Totally Lost:)

[GabbyG]

Good Morning!
Hi I'm Gabby and I'm totally lost.  For the record, I'm a tech knob so be gentle. LOL I looked at this help section but IMO, it is vague. I didn't know CMS Made Simple was  still going to require this much knowledge of coding:)  

Can anyone tell me how to get a module on to a new page? I can create the page but how do I use a module on it? If anyone can point me in the right direction I would really appreciate it.

Happy Holidays to everyone,

Gabby

[Wishbone]

Did you look at the 'module help' link on the modules section of the admin panel? Usually it's {module_name}.. Like {news} or {CGBlog}

I didn't know CMS Made Simple was  still going to require this much knowledge of coding:)  

Despite the name, this CMS is intended for experienced web designers, and coding knowledge is a plus.

[GabbyG]

Dear Wishbone,
Thank you very much for your reply. Yes, I just found that after I posted. And I'm finding out quicky that it takes more coding experience/knowledge than the average person to use CMS Made "Simple".  LOL Kind of not advertised that way though. I can see where this would be a great system for people who can code. I'll keep plugging away and see if I can figure things out. If not, I'll uninstall CMS, cry and find something else. LOL

Thanks again,

Gabby

[jmcgin51]

Dear Wishbone,
Thank you very much for your reply. Yes, I just found that after I posted. And I'm finding out quicky that it takes more coding experience/knowledge than the average person to use CMS Made "Simple".  LOL Kind of not advertised that way though. I can see where this would be a great system for people who can code. I'll keep plugging away and see if I can figure things out. If not, I'll uninstall CMS, cry and find something else. LOL

Thanks again,

Gabby

Gabby - I hope you don't give up so easily.  While CMSMS can be easily extended by programmers, it is 100% possible to create a website using CMSMS without any knowledge of programming.  Knowing how to use Smarty tags will make your life easier, but it is not necessary.  When I started using CMSMS, I had only a vague concept of what PHP is, and I was a complete "dummy" when it came to "Smarty".  But I was still able to have a site up and running within a couple of hours.  From there, it's just a matter of experimentation, playing around, etc.  If you have questions that you're not able to answer from forum searches, the Smarty documentation, etc, that's what this community is here for!

[Dr.CSS]

It also helps to read all the default content...

http://multiintech.com/defaultcontent/

[GabbyG]

Thank You JNC. Day two and I'm still lost. Plugging away at it though. I'm gonna give it a few more weeks and see if I can get what I need out of the project. Wish I didn't sign up for hosting though. Lesson learned.

Dr. CSS. Yes I read all the default content and  a lot of it is assuming the person knows about coding. Then when the person actually starts trying to create a site, there's a lot more to it than what is suggested.

What a great program for those gifted in coding!!! But for a knob like me.... welll\... I think it's too advanced, but I'm gonna keep trying for a little while longer.

Gabby

[Wishbone]

Do you have any specific issues we can help you with?

What is your experience background?

[Dr.CSS]

Call me, I'll walk you thru it...

All I had ever done was HTML/CSS before I started using this...

[GabbyG]

First, I want to thank everyone for being so nice, this is unusual for a support forum and thank you again. I really appreciate it more than you know.

Here is my attempted goal with CMS Made Simple

Objective: Reduce hosting, development and other costs associated with an existing non profit website. With the economy the way it is, this non profit needs to reduce cost anyway they can. Their current site is a little over 150 pages now with another 150 in the works and four databases. They cannot affford a full paid development team. They are currently using another CMS system but it is designed mostly for an E-commerce site with their forum offsite.

This is what they need:

Paid online membership
Member's Only Pages
Four Interactive Databases
Online Donations Integrated , not paypal.
Integrated Member's Only Forum with smiley and avatar upload similiar to VBulletin
Integrated Member's Olly Chat
Member Profiles
Non mMember Profiles


My level of experience is about a 2 on a scale of 10, 10 being a full coder. LOL.  


For me the hardest part in understandingn all the coding lingo and what to do with it.

Also, can someone put me in touch with a reasonably prices them designer that I can trust and will deviliver. Been burned before over at Vbulletin and don't wnat togo through that again.


Thank you so much for your help.


Gabby

[GabbyG]

Sorry having problems with the above post as it acting wierd when I try and type something. I'm unable to edit that post.  

To clarify.. This non profit is the largest for it's subject and is currently online and has been for a number of years. They are just getting killled in hosting costs, ecommerce and add on costs.

[GabbyG]

As far as having specific issues. I have so many questions that I don't know where to start.  For instance, what is ajax, what a vars?....  I just have no clue about this stuff. These templates may as well be in alien code because when I look at a template it's all jibberish to me. LOL

[uniqu3]

@GabbyG
If Template code looks all jibberish to you, i think even with intent to reduce costs for that non-profit site/organisation you should consider about hiring a professional or ask someone who could help you.
The fact is if you don't find your way thorugh basic xHTML, CSS and some Smarty you will be lost, not only in this System but any that is around. Only difference would be that in some systems Smarty will be replaced with PHP, XML or some other language.

Regarding understanding Smarty you should read through existing Sample Templates and check Smarty documentation http://www.smarty.net/docsv2/en/ it is not that hard to learn or find your way through also as absolute no Programmer like me.

For your needs described above you would need few modules like:
Frontend Users, SelfRegistration, Frontend Users listing, CustomContent, Forum Made Simple (i would rather go with a forum intended system, depending on planed number of users)...

[M@rtijn]

If you ask me, you need to start reading up:

Just start by googling:
- HTML
- CSS
- Smarty
add the word 'tuturial' or 'guide' and a new world opens.

Read the default pages on your new CMSMS installation, read the Help files, start looking and playing around and within a couple of hours, you'll understand the basics.

In my opinion it is something you have to learn by yourself. I guess you know that story about giving a man/woman a fish or a fishing rod.
The more you find out on yourself, the more you understand about it.

You talk about coding, but in fact when you understand the basics of HTML/CSS and smarty, it's just copy-pasting code. It's not rocket-science, really  ;D

[GabbyG]

Thank you Uniqu

@GabbyG
If Template code looks all jibberish to you, i think even with intent to reduce costs for that non-profit site/organisation you should consider about hiring a professional or ask someone who could help you. We've already looked into this and the cost was far beyond what we could every afford, In fact, most NPOs are losing donations very fast with some of the larger ones  considering closing (scary) or severely downsizing so hiring out isn't an option until the economy gets going again and people start donating more. Trouble with volunteer tech and design support is that they aren't reliable and we can't fire a volunteer for non production. Know what I mean? The website we have now is working but it's costing us far too much money when I know we can do better and I can cut our cost probably close to 60%.

The fact is if you don't find your way thorugh basic xHTML, CSS and some Smarty you will be lost, not only in this System but any that is around. Only difference would be that in some systems Smarty will be replaced with PHP, XML or some other language. Yes I'm finding this out. I'm pretty smart but this coding stuff just gives me a headache. I don't know how people do it without going loopy sometimes.  Now I know why it's so expensive and as far as I'm concerned, coders and developers should get paid more for this stuff. 
Regarding understanding Smarty you should read through existing Sample Templates and check Smarty documentation http://www.smarty.net/docsv2/en/ it is not that hard to learn or find your way through also as absolute no Programmer like me.

For your needs described above you would need few modules like:
Frontend Users, SelfRegistration, Frontend Users listing, CustomContent, Forum Made Simple (i would rather go with a forum intended system, depending on planed number of users)...

U

[GabbyG]

I have downloaded all those modules and probably more that I don't need. LOL