Don't Know Where to Start

[endlessspace]

Hi guys,

I was referred to this site from a friend.  I currently manage a CMS based site but have a website designer do ALL the technical aspects of it.  I basically just add content, market and SEO the site.

I'm looking to design a site from scratch and fullfil learning the "other" side of websites....the actual creation.  Although my other website is successful I have absolutely NO IDEA where to start when building a website.  I know the basics of html just from using the source button in my other CMS site but other than that I don't know much.

Is there a tutorial out there or a link that could guide me in steps on how I go about building the site.  I basically don't understand the basic concepts of website creation. 

Like for example.  Do I need something like dreamweaver or Frontpage, then I download the CMS Made Simple, then upload it somehow?  God I feel clueless. 

Thanks

[Deblus]

you only need CMSMS and you have to load it to a online server or a wamp server on your PC

there is a handbook here but it has some gaps in it

I started recently like you and start with the default templates and slowly change things and see what happens

then start asking questions here

this site is a good learning site about CMS

www.maxdesign.com.au/presentation/page_layouts/

[Pierre M.]

Hello,

your designer and you can find information about migrating from Dreamweaver like usage. Sorry for my bad English.

Pierre M.

[essexboyracer]

Hi Endless,

Here is a path, it will require a bit of discovery from yourself...

Go download & install: http://www.pspad.com (Notepad replacement)
Go download & install: http://filezilla.sourceforge.net/ (FTP)
Get a dirt cheap mysql/php hosting account, try https://www.web-mania.com for £25 / year

Follow the readme / install instructions.

Upload files with filezilla
Change permissions (right mouse button in filezilla -> 777)
edit any php or tpl files with pspad
If you get stuck editing raw HTML in pspad download http://www.nvu.com, it's more visual (and cheaper then dreamweaver)
get ready to learn CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to get you started http://www.sitepoint.com

Try it out a bit at a time, you will soon discover if you have the inclination to learn and discover more.

In realtity and as your name suggests, the possibilities are truly 'endless'

EBR

[endlessspace]

Thanks very much with the help so far.  I get a pretty good feel for how it works so far but am encountering some problems.

So I have the domain and the webhosting (I went with Godaddy because that's where I bought the domain.)  I also downloaded filezilla and pspad.

When I connect to filezilla with my IP, username and password I try and upload the CMS Made Simple files that I downloaded from here http://dev.cmsmadesimple.org/frs/downlo ... le-1.1.zip which I unzipped.

It seems to upload the files correctly.  Also I changed the nameservers to what godaddy recommended as the default nameservers for sites you have hosted with them.  Something like ns5.secure.....net.

Anyways I gave it about 24 hours to propagate and the domain still shows what I assume is the standard "FTP upload error".

"If you are the owner of this web site you have not uploaded (or incorrectly uploaded) your web site. For information on uploading your web site using FTP client software or web design software, click here for FTP Upload Information."

Any ideas as to what I am doing wrong or how I uploaded CMS Made Simple incorrectly?  Once you get it up it seems pretty easy.....at least from what the "test admin" panel looked like.

Thanks

[essexboyracer]

I would suggest it's either;

1. something with godaddy updating their nameservers or;
2. something entered wrong in godaddy's hosting control panel.

solution;

1. wait a bit more....
2. go back into your hosting control panel and check all settings against their own help files.

I have no experience with godaddy. Sorry I cant be of anymore help at this stage. I do have some basic experience with CMSMS and get v 1.1 when you install as TINYMCE looks far better then FCUKEditor.

p.s. If you want to crack on and test your install/software before uploading i.e. locally (on your machine, will not affect a 'live' website) try installing http://firepages.com.au/

EBR

[endlessspace]

I just got off the phone with Godaddy and he said it was because I didn't have an index file.  He said everything uploaded correctly but that was the only thing he could see that was causing the error.  Now if I only knew what a "Linux index page" was.  Google wasn't giving an clear answers.  Any suggestions?

[endlessspace]

Ok, I went into my ftp files and located the index file, clicked on it and looked through the code.  Something that looked like it could possibly be the problem is this in the index file.  Is there a fix for this?

The following directories must be writable by the web server:
'; echo 'tmp/cache
'; echo 'tmp/templates_c
'; echo '

Please correct by executing:
chmod 777 tmp/cache
chmod 777 tmp/templates_c
or the equivilent for your platform before continuing.

[Deblus]

I believe you need to select the properties for those files then use chmod to change them as per the installation instructions

[reneh]

short input that may help:
A CMSMS install uses php and the index file is then  index.php

Some hosts have a setup that search for index.htm or index.html first. That can be a problem for you....

[cewolfe]

What host will you be using?


Here is a useful article: http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Things-To-L ... &id=604354

or if you need a good web design company: http://www.otbinteractive.com

[essexboyracer]

I had a quick look at their user guide for linux hosting http://products.secureserver.net/guides ... _guide.pdf (page 21) and it seems they do accept index.php as a valid index file. As per your previous post, it's not a problem with the code in index.php.

Did you upload CMSMS in a sub directory on your hosting?

http://mysite.com > /
http://mysite.com/site/ >/site/
http://mysite.com/test/install/ > /test/install/

Also check that the account you have with godaddy actually supports php. I looked and it seems that they do, but one more thing for you to check.

[endlessspace]

Yeah, I think I've gotten passed most of the things so far in this thread.  Godaddy I believe is pretty much worthless.  I can view the "install" directions by going to http://www.mysite.com/cmsmadesimple/pub ... .php.  Is that correct structure?

Anyways, I end up on the 3rd step of the install (10th step in the user handbook) and Can not Pass Go....if you know what I mean.  I think it's a problem with Godaddy because the error that comes up says I need to "grant all privileges on cms.* to cms_user@localhost identified by 'cms_pass';

I have absolutely no idea how to "grant all privleges" or if Godaddy even lets you modify shared hosting to allow it.  Since this is the second time I re-started from scratch with no success I think it's time to go with a different host.  Any suggestions?

Thanks for all help so far.  I've learned a lot even though I haven't gotten the site up yet.

[Deblus]

I believe you need to go to the godaddy control panel

In there you should have set up your database and the user access to the database and their priveledges

Sounds like you have not done this or its incorrect

[Pierre M.]

Hello,

first, don't forget http://nodaddy.com/

Then, let's diagnose if you have a GoDaddy or a CMSms problem : upload a simple index.html static file with filezilla and try to get it showing in your web browser. This should work before any attempt to install a dynamic software like CMSms.

Pierre M.