Eelco and Rüdiger, Thanks for your responses. I must admit I was hoping to hear that others had solved similar problems with a more robust solution. I was starting to wonder if what I wanted to do was possible, and it sounds like it would be very difficult if even possible.
I've already designed the site with very clean and simple html with all layout/look/feel done in CSS. So going that direction will not be difficult, except that getting the client up to speed on CSS seems like a daunting task. If I was to allow the client to customize and upload new CSS files, how would you suggest this be done? Where would the CSS files be saved and how would the app know where to look for them? How would the override the CSS files that are within the WAR file? Also, as far as static content management goes, I'm thinking of putting all the static stuff into the properties files and using labels for it. Thus creating a very simple and cheap CMS. Then it would be simply a matter of editing the properties files and uploading them. But again, how would that work? What would I do so that the app would read the uploaded files instead of the ones in the WAR? Thanks again for the ideas. I'd still love to hear if anyone else has solved this problem in a different way. Tauren On 6/18/07, Eelco Hillenius <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I've thought about creating a simple CMS system for the "static" > > content in the html pages. But that really isn't in the scope of the > > project. Maybe it should be. I could extract all "static" content > > into properties files and use Labels all over, then have the app > > search for properties files somewhere external from the war on the web > > server. But neither of these will help if she wants to redesign the > > layout of the site and needs to edit the html/css. > > If I were in your shoes I would rely as much as possible on CSS for my > layout, and if I had enough time for it, I would try to provide a > couple of templates/ configurations (like a three column layout, a > layout with a head- and bottom banner, etc) so that parts of the > site's look can be changed without too much tinkering. Of course, she > would have to learn CSS, and it might be hard to convince her to do > that :) Otoh, if you do a good job with doing the layout with CSS, > she'll only be able to mess up the layout, never the business logic, > which is a completely different story compared to when you would have > delivered e.g. JSP or PHP templates. > > It is *not* a recommendation, but If your client has 'some' coding > skills, you could even consider using velocity panels. You can find > some examples of that in wicket-examples. > > The bottom line is, and I think many of us have been there before, > that promising your client a web site that he/ she can maintain > themselves is a slippery slope. In my experience, just being able to > do basic adjustements soon won't suffice, and before you know it, > you'll be developing a full fledged CMS system. Which of course will > get both and your client into trouble. But I think that if you keep > the focus and very clear limit the kind of adjustements that can be > done - like a choosing from couple of master templates and adjusting > CSS - you can make something very useful. > > My 2c, > > Eelco > > > > Basically, I need to be able to finish this project and walk away from > > it. I don't want to forever more be her "webmaster" whenever she > > wants little changes made to the site. > > > > How would you handle this? I'd love some ideas. > > > > Thanks, > > Tauren > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > This SF.net email is sponsored by DB2 Express > > Download DB2 Express C - the FREE version of DB2 express and take > > control of your XML. No limits. Just data. Click to get it now. > > http://sourceforge.net/powerbar/db2/ > > _______________________________________________ > > Wicket-user mailing list > > Wicket-user@lists.sourceforge.net > > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wicket-user > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > This SF.net email is sponsored by DB2 Express > Download DB2 Express C - the FREE version of DB2 express and take > control of your XML. No limits. Just data. Click to get it now. > http://sourceforge.net/powerbar/db2/ > _______________________________________________ > Wicket-user mailing list > Wicket-user@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wicket-user > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by DB2 Express Download DB2 Express C - the FREE version of DB2 express and take control of your XML. No limits. Just data. Click to get it now. http://sourceforge.net/powerbar/db2/ _______________________________________________ Wicket-user mailing list Wicket-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/wicket-user
