9 replies to this topic

[magicboxgifts]

Hi guys

I now have a rigid template that I do not wish to change and I wish to incorporate a type of content management system but need a pointer on which way to go.

Is it possible for me to link my current pages to MySQL/PHP type interfaces or is there a simpler way. It is only the following that would be updated regular and I currently have to update each page if I change 1 thing...

1 the images for hot products (most visited, database driven I would expect)
2 the centre content of the pages (no changes to the menu, navigation etc)
3 new links updates etc in our directory

I have studio MX is ultra dev of any use (or is there a much easier way so I do not have to pay £££ to my developer )

Thanks

[Randy]

html pages will not be able to link to a database unless you change your server settings to allow some type of server side parsing.

It gets a little bit convoluted to explain it all in detail, but if your host allows you to have .html pages parsed by your PHP engine or ASP engine, or even .shtml it shouldn't be too difficult to do what you're wanting to do.

The first thing to find out is if your host will allow .html files will be allowed to be pre-processed by the server. So ask them if they allow it and which server side scripting languages they support. We can then go from there.

[magicboxgifts]

Hi Randy

thanks for that.

The page format has been duplicated (ie external pages are built in html and php just waiting to make the switch as I am aware of the parsing requirements) they both have identical content but I am wondering what step to take next, convert to php and add a content area

This really is a dark alley for me

If I save all the pages as php, would I then be able to add an area that can be updated via a database/cms?

The content update is the priority with the hot product type scenario second to this.

We run of apache servers via a very good uk host whom have confirmed that I have high level access if required (what ever that means???)


Thanks

[Raphael]

Like Randy said, it's difficult to really advice without knowing any more details, but it sounds like you have the infrastructure to be able to enable dynamically delivered content on your website - Any good developer worth his or her salt will be able to a) tell your hosting company what they need to do (if anything) and make the necessary code changes to your pages.

If your hosting company are worth their salt, you *won't* have to change your .html pages to be .php, however there will be some code changes *inside* each .html page, but I'd leave that to the developer.

The updates that you're talking about don't appear to be terrifically complicated. The backend/management system of a CMS is always the hardest to write anyway. I'd advise going with a developer than can custom-write a content management system from scratch for you, simply because the two things you mentioned are fairly trivial to code and most off-the-shelf CMSs are going to require you to make significant changes to your site.

I think I'd have to say sorry, but the fact that you have Dreamweaver MX is semi-irrelevant, because DW won't code PHP for you.

My advice to you would be:

1) Find a competent freelance developer and explain your situation to him or her.
2) Have the developer contact your hosting company and see what (if any) changes need to be made to your account.
3) Sit back and let the developer do their thing.

[magicboxgifts]

Thanks for the input Raphael

I am wondering if I can use PHP to display/control content without having to touch the outer template on all our pages with each update (except the shop as this is controlled via database pre-written)

I have spoken to the host and no changes on the servers are required it is just coding work at our end.

Just A couple more questions (and hopefully a little more detail for you)

Is it possible for us to code sections of our pages in PHP to pull up results of a query (say most visited item and display an image/text) from our database but also use php to display content that can be updated outside of the template (ie in a word type document) in an editable region.

These results would be displayed in a table/cell defined by our css?

Or have I got PHP wrong (you might spot that I am not keen on CMS re-write)

Thanks again

[Randy]

I am wondering if I can use PHP to display/control content without having to touch the outer template on all our pages with each update (except the shop as this is controlled via database pre-written)

Certainly ! That's one of the really nice things about using server side scripting. Plus, you've got options on how to do it, depending upon your individual needs. You can have the template in your php code --without the content actually showing in the code-- and pull that in dynamically via an include statement or a MySQL query, or you can do it the other way around where the content appears in the code and you include the template bits and pieces. Or you can modularize the whole thing. To any extent you want.

Literally, I have several thousand pages on various sites where if you looked at the code in the file it wouldread something like:

• A php include that pulls the top section of the template into the page.
  
• A MySQL query statement to retireve and pull the content into the page.
  
• a php include that pulls the bottom section of the template into the page.

Maybe 15-20 lines of code per physical page. And they can all be dynamic too if I want them to be.

Is it possible for us to code sections of our pages in PHP to pull up results of a query (say most visited item and display an image/text) from our database

Sure, as long as that hit data is saved to the database somewhere. Piece of cake.

but also use php to display content that can be updated outside of the template (ie in a word type document) in an editable region.

Yup. That's the way is should be done IMO.

These results would be displayed in a table/cell defined by our css?

You can display it anywhere you decide to. And it will inherit your CSS since the end result is simple html code.

[magicboxgifts]

Cheers Randy

you are a star

This clarifies in my mind that it is the way to go and I shall began the task immediately.

Have a brief understanding of PHP so taking that on a level (or 2) shouldn't be too testing ( )

I will keep you posted with progress and no doubt shout if I get stuck?!

Thanks a million
Daren

[magicboxgifts]

Had a crack at that today Randy and it seems quite a nice little time saver

Still unsure whether to go php content or template but at least I can now work it either way (probably best to php the content as that is modified more often than the template)

Am I right in assuming that once completed (which ever way I go re. above) that as the content is displayed there will be no differential impact on SEO as regard a static HTML page?

(modulize the whole page? tried that with an include for temp & content but struggled on layout even with my .css )

Thanks
Daren

[Randy]

Am I right in assuming that once completed (which ever way I go re. above) that as the content is displayed there will be no differential impact on SEO as regard a static HTML page?

Yup, that's part of the beauty of server side scripting.

All the search engines see is plain old HTML output, just as they would with a static page. They never even see the underlying code since that's parsed by the server before it is delivered.

And just think... Two years down the road when you want to completely overhaul the site's design, but keep the content the same, you'll be changing just a few files instead of hundreds or thousands.

[Raphael]

Randy answered before I got to see this, but I totally agree with everything said =)