Changing design of a CMS site

[jfrizelle]

Hi,

A friend is asking me about updating her website - changing some of the design layout, inserting a new logo, etc - but it's a CMS site. I've never worked with a CMS website before, so I'm just wondering what's involved in modifying the design side of things? Is it just a case of her getting the login details for me and then I'm free to make any necessary changes?

Thanks,
J.

[nickyoung]

CMS themes are usually stored in a Themes folder, rather than the root. If it's Wordpress, all you need is a WP user account with admin and you can edit the CSS styles right inside the built in Theme Editor. But you might as well have FTP access also to make backup of existing theme or to add new images. As for working on an existing CMS theme, I would recommend using firefox + the firebug plugin for test editing on the live site. They help you visualize the way the existing theme was built.

[Vaijero_Maya]

What CMS are you using? some use templates stored in the server that can be modified. Some might be tweaked using CSS only, so you can edit and change the CSS sheet to do changes (maybe).

Also, some such as wordpress (whos modus operandis I happen to dislike) use templates distributed in "modules" sort of... which means there is no single template file, instead, several files with php and html mixed (header, footer, content, sidebar, sidenotes). Its kinda complicated the first time.

It could help knowing the cms you are using. Also, check on google "modifying templates for XXCMS" (your cms). There are tutorials on this for every major CMS out there. Good luck

[jfrizelle]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies. It's called Caboodle Voyager, a cms designed for the Irish travel industry - see http://www.nexus451.com/caboodlecms.php?id=2. I contacted them and they said that because they have lots of clients' sites stored in the same place, they don't allow FTP access... also they said that as it's their own system they can't really allow external people to make changes to something that they have to stand over. So it seems we'll have to send on the changes and they'll make them - unless you've any suggestions to get around that??

But the reason she wants me to do it instead was because they charge so much for really small changes - I guess I'll just have to talk to them again, or ask her to make contact and see what we can work out.

Rgds,
J.

[nickyoung]

There is no way to get around paying if they have absolute control over hosting. Maybe you could complain to them that the CMS doesn't have an inline CSS editor for modifying the theme, and an upload image control to add theme images - but I doubt they would make that, because it leaves room for things going wrong if you mess with those things. Having control over everything is a way of making sure nothing goes wrong, but it comes at a price.

[Peter]

The site doesnt give away many people using it, so its not possible to take a look and see how templated it is, if they are offering a single template, skinned to suit the customer, that is very different from a tailored website.

The bespoke CMS that I use we have full control over content and most of the navigation, but we have to go to our hosting company to add brand new page layouts and top layer navigation changes and style. However his rates are very good.

[Vaijero_Maya]

Consider this idea:

Once I had a similar task and similar limitations. I ended up copying the content of the page (thats right, CTRL+C) and pasting it on a new page of other CMS (rich text box). Everything pasted just right except for the CSS divs and styles. Just had to write the title of the page and voila!

I tried this with two CMS, one of them built by me, the other was wordpress (both of them have rich text boxes). Take the following in count:

1. The width of the page must be similar (depending on your design you might be ok with any template)
2. Write the exact page titles you had to keep your SE positioning and rankings.
3. If the final page gives you trouble, link to the old CSS stylesheet (now on your new server)
4. Menus and sidebars are out of the question, fix this using your new CMS (using theme editor on wordpress is a good approach)
5. Check the permalink structure on wordpress (or any other CMS) to get away with the same urls you had.
6. Don't forget to copy the images folder you had. Check for your final pages on WHERE are the images being called and create the exact folder. Remember that copying your content will bring you the same content with the same locations, except it will not copy the images, you have to do this for yourself.

Hope to explain myself clearly, is not so hard once you try it.

Good luck on your migration.