Thread: CMS solutions - so many to choose from

Originally Posted by Forbairt

Here is their Commercial License

Where did you get that info that you can run multiple sites or am I again showing my poor engrish ?

If that was the case wouldn't hosting companies just buy 1 license for their super duper server and away they go with their happy customers

Sorry I should have been more clear. You are correct you do need to purchase more licences but each additional site lincense is discounted. You can run more websites from the same install though with the multisite extension.

I think the license is different though if they are your own websites. Which is how they prevent companies from buying 1 copy and using it on all client sites.

I have been using Joomla 1.5 for sometime now and don't have any problems with it.

Once you learn how to edit templates its a simple CMS program to use.

Joomla also has an Ecommerce module (Can't remember the name of it) and a very good forum module called FireBoard

I have installed Joomla on Windows and Unix servers and it never let me down.

Once the site is created it is very easy to add articles and have them time stamped so they only apper on a set date.

Take another look at Joomla, You might find what you are looking for.

Joomla!

Here is a list of the extentions for Joomla

Joomla! Extensions Directory

Originally Posted by neweb

I have been using Joomla 1.5 for sometime now and don't have any problems with it.

Can it easily handle multiple level content yet ?

Parent -> Child -> Sub Child -> Sub Sub -> Sub Sub Sub ... and so on ?

Interesting. I've been testing out a local copy of Joomla on my PC. I like the way it handles stuff like forums. But I'm not quite happy with the front-page layout. What I'm looking for is more like a 'blog style' front-page layout, similar to Wordpress for example. Is it possible to customise the layout via templates or add-on modules to make it more blog like?

Do a search for Joomla Templates ? (there are lots out there ... all able to do what you want)

Can it easily handle multiple level content yet ?
Parent -> Child -> Sub Child -> Sub Sub -> Sub Sub Sub ... and so on ?

You can have a section with multiple catagories

Then you can create a menus with as many sub or child catagories as you like.

For example
Section: services
Catagories: Design/Hosting/Domains/Compatability and so on

Then you can create pages
(Section)Services/(Catagory) Design/ (Page) new design
(Section)Services/(Catagory) Design/ (Page) Existing site
(Section)Services/(Catagory) Design/ (Page) Micro site

You can then create your menus like so

Design
New Design
Quote page
Existing Design
Quote Page
Micro Site
Quote Page

(there not appering on the forum as they should)
you can go as deep as you like on the menus.

I like the way it handles stuff like forums. But I'm not quite happy with the front-page layout. What I'm looking for is more like a 'blog style' front-page layout, similar to Wordpress for example. Is it possible to customise the layout via templates or add-on modules to make it more blog like?

Very simple
you jsut tell it how you want the front page to look.
First article appers in 1 colum
the rest in two colums (or set it to 1 to get the word press look)

Editing is very easy once you know your way around. You can even add your own boxes to apper on a spicific page.

I have created a site (Still a work in progress) where there is a different color for each SECTION.

Clicking on sofas the background is blue, on tables its cream
Very easy to do.

I have created about 5 different custom templates that I offer to my clients. They can then pick 1 and install it or have it customized to what they want (that's more money for me )

Originally Posted by Forbairt

Can it easily handle multiple level content yet ?

Parent -> Child -> Sub Child -> Sub Sub -> Sub Sub Sub ... and so on ?

LOL nope, yet it seems to be the point of friction for most who have abandoned it. It will probably take another 2-3 years before a system like that is implemented in its core and if you ask me the difficulty lies in the framework of Joomla - Its absurd.

Originally Posted by neweb

You can have a section with multiple catagories

Then you can create a menus with as many sub or child catagories as you like.

For example
Section: services
Catagories: Design/Hosting/Domains/Compatability and so on

Then you can create pages
(Section)Services/(Catagory) Design/ (Page) new design
(Section)Services/(Catagory) Design/ (Page) Existing site
(Section)Services/(Catagory) Design/ (Page) Micro site

You can then create your menus like so

What if you want to put something under two categories? It is my understanding that you can only place an item under one category at a time.

This might have changed in 1.5, I've not used it extensively though.

You should be able to change your front page layout in Joomla.

You can use different templates for different sections of Joomla.


From memory though you have to do something totally rudimentry just to edit the front page layout.

From memory you go into the main_menu and edit your home page link and you have access to your front page layout there.

Thanks neweb ... its as I suspected so ... its still the same

I came across a module or whatever you kids are calling them these days ... and it would do what I wanted but it was a 1.0x only module / component

Also it was extremely convoluted ...

I don't like having to install extras to do something I consider to be rather basic ...

Originally Posted by gav240z

LOL nope, yet it seems to be the point of friction for most who have abandoned it. It will probably take another 2-3 years before a system like that is implemented in its core and if you ask me the difficulty lies in the framework of Joomla - Its absurd.

Yep Its why I'm against it ... and why I'll never praise it ... so simple one would think one were going crazy cus one couldn't figure out how to do it ... I guess its a reason I love cmsmadesimple so much