What is the best way to create an articles database?

[sbeco]

I have about 200 Internet marketing articles that I would like to make available to my website visitors. I don't want to create a page for each article and upload those 200 pages to my server. I'm much too lazy to do that, and I'll bet there is a better solution out there somewhere.

So, I need to create a database that will upload any article that a visitor would like to read. I'd also like to include a search form that a visitor could use to search the database, receive a list of articles to choose from, and then choose an article to read on my website.

What is the best way to create this type of articles database for my website visitors?

Does anyone know of a software program I can purchase that has all of the search and database features I need?

Do I need to buy FTP software to upload my articles, plus buy a software program?

Does anyone have any ideas about the best way to remedy this problem?

Thanks

P.S. My programming skills are limited.

[Maximilian]

Greetings - sbeco!

First, we do not know what your server platform is or what program language interpreters or databases reside on your server.

Best bet is to browse the following script service for free to low-cost programs for article submission, searching & viewing. Simply go to:

http://www.hotscripts.com/

As far as the lazy part - sometimes you have to put in some intial work to get the systematic ease of use the Internet offers. This discussion forum you are using was not implemented within a day.

Cheers!
Max

[sbeco]

Thanks for the tip. Hotscripts looks like a great place to start looking.

[sbeco]

Okay, Max, thanks to your reply to my S.O.S. I have finally found a really good articles database software application.

Thanks again for the HotScripts tip. Here's what I found. Maybe someone else out there could use it too.

http://www.interactivetools.com/prod...rticlemanager/

[evalillian]

That tool looks neat, but I didn't see anything for SEO... Am I missing how you would add your tags?

[solohelp]

phpnews at sourceforge. Its really easy to use and install. I cant remember if you can search the articles though.

[solohelp]

That looks like a good peice of software. If you spent an extra few minutes you could probably find an opensource one thats just as good and ...Free!!

[GiftsForYouBiz]

I use phpWebLog:
http://phpweblog.org/

See it in action:
http://giftsforyou.biz/info/index.php

[bconley]

I hope I am not too late. If you use Active Server Pages there is a really nice application that is less expensive than the one you are looking at. It is at http://www.xigla.com/absolutenm/. I have used it on a couple of sites and found it to be very easy to use and to set up. Plus the support is fantastic! They have some other great prooducts also that I have used in the past. Good luck!

[alienzhavelanded]

Odd that supposed "webmasters" talk about nothing but software/scripts that will do the work for them. If you know any ASP, PHP, or Perl/CGI, you could do what you want without third party applications, script, or code. Simple database use is one of the basics of website development.

IMO, you aren't a webmaster unless you know at least one of the above. I don't understand how people who don't have the slightest clue can claim to be a webmaster.

[caromero1965]

alienz,

What's your time worth? The tools mentioned here cost what I earn in a few hours doing web development. I don't think I can build a flexible, robust, well-tested content management system (which is really what's being asked for here) in an afternoon. (I've built such systems, to spec, for clients with peculiar needs. It took a lot longer than an afternoon.)

So why wouldn't anyone in their right mind use a third-party tool?

[bconley]

I have to agree with caromero1965 that you can save a ton of time and therefore money, by purchasing applications that have already been built. Why re-invent the wheel? To think that people "don't have the slightest clue" because they purchase an application instead of building it is, IMO "clueless".

I should build my own web browser because I wouldn't want to use one that is a third-party browser?!?

[freehits]

That was a friendly response.....Where i agree it may be "easyish" to make a 'make-shift' answer to what seems a simple website need, hotscripts is a first stop for scripts or any ideas as it is simply working smarter not harder. might as well work with the collective knowledge whenever possible.

[GiftsForYouBiz]

Originally Posted by alienzhavelanded

If you know any ASP, PHP, or Perl/CGI, you could do what you want without third party applications, script, or code. Simple database use is one of the basics of website development.

IMO, you aren't a webmaster unless you know at least one of the above. I don't understand how people who don't have the slightest clue can claim to be a webmaster.

IMO, a good webmaster (programmer/developer) can determine when COTS applications are more effective than custom-built applications. I've built my own catalog system along with about 20-30 other medium to major apps, and I know 2 of the 3 languages mentioned (in addition to quite a few others, including Autolisp).

I've searched for a good inventory tracking and rating system and only found one that comes close to what I'm looking for, so I'm designing my own. But I'll be damned if I'm going to write a program that there are 50 to chose from, most of which are readily available and meet all my needs.

Look before you leap, and you might find you needn't have to leap at all. There's a bridge 100 feet down river.

BTW, a webmaster isn't necessarily a web developer...

[brian.mark]

As much as I love inventing wheels over and over again, sometimes you do have to go for quick and easy. Perl could probably do it in no time flat, since it was designed for text processing, but getting it right can be a trick. 3rd party is the smart way to go if you don't feel like spending a week tweaking code. Sometimes, you want your results only shown your way (product searches in an online catalog, for example), but other times you just want something to show up so bring on the generic stuff. At the rate of a web developer, webmaster, application specialist, or whatever title you want to use for this week, most of these programs are worth 10x what you can buy them for. Then again, I'm not a webmaster... just a lowly CIO. I'll be watching for that promotion so I know when to learn those languages that I use every day.

[Maximilian]

Originally Posted by GiftsForYouBiz

Look before you leap, and you might find you needn't have to leap at all. There's a bridge 100 feet down river.

BTW, a webmaster isn't necessarily a web developer...

Howdy, GiftsForYouBiz!

Your advice for this fellow is very sound as usual - straight forward, clever & honest. Your advice is always a good read.

Cheers!
Max

[GiftsForYouBiz]

Originally Posted by Maximum-Beauty.com

Your advice for this fellow is very sound as usual - straight forward, clever & honest. Your advice is always a good read.

Hey Max. Thanks. ... When in Rome, do as the Romans do ... I just try to follow the example set by many others here; yourself included.

[alienzhavelanded]

Originally Posted by caromero1965

alienz,

What's your time worth? The tools mentioned here cost what I earn in a few hours doing web development.

The original poster was talking about storing articles in a db and displaying them along with a search function. Hardly a massive undertaking.

I don't think I can build a flexible, robust, well-tested content management system (which is really what's being asked for here)

It is? What makes you think that? You might want to read the post again LOL.

So, I need to create a database that will upload any article that a visitor would like to read. I'd also like to include a search form that a visitor could use to search the database, receive a list of articles to choose from, and then choose an article to read on my website.

Included it just for fun ^

To think that people "don't have the slightest clue" because they purchase an application instead of building it is, IMO "clueless".

When did I say that? I fail to see it anywhere in my post. You shouldn't take things out of context.

[Isis]

Seriously, if you really want something that works well, and is search engine friendly, you can use any basic blogging system to customize and store your articles... such as Movable type or wordpress.org. Plus, if you happen to know a little php or perl, you can easily customize any of these into the ideal CMS application, that is streamlined, and functional. Don't bother wasting your time trying to build something that already exists and works well for your needs.

The problem with MT is, it is more difficult to install and work with than wordpress. But the substantial support in the MT world is pretty great.

www.wordpress.org
www.movabletype.org.

[john678]

That looks like a good piece of software. But I prefer to build my own scripts using HTML, PHP and MySQL combined.

[GiftsForYouBiz]

Originally Posted by sbeco

What is the best way to create this type of articles database for my website visitors?

Does anyone know of a software program I can purchase that has all of the search and database features I need?

Do I need to buy FTP software to upload my articles, plus buy a software program?

Does anyone have any ideas about the best way to remedy this problem?

Thanks

P.S. My programming skills are limited.

I think the consensus here is that there are plenty of apps available that will suit your needs, and more.

There are others who believe it would be worth the 2-8 hours to develop it yourself; and if that is truly all you're looking for in your specs (add, search, read), then that's what I would do.

However, your programming skills are limited, so you could look at it as a nice OJT project, or find something along the lines of COTS that have been recommended (or better yet, go through any script archives that have been recommended, such as hotscripts, so you can review for yourself).

It has been my experience that someone looking to do a "simple" program that just does this and that, ends up also asking for them, theirs, and whosies; eventually making it into a nice full-fledged, 1-3 week long development application. Heck, I do this myself ;)

As far as buying an ftp application to upload your articles, well that opens up a whole new can of worms, like, what do you upload your html files with? But if you're looking to database your articles, you don't ftp into a database; you access it through a command prompt, a GUI (such as winMySQLAdmin), or web interface (such as phpMyAdmin).

My suggestion was for a full-fledged system that provided much more than just article databasing, but then, sometimes when you check out applications like that, it gives you ideas that you wouldn't have gotten for another week or more... thus, all the suggestions for off-the-shelf software.

[sbeco]

GiftsForYouBiz wrote:

My suggestion was for a full-fledged system that provided much more than just article databasing, but then, sometimes when you check out applications like that, it gives you ideas that you wouldn't have gotten for another week or more... thus, all the suggestions for off-the-shelf software.

Yes.

I'm sure I'll find more uses for Article Manager than I currently have. I wanted to find an application that had lots of features, everything I require and more, and I think I found it.

It's interesting that this thread has morphed into a debate over the definition of "webmaster." I've always assumed that if you can create a website, that makes you a webmaster...albeit, not necessarily a good one, or a talented one.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. The phpweblog.org - giftsforyou.biz looks interesting. What I plan to do in the future is develop a full-blown magazine using this software - Smart Publisher http://www.pre1.com

Smart Publisher is too pricey for me right now, and I want to build a large client base of opt-in subscribers before hiring writers, advertising accountants, etc, and going into the magazine business. Build a large audience first, then launch the big venture. For my purposes I think Article Manager is the first step in that direction. I hope it is, anyway.

[GiftsForYouBiz]

Originally Posted by sbeco

It's interesting that this thread has morphed into a debate over the definition of "webmaster." I've always assumed that if you can create a website, that makes you a webmaster...albeit, not necessarily a good one, or a talented one.

haha. Yes. One comment can certainly twist a thread. But then, wars have been fought over less (I don't know of any, but that's what I've heard).

Article Manager: with your goals in mind, that looks to be a very wise choice.

Best of luck to you :)

[handry]

Any quality scripts can be suit for articles manager. But does the scripts can be suit to your SEO and Promotions tools ?

I prefer to use some changes in URL rewriting module for any scripts on htaccess. So that your visitors can access all in HTML pages that has been masked forum your dynamics scripts by This modul.

And the advantage of this that you dont have to changes your file type. You just need to do some regular expression.

[sbeco]

bconley,

I just reread this thread and realized I missed seeing your suggestion!

http://www.xigla.com/absolutenm/

This Absolute News Manager application looks like an excellent option. Now I have three choices.