Cms...help!

[sundown]

Ok, one last try....I'm still looking for a decent content management system....something that will help me create a database driven website, just like SitePoint.....

I've found portal packages that go for 10-20k.
I've checked HotScipts, CGI-Resources and a dozen other script sites.
I've found typo3, MyPHP and a ton of other "projects", but nothing that is near done, or relatively well documented or that doesn't take a doctorate in quantum physics to understand.
I don't have the time or ability to build it myself right now.
I've gotten offers from programmers that want to build it for me, but they are all in the thousands......

It must be that what I'm looking for doesn't exist, but I thought I'd give it one more try....

1. CMS system that uses either Perl or PHP and has a MySQL back end.
2. Template driven?
3. Multiple categories, editors
4. Web based control panel
5. Completed, documented, relatively bug free
6. Printer friendly, email to a friend capability
7. Under or not too much over $1,000

Does such a thing exist? Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks!

[JamesUS]

If you can wait a while, http://www.aroze.com looks to be really excellent (run by a good friend of mine) but it hasn't launched yet.

[sundown]

Yep

Yes, I'm aware of Aroze, but it won't even be out in beta until August......

Thanks, though......

[evoir]

links sql

What about Links SQL. It fits everything you asked for.

I am working with it right now as a Contenet tool for uploading astories to our servers via a web page interface, uses templates, etc. everything.

Still figuring out exactly how it all works. I miss the flexibility pf VB while working with it...but I know the system is rock solid. Also, can easily integrate the VB member db. that is cool. (They have a plugin for versions 1.x and will do a version for 2.0 as soon as it gets out of beta.)

So far, it is cool. It does seem to lack some of the amazing stuff that VB has. I think VB has me spoiled. Really. (like the default templates right there when you need them... )

I wish there was a vb for what I need. Would buy it in a heartbeat.

[Wayne Luke]

SitePoint's CMS is currently undergoing some changes that will allow it to be easier to format articles (WYSIWYG) as well as distribute pages better for portable devices like WAP and Avant Go.

After this, it may be made available to the public as a high-end product at the low-end price.

Any thoughts or ideas?

[fastforward]

Originally posted by wluke
After this, it may be made available to the public as a high-end product at the low-end price.

Any thoughts or ideas?

Something is definately needed at a price range between the $49 shareware stuff and the $10K enterprise solutions. I'd pay up to $300 for a template driven flexible CMS.

[evoir]

oh my god. is the only thought I have

I was just looking at your site and thinking of emailing you!

I am trying to implement Links SQL right now, and while it will do the job, it's not php and not as easily customizable.

Personally, I like the idea of it being an article backend, and if there are plugins to add polls and such, that would be fine too. But mostly we need an article backend, very similar to what you have wluke.

With an easy install (like vb) and easy for our editors to add stories. (needs an editor interface)

This would be a godsend.
I really really like the idea. Lets keep talking.

[Wayne Luke]

Thanks for the ideas guys. Will pass them on.

Anymore ideas? They would be appreciated.

I am going to push for better integration with forum systems like vBulletin (Related Forum at the bottom of every article)....

Anything else that is needed?

[George L]

Originally posted by wluke
Thanks for the ideas guys. Will pass them on.

Anymore ideas? They would be appreciated.

I am going to push for better integration with forum systems like vBulletin (Related Forum at the bottom of every article)....

Anything else that is needed?

this would be great but one thing it would have to be idiot/dummy proof for us simple minded folks

i like the WYSIWYG functionality though

[evoir]

same as vb:
show printable version
email this article to a friend
get email updates
Image upload from the admin interface.

all using the vb login info.
(but I think I'd like it to use a sepearte db than vb.

diff. catagories use different styles if we want...

did I say easy install?

I have had folks offer to write this program for me inexpensively, but in the end decided I'd like to see something that has some sort of community behind it, for testinga quality....

I will try to gather my thoughts...been working on this idea for a while.

The main thing is to keep it simple. Like don't throw the entire kitchen sink at it. Keep it simple and clean and customizable.

yippee!

[evoir]

oh, of course allow us to create our own custom fields...

we may need ato ahve a photographers credit, author credit, short synopsys...

ok. I'll stop now.

very excited vb is going gold!

[sundown]

Ya

Ability to rotate content automatically, so that you can have the index page show different content every day....hands off.

Also, the ability to time content...articles are there but sleep until a certain time....

Lastly, the ability to syndicate content to other sites via a snippet of code....

Cool.

[Joshs]

I am in the same position. I am looking for something that will integrate into my site that will handle news, articles, reviews, and possibly polls, and handle the advertising. I also need the WYSIWYG function, etc. I have found someone that would custom code it and set it up for $300. If I wait for him to release it as a product, then it would be under $100. It has a MySQL backend.

I like what AnandTech uses, but it is ColdFusion, and MS SQL 2000 driven (a little to much for me). But the program what I was talking about before is what TheTechZone uses, and I really like it.

Right now I am using NewsPro just to handle news (My partner and myself are getting tired of posting news, and before we didnt want people to have full access to our site in frontpage). Newspro is CGI driven is is just handling our news temp.

Also check out http://www.esuitetoday.com/, that is Ed Sullivan's site, looks interesting...

[evoir]

My view is that is should stay simple and clean.

I like the idea adding on modules later, or even having features that you can turn on and off. (like polls and such) To me, these are not neccesary. but nice.

But mostly, we simply need a way to publish stories via a web interface. And Ed's application is great, installed like a charm, but is meant to be a user driven article db. Also, the way folks can respond to an article.... we wouldn't use that.

We need an "editorial" driven application. In other words, we need a place where our magazine editors can go and add, delete or edit an article. (Not accessible to the public)

On the backend, I need to be able to set up the templates (like VB) and layout (fonts etc) so that when the editors upload a story, it looks great.

I would hope that it would be customizable (adding fields to the db for info we need added) and the ability to have template sets (or styles) that are used by different categories would be great.

Search features would be cool.

[Mike Sullivan]

evoir -- Download version mArticle 1.5 that I posted in the PHP coding section here (the vB forums). It has significantly more options. (such as turning off replies, styles, infinite depth categories) Does need a complete system rewrite though

After you download it, you can just rename submit.php and change the form to point to the new filename, and only give that out to those who submit articles.