Managing a web site

C2 RIBS · 02 February 2011, 22:20

I run several websites that have had administrators for a long while, on one site I have been given the username,FTP server and password which I now want to log into. This was a site I have always had to rely on their office and as they are a long way away I end up at the back of the queue

On another site I have had another administrator who allowed me to control input through Adobe Contribute package which granted me password access to the site to change and edit it. This has worked well for many years. Recently we have both experienced problems logging in. The web hosting company state there is no problem and they can access the site as an administrator though Filezilla.

Now being an almost totally self taught techi I need some help. What does anyone suggest to manage say two web sites through one process/software which woud allow me to access,edit etc. I have downloaded filezilla and can say I am stuck presently but will call their help desk tomorrow

Any clues or suggestions to get away from administrators at two different parts of the UK and take my sites back under my control. Clearly I need it fairly straight forward.

martini · 02 February 2011, 23:53

If you didn't need to do anything too fancy and you had a mac, then iWeb.
It's so easy even I can do it

http://www.apple.com/uk/ilife/iweb/

Poly · 02 February 2011, 23:57

C2 - I'm not sure I fully understand your question.

Do you mean:

(1) How would you suggest getting access to the "backend" of your existing websites?
(2) If you were starting afresh how would you suggest setting up access to the "backend" of the websites?
(3) Do you need access to the backend anyway on a regular basis? e.g. if a suitable content management system is installed - and if so which?

C2 RIBS · 03 February 2011, 06:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

C2 - I'm not sure I fully understand your question.

Do you mean:

(1) How would you suggest getting access to the "backend" of your existing websites?
(2) If you were starting afresh how would you suggest setting up access to the "backend" of the websites?
(3) Do you need access to the backend anyway on a regular basis? e.g. if a suitable content management system is installed - and if so which?

This is where my knowledge is limited.

I can see my websites on line at any time as can others. But take for example the events pages, they change regularly and I need to be able to access the web pages to alter, add, edit words, text, links to other sites and photos. Before I have done this through logging into the website through Adobe Contribute 4 but that is what is playing up . So I need another way to log in and manage sites. If I achieve this I have a new site I want to add to this process to do the same, hope that makes sense

Poly · 03 February 2011, 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

This is where my knowledge is limited.

I can see my websites on line at any time as can others. But take for example the events pages, they change regularly and I need to be able to access the web pages to alter, add, edit words, text, links to other sites and photos. Before I have done this through logging into the website through Adobe Contribute 4 but that is what is playing up . So I need another way to log in and manage sites. If I achieve this I have a new site I want to add to this process to do the same, hope that makes sense

Ian I don't know Adobe Contribute but it looks like it is a Wysiwyg HTML editor together with some upload type features. There are plenty of similar things around but you might want to find out why its not working (if e.g. the type of access it uses has now been blocked on the server?).

If I was creating a new site from scratch today I wouldn't start by using a Wysiwyg HTML editor though (unless maybe its a tiny site that changes rarely or you want to prove you can etc!). Depending on what you are trying to achieve a free content management system is probably a good start. I suspect for what you want wordpress (www.wordpress.org) would be ideal. If you are feeling more "techy" then Joomla is worth a look too. However content management won't (easily) provide a way to integrate with / take over the old sites...

Jimbo · 03 February 2011, 10:05

Getting your web designers to implement a good, open source, content management package is a good idea.

I use CMS Made Simple (http://www.cmsmadesimple.org/) for quite a few sites, and have just been trying Wordpress for my personal site (http://www.james-davies.co.uk).

The only thing with both of those is that they do need installing on the server and your site needs to be put into a template so it works with them - that's something that for simple sites is relatively straightforward for most geeks :-)

Jimbo

Poly · 03 February 2011, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo

The only thing with both of those is that they do need installing on the server and your site needs to be put into a template so it works with them - that's something that for simple sites is relatively straightforward for most geeks :-)

Even non-geeks are fine though as you can get wordpress preinstalled on 'your' server (for a cost). e.g. - this is the first google hit and not a recommendation. http://www.maiahost.com/cms/WordPress_Hosting.html

Jimbo · 03 February 2011, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

Even non-geeks are fine though as you can get wordpress preinstalled on 'your' server (for a cost). e.g. - this is the first google hit and not a recommendation. http://www.maiahost.com/cms/WordPress_Hosting.html

Yes - I think the bit that requires a geek (albeit a relatively beginner geek!) is taking an existing website that is simply html and css files and splitting it into a template then integrating that with a CMS.

C2 RIBS · 03 February 2011, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Yes - I think the bit that requires a geek (albeit a relatively beginner geek!) is taking an existing website that is simply html and css files and splitting it into a template then integrating that with a CMS.

Cheers for inputs. My website is held on servers from easily.co.uk who tell me there is no problem but clearly I have a few problems getting into my sites. All worked ok up to new year and then with house move and internet moves the systems have failed.

As for geeks, I cant be one as reading the sites mentioned I get lost in minutes. I am guessing I need some help so will call in some favours first before I spend too much. Jimbo, new site looks good.

Poly · 03 February 2011, 23:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

All worked ok up to new year and then with house move and internet moves the systems have failed.

I'd be trying to work out what's stopping you connecting:

- can you login directly (say through ftp? - you shouldn't need to use filezilla, you could try something like ftp://www.mydomain.com in firefox (it will prompt for username and pwd))
- do you / the provider have any settings for IP screening to protect the site (i.e. was you old internet connection set up on a "permitted" list and now you are on a blocked one?)
- have you changed anything in your new setup - e.g. new firewall?

C2 RIBS · 05 February 2011, 17:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

I'd be trying to work out what's stopping you connecting:

- can you login directly (say through ftp? - you shouldn't need to use filezilla, you could try something like ftp://www.mydomain.com in firefox (it will prompt for username and pwd))
- do you / the provider have any settings for IP screening to protect the site (i.e. was you old internet connection set up on a "permitted" list and now you are on a blocked one?)
- have you changed anything in your new setup - e.g. new firewall?

Well it is clear that my access programme works as I have loaded a new site for access through it using ftp codes, user names and passowrds,
The older site still rejects access and points direct toa server down(which it cannot be as I am using the same for other site) or contact my administrator which will be done Monday to gain new codes etc. It does appear to be an administrator issue.

mrkidd85 · 15 February 2011, 09:31

It might be too late in this instance, but in future I'd recomment using Joomla.

It might take a bit of time investment to learn your way around, but once you do you wont need to use these administrators.

Joomla is a CMS system which allows you to edit your site without much technical knowledge.

It might be worth getting a developer in to get the template all right.