Can members update there own site?

[Brock]

I have a website (watercolor-online.com) where I host artist's websites. They are asking if it is possible for them to update there site without my involvement. Currently they send me the info and I update there site. I don't know if there is something off the shelf I could use or would I need to have something made special. (mysql ?) I don't want them to be able to access anything but there own site. They would need to be able to upload images as well as text.

Thanks

[pyro]

For something like this, you may want to look into Macromedia Contribute (http://www.macromedia.com/software/contribute/).

[Aronya1]

That looks like a good way to go. I may use it myself. You can always give your customers the option to make their own changes (charge them enough to pay for the program), or send their updates to you & you do it manually, which should cost them much more in the long run (you ARE charging for changes, right?).

[Brock]

Thanks to both of you for the quick reply.

I looked at the Contribute site and it looks very good but I still have one question that I didn't see answered on there site.

It looks like Contribute is for an intra net. Does this mean I will have the software on my computer and they would have to access it from me first??? Sorry if that sounds kinda dumb but...

[pyro]

I haven't personally used Contribute, but I didn't see anything there that would make me think it only works on an Intranet.

[Daria]

No, it is not intranet only - it works on the www, too.

I use Contribute with some clients - as administrator - and they use it at their end, updating their websites. Administrator can set editing permissions (text only, text and layout, etc).

I personally recommend Contribute for something like that. You'll need one copy for yourself and one copy for each of the websites you will need to enable self-editing on.

[pyro]

Originally posted by Daria
You'll need one copy for yourself and one copy for each of the websites you will need to enable self-editing on. To settle my own curiosity, do you know if Dreamweaver is an apt substitute for Contribute on the developers end?

[Compguy Pete]

I tried it once... and I really didnt like it at all.

THere are a couple of options you have.

1. Setup FTP accounts for each person - most hosting places when you setup an ftp account it also creates a folder that can be used for 'sub accounts'. So if you setup Pyro with a FTP account with his name it would look like www.yoursite.com/pyro/

2. There are some "Community" softwares out there that would allow you to have a geocities type of control and options. I'm fairly sure this is the one I've used in the past. http://www.cyberscript.net/products/easyhost_free/

[Daria]

Yes, I have to agree - I didn't think of that. I have people with INDIVIDUAL websites using Contribute, not the community-type.

pyro: I don't think Contribute should be considered a developer's tool at all. I like to have administrator's permissions set for myself so people would have restricted access to the content, thus not mess with my work.

I like using Dreamweaver a lot - there is a lot of pros when it comes to the WEBSITE MANAGEMENT where dreamweaver is really a handy tool. (I believe we discussed it some months ago). I like using the view mode (since I know what I'm doing), and the option of having a code view available to me.

I am a creature of habbit, I like using DW on my local drive and then upload changes to the web, this way I keep entire website saved locally with it's latest changes. I'd rather be safe then sorry... Contribute is meant to let you make changes directly at the website, online; you get to see wysiwig part of it, not the code. I guess, you could do the changes locally, too, then you'll still have to FTP them individually to the website. Khm... did I get vague enough? In short - no, from the developers standopint I'd rather not use Contribute.

[pyro]

Originally posted by Daria
pyro: I don't think Contribute should be considered a developer's tool at all. I like to have administrator's permissions set for myself so people would have restricted access to the content, thus not mess with my work.I agree. My question was, however, if Dreamweaver and Contribute can interface with each other (ie. can the developer use Dreamweaver and the clients, Contribute). In other words, if the developer has Dreamweaver, does he need to purchase a copy of Contribute for himself?

[Daria]

I would recommend it if you don't want the legwork. To setup the permissions and to do the future changes to the administrative part of the site, i.e. if you need to add somebody else to the permission's group, remove somebody, etc. you can do it from the comfort of your own chair.

If you do not have a copy of the contribute installed on your machine, you'll have to go at the clients site (as in the actuall street address :)) an do it from the discomfort of their chair, and who get's the time to get in the car/plain/ship... Some people are too far away :)

For the development - no, you do not need Contribute at allj, if you have DW: is way, far, beyond, etc. more advanced, it's not even funny. Heck, if you have a Notepad (you get my thought)...

[pyro]

Ok, that's what I was curious about, thanks...

[Daria]

Sure.