Need Help! Lots of Help Please

nicksr

First things first. When it comes to computers, I am certainly not an idiot. However, if you are so kind as to respond and try and help me, be warned that if you simply post a bunch of PHP code, I probably wont know what to do with it, so some comments or direction would be much appreciated.

So, here goes.

I am updating a website for my son's boyscout troop. Current version can be viewed at www.troop104.com

According to BSA rules, we cannot post any pictures or names on the site unless it is "reasonably" protected from the general public view.

So, what I would ideally like to do is this.

I will need some method for them to register. Currently using some lame cgi script that doesn't do what I want.

once registered, i would like it so that when they come back, they dont have to log in everytime. Perhaps a little bit of personalization here would be nice too. Let them know I am actually doing something for them. Otherwise, they will probably want me to wash cars or something.

I would also like them to be able to go anywhere in the website without having to worry about logging in again.

Finally, and this is the real bear. I have the entire roster in excel format. They want me to put it on the website and make it searchable and make it so that they can view it in different formats. For example: Some will want it sorted by last name. Others will want it sorted based on which patrol the boys are in.
Others will want it sorted by rank, or perhaps troop or patrol position. I have a MySql database that I can work with for the site.

Ok, I think that is it. I probably forgot something.

Now I realize, there is nobody that is going to sit down and type everything I need. Nor do I expect it. But if you could tell me what type of code I need for each thing. Give or point me to some examples would be fantastic. I have found some solutions using cgi, but just not what I am looking for and nothing as kewl as using PHP/MySql. Heck the cgi program Im using right now doesnt even encrypt the password. Speaking of which, I will need them to be able to retrieve lost passwords without my help too :-)

Thanks so much.

Soup

You might want to take a look at Post Nuke. It's a content management system (CMS) that uses php/mysql. I think it has all of the features you're looking for, but I'm not sure at all about the Excel thing, tho.
I'm really new to php, and I've managed to get pretty far with it...
You can find it at http://sourceforge.net. I'd reccommend version .714.
( and if you need a gallery, there's a module available at http://marsishere.net )
I hope this is of some help. Good luck.

bastien

postNuke is nice and has all the features you need...you could build it all yourself, but that is one hell of a learning experience😃

nicksr

I have looked at both phpnuke and postnuke in the past.

I dont know, but just not really what I was hoping to go with. All those postnuke sites all seem to be the same thing. A bunch of sites talking about postnuke. Or themes for postnuke or modules for postnuke.

Im sure I am wrong and there are probably some great sites out there using postnuke that are not talking about postnuke. I just haven't found them.

But I guess since Im not getting much help here, I'll move on to another forum and crack open the php/mysql books in the meantime.

thanks to those that did respond

Soup

You're right about so many PostNuke sites being devoted to PostNuke....but your site wouldn't be about PostNuke!
It's simply a system of modules meant to work together. The subject matter,content, etc, is entirely up to the webmaster.

I'm using it, and my site's for my family (cousins, aunts, etc) to keep in touch, post photos, etc, and my husband's site is for sharing 'sea stories'...the only mention at all of PostNuke on either of our sites is in the 'credits'.

If you choose not to try it, that's your option, of course, but I hate to see you build from scratch something that's readily available and simple to use.

Regardless, I wish you luck...

nicksr

True, True

The thing is, that it seems like with this postnuke, it is easy, if you fit in the format. But if you have a lot of stuff that is outside of the realm of what it was designed to do, then you get into a big mess.

I don't need most of the stuff I see on these sites, but I do need other stuff I dont see.

For example, I haven't seen any sites that have areas that only some people have access to and others dont.

Also, I have the whole database issue. I need my members to be able to look up information in the database and then get a report.

Finally, our site is comprised now of about 50 html pages. They would all have to be reformatted to work within the phpnuke site.

Then we have another 135 .pdf files that can either be viewed online or downloaded.

I guess I just thought if someone just told me what type of things I needed to do, it would be easier to adapt my current site then to use phpnuke.

Apparently, i am the only one who thinks that, or this is simply a non-active forum. Too bad too cuz it's a great site

Soup

There is a permissions system within Postnuke that you use to assign access to different areas of your site, by group and/or by individual. The combinations are limitless, far as I can see.

I'm not sure precisely what kind of database function you're looking for..but PN uses mysql. There's a 'members list' module built into the basic distribution--seems like you could adjust the field names to watever you needed.
There's a rolodex-styleaddressbook module available, as well.
There's a module called Diner_Wrapper available that 'wraps' html files to have them show sort of wiithin the framework of the site. All are free, of course.

I'm really quite new to php,mysql, postnuke, but I've made good progress in a fairly short time. Sadly, I haven't anything much to show you, as my host trashed things recently and I'm just setting up again. (I haven't had much time lately) But you can take a peek-very little is functioning at the moment- log in as 'Testuser', password 'test'...jazes.com/seastories.

(I agree about this forum not being very useful....):rolleyes:

nicksr

Actually came across the sea stories site in another post.

There was also one for a church. Might even have been the same thread. The church site was the first phpnuke site I have seen that was totally devoted to something other then phpnuke that had quite a bit of substance. Not knocking your site, just that it wasnt working when I first looked at it.

I downloaded phpnuke and installed it on a test site under one of my other URL's to play around with it and see what it's capabilities might be. If there is a rolodex module, then I might be able to make it work, if I can control access to the module.

Thanks for the suggestions and persistence

nicksr

Soup,

If you happen to know where that address book module is, please let me know. been searchin and searchin. No can find

thanks

siwis

You could also try phpMyWebsite from HERE as an alternative to post and phpnuke.

To code from scratch, you will need to start by taking stock of some basic php/mysql tutorials like THIS ONE (to get used to interfacing with your database, updating, inserting and deleting, plus selecting) and you'll then want to be looking at authentication. By the sounds of it, you'll need a cookie based authentication, of which there are examples on this very site 😃

For password retrieval, you'd be better not to store the passwords encrypted, which as you are not dealing with financial data, shouldn't be a problem. I'd be tempted to have your site generate passwords for people which it then sends to them by email. That way, you immediately confirm a 'live' address.

nicksr

very nice, both the tutorial and the phpmywebsite. I am actually very near Appalachian State University, so it is ironic you mentioned that project.

I had looked at it only breifly before and then lost the bookmark for it and hadn't written down the name. That might be just what I am looking for.

The tutorial you mentioned was very good too. I just breezed through it quickly. Most of that stuff I already knew. it is pulling it all together and figuring out what needs to go where and when that is so dang tricky.

I think between phpnuke and phpmywebsite, I can probably make one of them work.

I really want the website to be the main method of communication for our Boy Scout Troop. In order for me to do that, it has to be highly functional, informative and easy to use. Otherwise, they will just continue to pick up the phone and call people one at a time. How archaic is that?

Thanks for a most informative post

Soup

The site seems to be down for that addressbook(rolodex) module..so uploaded my copy here for you:
jazes.com/nick/PN_Addressbook2.zip.

It's the original I downloaded, so all docs, install instructions, etc. are included.

regards,
soup

nicksr

Got it, thanks!

Another cup of coffee and I will see if I can install it

Soup

You're quite welcome. Holler if you also want that 'wrapper' module, as their site is going thru a change...

Also, I recently happened on an "HTML to Any Code converter", which you may find useful. http://www.nutsoft.com

And one more thing- in the PostNuke distribution, there are quite a few modules you may not even be interested in using, and you can simply delete them.

😃

nicksr

One problem I am having with the addressbook

the install file said you could configure it in the Admin Menu. However, it doesn't show up on my Admin Menu. I assume there is someway to configure the fields and such.

Also, do you know if there is anyway to make it so that when someone registers, I can be notified? Also along that same vein. Is it possible to make it so that they do not become active until they are approved by an admin?

I just dont want anyone to be able to register, then automatically get access to the restricted areas. Maybe I have to control this with permissions and have one group that has access to public areas, then make a members group that has access to members only area. Then manually add people to this group. What do you think?

Soup

Hmmm...it should show in admin...could be something with your Nuke version (seems there are SO many!)....look in "Modules" in admin, you might need to "activate" it....

I think there is something about being notified, but can't find it....will look more and come back...

AHA! found it....uploaded for you--this allows notification, enable/disable account creation, and more...
it's here:
jazes.com/nick/pncUserHackv11.zip

(I couldn't locate the original site)

🙂

nicksr

Thanks, downloaded it and will check it out.

If I remember somewhere from my reading long ago, if I install a hack, then I have lots more work if I upgrade in the future. correct?

Thanks

Any idea where I can find the icon_pdf.gif that was not included with the download. Im searching and can't find it in any of the files

Soup

The only time installing a hack will give you real trouble is if it affects the "core". Most of these that I find don't.
However, I'd really reccommend keeping backups- of the originals,obviously- of anything you alter.
You'd really only hit a snag if you were upgrading, and the way the PostNuke 'core' developers seem to be 'infighting' right now, that's likely not going to be much of a problem for awhile..
Don't let that discourage you from using PostNuke, though, as there's a tremendous community of unofficial developers out there, coming out with cool stuff all the time.

...will try to track down that icon

nicksr

Well Soup,

You convinced me to at least start a testsite to see how it would come together.

I only had a couple hours to spend on it today, but you can have a look here:

Troop 104 Testsite

I still need to find out about the address book situation. I sent the developer an email to see if he had any answers. That is key.

I also still have to decide if it is worth the effort to port over all the pages. I can easily put the PDF files we use in the downloads section. But that would still leave tons of pages of content.

Thanks for your help. I am sure I will be needing more.

Soup

Looks like you've gotten off to a good start. I had to laugh when I saw it, though, as I'm in Garner-we're practically neighbors! (my littlest has just become a Tiger cub) Small world, huh?

That wrapper module is here:
jazes.com/nick/Diner_Wrapper.zip

It's the one you want for displaying your html files without having to re-write 'em...

Couldn't find that pdf icon, but if you go to google.com, click the images tab above the search box, then search for "pdf icon", you'll likely find one that you can live with.

😉