Hi Elizabeth
The concept behind Contribute is that the designers/coders create the
pages and place special codes within some portions of the HTML for
others to write into, but not break the hopefully compliant code
created. Contribute sees the code and only allows the writer to edit
the boxes that are unlocked. Unfortunately they will also be exposed
to code and may accidentally break the page as well. And the creation
of new items is not permitted, more about editing existing content...
The idea is to separate the content providers from the code, which is
exemplary but the execution is misguided. What organisations
generally need is not the ability to edit existing pages but to make
new content available in a simple way. This is where a CMS comes in.
I recommend it would be a far better exercise for you to find a
reputable consultant to install a very simple CMS for them, after
extensive discussions to discover exactly the kind of content they
need to provide, and to also suggest improved types of content they
didn't know they could provide.
The CMS, if installed properly, would give them the freedom to
express themselves fully without messing round in the, frankly,
expert terrain of standards compliant code creation. Contribute, like
it's parent Dreamweaver, is not standards compliant per se, it is
only a tool that can assist you in making standards compliant code.
You made an interesting point in that they have a convenient means to
update the pages already - build on that and let them keep the
convenience, but in a different environment. Understand what is
convenient about the current method and ensure the proposed
improvement retains a similar convenience.
As for the CMS to recommend? I would want to perform the consultancy
first as you need to know what they need to do, want to do and are
able to do before hand but it could be anything from the very simple
wordPress to something incredibly complex and powerful like Drupal or
ExpressionEngine, all of which, in the right hands when installed and
templated, can provide compliant code.
You could even find a way to create something bespoke (my personal
preference) using a framework or some good coders.
Joe
On Mar 1 2008, at 22:08, Elizabeth Spiegel wrote:
Hi all
I'm working to replace a horribly non-compliant website with a
standards-compliant one for a non-profit organisation. The people who
currently manage the site are a bit worried about moving away from
their
current host (who insists on the horrible template) because they
find their
current updating procedure convenient (it doesn't require any coding
knowledge).
I understand that Contribute would allow them to make changes to
content
without messing with the coding/navigation. Does anyone have
experience
with this product? Is it possible/easy to set up to maintain
standards-compliance?
Elizabeth Spiegel
Web editing
0409 986 158
GPO Box 729, Hobart TAS 7001
www.spiegelweb.com.au
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