CMS and framesets

[SFAA]

Hello CMS made simple (and community )

For a client i have made a website that uses a rather extensive , it was the only way i knew how to realise the
clients design . Now the client would like to implement a CMS (which i am all for, as it takes the updating outof my hands),
as i am unexperienced with .php i asked somebody who says he knows enough to implement a CMS.

This person tells me it is not posible to implement a CMS as my site uses a index with a frameset, is this true ? 

If this isnt true, then what is the trick (if there is one) to make it work ?

Tnx for taking the time to read my question, any answers would be much appreciated...
with kind regards,
SFAA

[tyman00]

It's possible, but won't be optimal. Honestly I can't see any situation anymore where framesets would be a better solution than a standard page layout... especially with the dynamic templating and menus that CMSMS offers.

[SFAA]

than a standard page layout...

i think you nailed my 'problem' right there.. ...as the client has very specific wishes about the designlayout ... but now i have 1 person saying it can be done (tho not optimal) and another that claims it cant be done...

Hopefully some more ppl can shed some light on this

Ps. @Admin, tnx for the switch into the layout/design part of the forum, as i myself had clasified it as a general question about CMS use,
i had put it in general

[tyman00]

Here is why it is not "optimal" but possible.

For example sake lets say you have 3 frames in your frameset. Header, left navigation, main.

Create one main template. This template houses all of your frameset information. Next create 3 other templates. One for each section (header, nav, main).

Create your homepage and set it as default. Set this page to use your main frameset template.
A. Next create a main page and attach the main template to it. This will be the default content that loads in that frame when your site is accessed.
B. Next create a header page and attach the header template to it.
C. Next create a navigation page and attach the navigation template to it. You will need to modify your Menu Manager template as well to call the correct frame when an item is clicked on.

Any additional pages that are created should have the main template attached to it.

Go back into your main frameset template and have each frame src point to the correct pages that were created in steps A, B and C above. You are most definitely going to have fun ensuring the proper targets are called (especially in your menu).


Now, you can do all of that work above or you can convince your customer not to use frames and design the site the right way. Tell them Frames are old technology and not very useful in this situation. Plus they aren't the most reliable for usability, format, updating and SEO.


Edit: I moved the thread because I figured it would move more in the direction of Templating and Layouts.

[SFAA]

Hmm sounds like alot of tinkering ... My page has 10 frames 

I just wanna give my client the option to edit tekst on the main-page and edit some pictures;
Cant i just install the cms on the main pages and load them in my frames index? The menus
in the frames can then use the simple tag outside the CMS..
If need be a login on every page? Or is that to simple? 

[tyman00]

You could do it like that, just seems like a major waste of a good system to me

[Dr.CSS]

So you don't want to have to make all the changes to the site so you think you will set this up and hand it off to your client, only problem I see is that if they add another page you are going to have to edit the templates/iframes to add the new page...

This system is not really made for that old way of making sites, I'm sure there is a way to do the design so there would be no need to use frames but you may not know how to do it so your trying to get us to tell you how to change this system to accommodate something you don't know how to do, best bet is if you want to use iframes is to just keep doing as you were before...

[SFAA]

1. So you don't want to have to make all the changes to the site so you think you will set this up and hand it off to your client, only problem I see is that if they add another page you are going to have to edit the templates/iframes to add the new page...
2. This system is not really made for that old way of making sites,
3. I'm sure there is a way to do the design so there would be no need to use frames but you may not know how to do it
4. so your trying to get us to tell you how to change this system to accommodate something you don't know how to do,
5. best bet is if you want to use iframes is to just keep doing as you were before...

add 1. Well obviously i would like to keep the design as is, so i dont have to do the work again (incl. learning to do it the CMS way)
add 2. Personally i see great benefits of the use of frames, and i dont realy understand why it is deemed to be 'old'  :-\
add 3. There might well be, and this is obviously the case, else it would have been using a CMS allready  ;)
add 4. No (hence my original post in general), i want to know IF it can be done, and how/what is needed to make it work for any
        CMS out there, befor i start investing alot of time and effort, to learn/study for something that can't be done...
add 5. Hmmmmmmm  :-\

Well i been helped alot allready, as i understand it now, it can be done, but using an off the shelve CMS system is not realy suited for this
purpose and will need modification; If i would have the knowledge to make it, i would be best of to build it from the ground up, where it
mostlikely will only be suited for this particular client ... Tnx alot for this enlightenment

[tyman00]

I'd still like to see the site/layout in question to see why a frameless page can't be used.

[SFAA]

Check your PM and have a look see 

[SFAA]

Tnx again Tyman00 and Mark aswell for your quick and helpfull responses, looks like ill have to study a bit to get it to work,
nothing im afraid of ... or find some-one with the experience ... but that is upto me ...

So yeah, this topic is solved i guess  ... should i lock it? or is that an operator action?

[tyman00]

Just change your original topic title to include [SOLVED] and that should suffice