CMS Made Simple Forums

I am brand new to CMS and would like to get some additional information that I do not see in any of the POSTs or FAQs. Any help is appreciated so here I go:

General Requirements: I would like a web site that will allow users to request to become members (single page sends data to me for approval). Once a member, the person needs to log in and select the area he/she wants to view (finance, news, financial news, upcoming events, etc) and go there. At these locations/pages the member needs to be allowed to post their questions or answers other members' questions.

QUESTIONS:
1. Does CMS have a login page? Does it use a login and password? Where is this data stored?
2. Does CMS offer a "Discussion Board" similar to what I am using now so that they can post questions or answers?
3. Can members upload files or photos to share with other members?
4. Is there a module for taking surveys? Can these surveys be customized (my own questions, etc)?
5. Can I customize CMS with my logos and other options?
5. Does CMS offer a "counter" module

Answers to most of your questions can be found in the Documentation Wiki at http://wiki.cmsmadesimple.org/index.php/Main_Page
Also Sofia Hauschildt's book on CMSMS is a great way to get a quick start with CMSMS. Even though it is for an earlier version, most of the instructions still apply. The book can be found at http://www.amazon.com/CMS-Made-Simple-1 ... 769&sr=8-1

Hope that helps.

-S

Most of your requirements can be added to the CMSms core by various plugins/modules/addons.
1. This would be the module http://dev.cmsmadesimple.org/projects/frontendusers
2. http://dev.cmsmadesimple.org/projects/forummadesimple should do the trick
3. Maybe this one: http://dev.cmsmadesimple.org/projects/uploads
4. That`s a toughy. Maybe http://dev.cmsmadesimple.org/projects/quizzard in conjunction with http://dev.cmsmadesimple.org/projects/quizzard-stats
5. Absolutely yes. The base of every page is a Smarty driven template you can customize to any need.
6. It seem as if http://dev.cmsmadesimple.org/projects/statistics or http://dev.cmsmadesimple.org/projects/hitcounter will do, depending on your needs.

I must confess, I havn't worked with any of these except for #1+2. Some of them are a little older, so I don't know if they work with the current version

juricta wrote:5. Can I customize CMS with my logos and other options?

CMSMS wasn't really designed to take the default template and make a few changes (though some do). Where it shines is that its easy to take your own design (or pre-made HTML template) and easily convert it for use with CMSMS.

I have been designing websites for various clients for years now. I started way back when i was in college working as a part time web developer using high level machine language and re-using tools and programs i have used and tried previously. I like CMS made simple because even on a small structure, it is able to do all that. It avoids reading through complex machine code which is beneficial to both me and clients.