CMS Made Simple Forums

Hello All,

I am new to the forum, (obviously, as my question suggests).

My Experience:

I am a designer/graphic artist; I know HTML and CSS.  I am not really a programmer or developer however... I am learning PHP; I am not an expert on it, but neither am I a newbie who can't tell what tail is up when reading over the code.

My Current Project:

1.  I am not getting paid for this job.  I was asked to do this as a favor by the person who offered me haven after I lost my home during Katrina, (my beau's father).  The person who asked me to do this IS NOT the one the site is being built for, but rather for *clients* of his.  In short: I have NO BUDGET.

2. My current project requires two types of frontend users:

A. Client - Those wishing to use the service
B. Potential Employees - Those looking to get a job with the service

(This means two somewhat complicated forms that need to be identified by user group upon sign up.)

3. They want the site to be bi-lingual:  English and Spanish.



Why they want member sign up and not just user feedback submission forms?

Good question.  I believe they want it to ensure that the submissions they get are sincere and that they eventually wish to open an online store.  Or maybe they just want it because they can?  I'm not really sure.  We've discussed it, and they insist upon it, but they haven't really made it clear as to the why.



My question to all of you is simple, (and may seem rather stupid, I confess)

Is CMSMS right for me?

Now, I have worked with Typo3...  It is pretty sweet, but when it comes to forms... It's a nightmare.  Forms need to be built using your own custom API, it's not an easy process, and it requires that you know TCA, TS, PHP and have a strong idea of TCO's.  This is waaaay too involved for me to be honest.  One language I could handle, three on the other hand?  I feel like I am drowning...  (They do warn you about this in their introduction to Typo3, but I figured I had a few months to learn it...  Four months later and I am still yelling for the lifeguard...)  They do offer Ameos Formidable, (renderlets for creating forms), but that is yet another set of code you have to learn in order to use it...

I've looked at PHPNuke, Joomla, Xoops, Midgard...  Ok, my list is really long so I shall stop there.  The point is most of them don't do what I need, or don't have the support I want, or they charge extra for the nifty tools I will need to accomplish my tasks or they are waaay too time intensive.

I have read good things about CMSMS and other designers have suggested I use it, (that's why I am here...)

I want something simple for my project's clients to use as they aren't computer suave.  They need something point and click easy to maintain and access information.

As for myself?  Personally, I want something that isn't going to take me hours upon weeks upon months to code (or learn how to code...)  Please refer back to the part where I'm not getting paid for this job...  I have other jobs that I am getting paid for that I would prefer to spend my time on, as I am sure most of you out there understand why.

The thing is...  The person who asked me to do this is pressuring me to get it done ASAP.  He doesn't understand the difference between a designer and a developer.  He actually believes that web sites can be built point and click easy.  No amount of explanation has enlightened him or aided me in making my point...

It comes down to one simple fact:  I want this job done and out of the way so he will leave me alone.

BTW, to be clear so that you don’t think the worst of me: this is not the first site he’s thrown at me, expecting me to do more developing and programming than design.  I have not been paid for any of the work I’ve done for him at all, and I feel he’s already been fairly compensated in return for the aid he’s given me.  He’s now pushing towards outright exploitation.

(Sorry about the above rant; this really isn't the place to air my issues; however they are relevant to my current situation and I didn’t want any to think that I was not grateful for the aid offered in the time of need.  I am.  I just don’t appreciate being taken advantage of.  Anyway…Back to topic...)

I've searched this site, I understand that to get the bi-lingual functionality I will need to create content in both languages.  This is a drawback for me since I don't know Spanish, however, my clients do.  So if push comes to shove I know they will be willing to do the translations for me.

The forms are another issue.

Will CMSMS allow me to assign two different groups upon self-registration each offering its own unique forms?  If yes, what's the best way to accomplish this?

I've done searches on this and haven't found anything relevant to my needs.

Any suggestions, help, advice, information is welcome.

Thanks,
Lanette

Lanette,

I'm not a CMSMS expert, but I certainly think it can do what you want.  Using a combination of the FrontEndUsers, CustomContent, and SelfRegistration modules, you can let users register and then display different content to them depending on the group to which they belong (or even depending on their userid if needed).

As for the multilanguage issue; I've never needed this, so I haven't looked into it, but from reading other posts here on the forum, I think your assessment is correct.  If it were me, I would develop the site in English and tell the client that he is responsible for any additional languages.  He can provide you with the translated content, or you can show him how to add the new content himself.  You could even make the second language pages, leave them empty, set them as inactive, and activate them as they have translated content added.

Just some thoughts...

Thanks! 

I've already set CMSMS up on the site and will see if I can make it work out for me.

Your help is greatly appreciated!

Lanette