What would YOU like to see in a Hitchhiker's Guide?

Ah!!!!!

Wait... you posted again... gotta read that.

 

How about an option for html pages, loaded to a good ole ftp account, made by a chick who peaked at Live Aquaria's table code and went from there.....

 

LOL - I'm not sure how that might work since a tag cloud, or tag-based search is generally done dynamically.

Once you have a sizable amount of date, the tag cloud and search terms begin to build themselves.

A CMS allows you to separate the data from the presentation through the use of (mostly) HTML templates and a database. The CMS also acts as the entry point for all your data, so you can quick add to and edit without having to know code.

In addition, it allows you to leverage the power of the data, or even re-purpose the data you have collected in away that you simply can't in a hard-coded website.

As a hard-coded solution I think the shear amount of data would quickly get out of hand. :-/

 

I was going to have it professionally looked at. I want it updated and cleaned up, but I want to be able to maintain it myself. Is that possible? What would I ask for? If it's not maintainable with my HTML knowledge, can I teach myself this new fangled way?

 

I think you would find it easier to manage and maintain. You wont have to mess with HTML. Basically what I tell my clients is if you can fill out a web form - you probably can manage you on site.

The visual or presentation portion of the site, is basically a series of templates built on HTML and PHP that the data (text, photos, etc...) fits into. Once the templates are built, the maintenance on the site is generally handled though the CMS interface, which is usually designed to be easy to navigate and easy to use.

As for what to ask for - I prefer WordPress. I find it to be the easiest for my clients to use and understand once we're done theming their site and building templates. With that said though, there are many other good CMS out there to choose from.

I don't see why not - most web hosts offer one (maybe two) click installs for many of the more popular CMS systems out there. Once it's installed on a site, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out.

 

I just learned about using folders for images a couple of months ago. My life would have been so much easier if someone had of told me that in 2007! O.O

I'll look at Word Press. I've seen it around for some time now, but can't help and associate it with blogs. I know it's moved waaaaaaaaaaaay past that, but the memories of the ole ugly blogs still linger.

 

LOL - ya I get that. I'll shoot you a PM with a login to a Wordpress Dev site I have setup on my server. Feel free to mess around with it.

 

Ohhhhhh........ sweet!

 

wow....this discussion is way over my head. This may not be the appropriate place to ask..... but how is your back Renee'?

 

2nd nerve block Thursday. Whoo hoo!