vB CMS Capabilities

[HM666]

Originally Posted by KGodel

I tried out both and both have functionality I like, just not together and neither quite works how I'd like it to. More research I guess.

Ok you have other options out there. Look into Wordpress & Joomla. Both are free scripts that can be installed and styled on your web host. Both do have bridges to vBulletin if you do not mind paying for them and if you need to have the ability for members to have one login on both areas. Both bridges are not too terribly costly, not more than $50 I think. Both you have more control over how you style the site. Out of the two I personally like Wordpress better. Its easier to use for someone who is first starting out or who has not used the software before. Both have tons of free plugins, modules etc to enhance your site to what you want exactly.

[RichieBoy67]

Originally Posted by ozzy47

Yeah their site is no longer up anymore, so it is gone.

Wow! That is terrible news.

The best thing I liked about that portal was being able to integrate into the forum so sidebars can be added to both sides of the forum.

I also like being able to see the actual posts from the forum on the portal rather than having a whole duplicate article made.

Sad to see them go after all these years!

--------------- Added [DATE]1418585490[/DATE] at [TIME]1418585490[/TIME] ---------------

Originally Posted by KGodel

I tried out both and both have functionality I like, just not together and neither quite works how I'd like it to. More research I guess.

Though more complex you may look into integrating Wordpress or Joomla.

[AndrewSimm]

What are you concerns with the vbulletin CMS?

[KGodel]

I'm trying to keep everything within the same system. We have used Joomla/Wordpress before and felt like keeping two sites updated wasn't a fit for us.

As for the CMS, it's not very straightforward. We were looking for something that's pretty easy to follow. Mostly the section/page structure, even after reading several tutorials. We'd like, for example, certain posts to appear on different "pages". News, Our Media Stuff, Newsletters, etc. I've looked for modules to do this, but my guess is I would need to make some custom modules to have this happen. I'm barely at decent plugin level let alone creating more complicated widgets.

If someone wants to help me set things up using VB CMS I'd gladly throw a bit of money your way, granted not a lot (but maybe, I'm interviewed for a developers job tomorrow!) Thanks in advance for any help!

[RichieBoy67]

Originally Posted by KGodel

I'm trying to keep everything within the same system. We have used Joomla/Wordpress before and felt like keeping two sites updated wasn't a fit for us.

As for the CMS, it's not very straightforward. We were looking for something that's pretty easy to follow. Mostly the section/page structure, even after reading several tutorials. We'd like, for example, certain posts to appear on different "pages". News, Our Media Stuff, Newsletters, etc. I've looked for modules to do this, but my guess is I would need to make some custom modules to have this happen. I'm barely at decent plugin level let alone creating more complicated widgets.

If someone wants to help me set things up using VB CMS I'd gladly throw a bit of money your way, granted not a lot (but maybe, I'm interviewed for a developers job tomorrow!) Thanks in advance for any help!

You can do this by using sections. Check out our cms, http://musclemecca.com

[HM666]

Yeah any time I set up a CMS I use the sections only no categories. The categories do not give you a breadcrumb link for whatever reason.

[KGodel]

So each page needs to be its own section? Doesn't every section need a default category for articles to be placed in? Also, We'd have to promote every thread we want to show to an article, correct?

Edit: Guess not. Also, do I have to change the settings to make article comments and thread replies the same? And finally, I'm not sure if my articles are saving to the right section. I pick it from the select list, but when I open it up, nothing is chosen so I'm not sure what's up. :X

[HM666]

Originally Posted by KGodel

So each page needs to be its own section? Doesn't every section need a default category for articles to be placed in? Also, We'd have to promote every thread we want to show to an article, correct?

Edit: Guess not. Also, do I have to change the settings to make article comments and thread replies the same? And finally, I'm not sure if my articles are saving to the right section. I pick it from the select list, but when I open it up, nothing is chosen so I'm not sure what's up. :X

Ok question one: no every page does not need to have its on section, but let's say in the case of my web site. If I were to put it on the vBulletin CMS instead of just coding a regular HTML/CSS based web site I would have the following top sections: these sections would have subsections or they could have them if wanted. So my top sections would be the home page, portfolio, services, support, FAQ'S, Free Quote & Contact. Then my subsections would be...

Home Page: Probably any news or I would have new articles show here that were posted possibly some tutorials on using vBulletin.

Portfolio: Subsections would be...Web Design, Blogs, CMS, E-Commerce, & Forums.
-----Then I would have subsections off those sections which would include Designs, Maintenance, Coding off each one of the above. So when you looked at Forums there would be subsections of Designs, Maintenance, and then Coding.

And the same for each of my top sections. Basically what I did was follow my top menu structure. you can actually see my page here: http://lenmkaiser.com its not in vBulletin but you can see the structure I'm referring to. Then you add as many or as few articles as you want to each section. Add whatever fits in there. In my case I would not add my Wordpress portfolio pages into my vBulletin section for obvious reasons.

Question two: I've used the built in vBulletin 4 CMS without using any categories whatsoever. I've found that when I created categories they really seemed irrelevant and did nothing of notable difference. I actually just finished a site for a client that had over 1000 pages & around 300-400 sections in it. No categories. It will still work just fine.

Question Three: As far as I know you do not have to change any settings. When a member makes a comment on your article it goes automatically into the thread that you promoted it from. If you just created an article and there was no thread you promoted it from all the comments go into a hidden forum area just for the CMS. That being said its been awhile since I messed with the comments in articles so there actually might be a setting you have to change in 4.2.2, but from what I remember I do not think so.

Question Four: Not sure what selection list you mean exactly, but if you are having issues seeing articles then you may need to check and see that you have given the section the proper permissions so that you and others can read the articles posted there. a lot of time the reason articles are not showing is because the permissions are not set on the section. You have to make sure all sections are published.

[KGodel]

Thanks. I'll see how it works out. Not sure how exactly to setup the home page, since all sections have to be in home, so I'll have to see if I have to double-list stuff in Home and say a News category. I also need to figure out how to create articles for subsections where the main section is empty. This is easy to do in the nav manager, but not necessarily in the CMS without having a page linked to in the breadcrumbs that is empty. Thanks for your detailed response. It really helps!

[HM666]

Originally Posted by KGodel

Thanks. I'll see how it works out. Not sure how exactly to setup the home page, since all sections have to be in home, so I'll have to see if I have to double-list stuff in Home and say a News category. Thanks for you detailed response. It really helps!

Actually you do not have to have the front page have articles duplicated if you do not want to. you can choose to only allow articles from that section by editing the front page. Just click the little pencil icon up by where it says Home Page or whatever you have changed it to. Then just make sure that you have "Content From" in the drop down choose "This Section Only" what that does is it will only draw from articles that you put in that section. So it will not take articles from say your game section and stick them into your gallery section and so on. You can also elect to allow for all the subsections. This is good when you have multiple subsections as i was describing above. But if you choose to allow for all the subsections then all the articles that have been placed in that section & its lower sections will be included on the first page of that section.

Once you get the hang of the CMS its not too terribly bad, but it is a definite learning curve to figure it out entirely.