CMS Decision

[ptmuldoon]

Hi,

I’ve know this question has been asked a 100 times over, but I have yet to find the CMS solution that works the best, and am hoping that someone who has done it may be willing to share their experience and knowledge as to what they used, etc.

I’m looking to create a site with VB for the forums, but am trying to find the right CMS that will integrate well with VB, and allow for the following.

On the CMS homepage, you should be able to do the following.

1. Change the theme and layout of the site’s home page.
(VbAdvanced can not change from its standard 3-col layout)

2. Require only 1 login. Preferably by using VB registration process
3. Be capable of placing the VB mini-calendar on to the CMS homepage.
4. Place vb polls onto the home page as well
5. Using Photopost VBGallery, have a random or slideshow on the CMS homepage.
6. Possible have the vb menu horizontal across the top and the CMS men vertically on the left (this is likey more a theme/skin related, but would show the integration nicel)

So anybody successfully done any or most of the above? A CMS that lets you change its layout around easily, as well can use the VB calendar, polls, gallery, etc.?

Thanks
PT

[gothicuser]

The only one that in my opinion may possibly come close (with a fair bit of hacking) would be MPortal, which has a tight integration. There is also Joomla
which integrates quite nicely, but the displaying of vB components on the front page may be an issue.. Or you could consider vBPortal which, contrary to popular belief, can display as many or as few columns as you see fit! I used to use vBPortal myself, still got the license, but have transferred over to vBAdvanced, which in my opinion integrates easier, and more pleasently and, along with GARS, is infinitely easier to enhance and offers a better experience.
Choose well m8, there are plenty of options, and probably lots more advice on it's way....

[ptmuldoon]

I've used VbAdvanced in the past and due like it, except for its limited abilities of standard 3-col layout.

I do remember playing with MPortal in the past as well, but only briefly. I'll take another look at it, as I don't remember is skin/theming very well.

I've never really looked at vbPortal, so maybe I'll take a look at it.

I also purchased the full GARS as well in the past, but haven't really attempted to learn it much.

And I've been experimenting with joomla for about the last month. I like it, but it really doesn't integrate that well, and can't use the calendar, polls on its home page yet.

I see theres a drupal integration thats been done as well, but again, I don't think you can place the calendar on the home page with it.

opensourcecms lists pretty much every major cms out there, and I've yet to see what besides vbAdvanced that can place the calendar on the home page.

Subdreamer is nice too, but again, they've yet to place a calendar on the home page.

Anybody else have any ideas or sugestions? Or do we keep holding our breath for vbcms to come out?

[Freesteyelz]

Originally Posted by ptmuldoon

1. Change the theme and layout of the site’s home page.
(VbAdvanced can not change from its standard 3-col layout)

I've experimented with vBadvanced and it can be done. I invite you to take a look at my forum's layout vs the Home page layout. Not only has the background changed but so did the columns; it's just 1 of 4 custom templates. Though, I'm not finished by a long shot.

bac-Community Forum (Click "Home" link to site's Homepage).



As for the rest of your list:

2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
5. Never tried it.
6. Definitely (I'm using different Headers and Footers.)

*Intergration between the site's pages and forum is the #1 priority as far as I'm concerned.

[ptmuldoon]

Interesting, maybe I'll give VbAdvanced another try.

But there's things still lacking with VBa, that other CMS's offer so much better. For one, I'm looking to add a receipe module to it for users to submit and rate recipes. Joomla has nice one, but nothing has been developed for VB regarding a recipe module. I know I can use possible GARs or Cinq's article hack for it, but its not as versatile.

[libertate]

I have got vBAdvanced in 1, 2, 3 and even mixed column setups (2,3 cols on top with col bellow), although in a limited fashion.

[Freesteyelz]

Originally Posted by ptmuldoon

Interesting, maybe I'll give VbAdvanced another try.

But there's things still lacking with VBa, that other CMS's offer so much better. For one, I'm looking to add a receipe module to it for users to submit and rate recipes. Joomla has nice one, but nothing has been developed for VB regarding a recipe module. I know I can use possible GARs or Cinq's article hack for it, but its not as versatile.

I think products, such as vBadvanced, has the potential of being very versatile. It's all in the matter of how the developer approaches the task(s) at hand. I see vBa and GARS as tools and we use these tools to create works of art.