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[zoes14994769]

Hi Everyone.

I make websites for a living on dreamweaver, but im stuck on a particular situation and wanted to know if anyone has tried or if its possible to add code to a website to allow the customer to login and and add photos when they like without having to go through me?

I know wordpress sites have this feature but if this was an option on dreamweaver that would be helpful.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

[Jon Fritz · Accepted solution]

It can be done with Dreamweaver, sure, but there's nothing built into the DW interface that will do this kind of thing for you.

If you know enough about a server-side language, like PHP, you could create your own content management system. However, DW requires you to understand what you're doing, it won't keep you from leaving your code open to attacks by people trying to ruin your day, and it won't write any part of the connection scripts to your database for you, without purchasing add-ons.

You'll need to invest some time learning and truly understanding what's necessary to make the kind of site you want. A good place to start would be PHP Solutions by David Powers, or Lynda.com if you prefer a video tutorial system over books.

[osgood_]

I would not attempt this yourself if you do not have the skill set as there is a massive amount to consider. What seems simple believe me isnt once you start to focus and become knee deep you realise that there are many tnings to take into consideration when you let a client loose to upload images.

I would consider starting from something like Perch CMS. Its qiute simple yet quite powerful and  l think it has some kind of plugin that automates uploading images. I havent used it in a while but there was a free trial at one time.

[Nancy OShea]

Will this be used to populate a photo gallery or image slider?

Does the client know how to FTP images to his server?

If yes, then you can write a fairly simple script with PHP code that automatically adds images to the gallery or slider from a designated folder on the server.   I've done this lots of times for clients.   If your client can't FTP images to his server, then it's a lot more complicated.

[osgood_]

Allowing a client to ftp images is hit and miss. What happens when they upload a 2mb, 3mb image, an image that doesnt conform to the required physical size or the extension is incorrect, spaces between file names etc. The gallery or slider can be wrecked in a few seconds.

Uploading images by the unskilled should be done via some kind of cms where you can stipulate the max byte size and reject the image if it falls outside of the required physical dimensions.

[Nancy OShea]

osgood_  wrote

Allowing a client to ftp images is hit and miss. What happens when they upload a 2mb, 3mb image, an image that doesnt conform to the required physical size or the extension is incorrect, spaces between file names etc. The gallery or slider can be wrecked in a few seconds.

Most people who reach out to me are already using  DW in some capacity.  So they know how to FTP files to their server and they generally understand that images must be optimized for the web beforehand.  So a CMS for them would be overkill. 

However, if the client doesn't understand web common sense, I totally agree with you.  They need to pay more money for an idiot proof CMS.  And that's not something one tags on at the end of a project either.  It has to be budgeted & planned for in the very beginning. 

If the OP is still looking for CMS options, Business Catalyst s an all-in-one hosted Content Management System which makes it very appealing to some Dreamweaver users.  The only caveat is you must use BC web hosting.

Nancy