I found Joomla to have everything you need, Depending what you want the forum software to do.

[casinojack]

forums, i use phpbb, but wordpress for CMS now...used to be Joomla

[Betpartners]

i used to use e107 but now a wordpress devotee, theres also mambo that is supposed to be good.

[Doolally]

I've tried a few and personally think that if it's a blog and not much else then Wordpress is the way to go. If you want something bigger you can add things onto Joomla is my favourite and it's well supported too.

[TreasureChest]

I've tried a few and personally think that if it's a blog and not much else then Wordpress is the way to go. If you want something bigger you can add things onto Joomla is my favourite and it's well supported too.

I was looking at Artisteer and together with Joomla or Quickersite, the possibilities of creating many sites pulling off of 1 database is then possible... forum and blog included. I talked to a developer and he has 200 different sites running off 1 database.

Just hate to create many sites by hand. There has to be easier way.
Anyone want to help or sponsor development of this CMS database system?

[casinojack]

you can also do with wordpress my friend

[TreasureChest]

you can also do with wordpress my friend

So, being a newbie with wordpress, now that i got by the blogger system reasonably quick, how can you update multiple sites (multiple layouts) at once... and I do not mean posts only... Sending email post is a bit primitive don't you think? Can wordpress take the place of a distributed DB? Can you install wordpress on a host and run multiple sites off 1 install?

[casinojack]

depending on exact needs, i use wordpress MU with a few tricks / addons...but yeah, email works also of course.

If you mean take a post, spin it so each one is unique content, and post in 400 blogs, that is out there also, but for that i use the old email method...

what else u need it to do? i can throw out more utils...

[TreasureChest]

depending on exact needs, i use wordpress MU with a few tricks / addons...but yeah, email works also of course.

If you mean take a post, spin it so each one is unique content, and post in 400 blogs, that is out there also, but for that i use the old email method...

what else u need it to do? i can throw out more utils...

So 1 install of wordpress then setup multiple sites off it is the way to go?
email post should be ok but how is the static stuff setup?
Got to get up to speed on wordpress i guess starting with installation.

[EarnReal_Luis]

For CMS I will say Joomla 1.5 for sure and for free forum phpbb3, if you want more features on your forum then Vbulletin will be a good choice however it is more complex to manage than phpbb3.

I started a forum about 2 years ago and I did it with phpbb3 which a year after wasn’t good enough to manage all the things I wanted to do as far as banners and other advertising tools, also the migration from phpbb3 to Vb was a nightmare almost 2 weeks fulltime fixing all the "little" bugs

[vmlinuz]

I use SMF (simplemachines.org) for all of our forums, and my own CMS using the forum's user management system for logging in/registering.
Just recently I've started to experiment with Wordpress as a CMS and I'm building my second Wordpress based site. If you are a programmer, Wordpress has a really great and quite well documented API. When I last tried Joomla, it looked too complicated and had almost no API documentation available. That's probably changed by now but won't make me try it again

[vmlinuz]

wasn’t good enough to manage all the things I wanted to do as far as banners and other advertising tools

My oppinion is this: if you want something to work exactly like you want you have to write your own code either as a plugin or hack the original source. The best thing about open-source stuff

[EricEricEric]

Try Drupal. I hear that the navigation pyramid is great for enhanced SEO. Gary Beal has also mentioned this in an article i read. There's also a lot of helpful information in drupal forums that can answer any questions. I had a pretty easy time with initial set up. Drupal is based upon a module and block system. You add modules for different features you want to incorporate on the site, rss, google adwords, etc... All you'll need a linux server. Great CMS give it a try along with Wordpress.

[TreasureChest]

Has anyone tried flash? I have not seen anyone with flash portal but I have seen a few games portals in flash. Google indexes flash now so that is not a hangup anymore. There is flash portal software out there that I am checking out. Take a look at http://www.flashportaldesigns.com/fl...type/8708.html and tell me what you think. I have been also looking at embedding flash photo gallery software in existing site but i don't know if you can add to wordpress.

All of the portal sites are all the same... no creative imagination or have i not seen the ones who are original, creative, use the latest design and techniques to make a good customer experience? Where are they?

[vmlinuz]

I think Flash shouldn't be used to create a website. Even if Google indexes I doubt that he can make a difference between text types, like in HTML (where you have title, p, h1, h2, etc tags to separate content). Another disadvanted is that it won't work in a text-based browser (for example mobile devices) and on low resolutions. It's also rendered and loaded slower. Users can't control the way links are opened (new tab, new window, same window), it's all done by the Flash plugin.
Flash should be used for logos, banners, embedded content, but not for the whole site.

All of the portal sites are all the same... no creative imagination or have i not seen the ones who are original, creative, use the latest design and techniques to make a good customer experience? Where are they?

It depends on who builds the site. I think most CMS software are customizable (Wordpress sure is). You can completely change the look and layout if you put some effort into it.

[shadofpoker]

In my opinion joomla is the best. Many componenet and easy to redesigne templates.

[TreasureChest]

I think Flash shouldn't be used to create a website. Even if Google indexes I doubt that he can make a difference between text types, like in HTML (where you have title, p, h1, h2, etc tags to separate content). Another disadvanted is that it won't work in a text-based browser (for example mobile devices) and on low resolutions. It's also rendered and loaded slower. Users can't control the way links are opened (new tab, new window, same window), it's all done by the Flash plugin.
Flash should be used for logos, banners, embedded content, but not for the whole site.


It depends on who builds the site. I think most CMS software are customizable (Wordpress sure is). You can completely change the look and layout if you put some effort into it.

Good point... Flash embedded html site sounds like the way to go. Thanks all for comments.