General query about best application to use for my purpose

Report · Jul 06, 2009

Hi,

I am wanting to add dynamic content to my site that would enable me to offer visitors of a variety of quotes from several experts, for this data to be emailed to the visitor and an automated request for a quote to be delivered to the email inbox of the expert giving the visitors request and contact details. Finally for the information to enter a database or be mailed to me to enter into a database that would enable me to keep a track of the activity.

Basically, I need to know which application would be best suited for this purpose, but not too complex to set up as I am not a web builder, but am willing to read up and learn. It would help, though, to know which application/s I need to read up on.

Many thanks in advance

Report · Jul 06, 2009

I am wanting to add dynamic content to my site

What dynamic language do you plan on using?

It would help, though, to know which application/s I need to read up on.

Read up on the dynamic language you plan on using.

Report · Jul 06, 2009

>Basically, I need to know which application would be best suited for this purpose,

There may be off-the-shelf applicaitons, but I would suggest custom building an application using your choice of server side languages. What programming experience do you have?

Report · Jul 06, 2009

What programming experience do you have?

You missed the other part of the quote which answers your question.

not too complex to set up as I am not a web builder

Report · Jul 06, 2009

www.DwFAQ.info wrote:
What programming experience do you have?
You missed the other part of the quote which answers your question.
not too complex to set up as I am not a web builder

I didn't miss anything. The OP said they are not a 'web builder'. I don't know what they mean by that, and regardless, it says nothing about their programming experience. They could have 30 years programming experience, and in that case picking up a server side language would be a piece of cake.

Report · Jul 07, 2009

Thanks, guys for your help. My experience is limited; I have developed my own site by lots of reading and help on forums - especially on this site, I can read and write HTML and read css, but I wouldn't call myself a web builder. I understand that ColdFusion is similar to HTML (from what I have read) and that it can be designed in DW via design view? I have read some material on php and asp.net and am aware of cgi. However, I would not know how one differs or is better from another. I could not say 'I prefer or would like to use this language or that'. Basically I know what I want to do, but I need the best solution to achieve that aim and one that I could get my head around as easily as possible.

Any suggestions that would achieve my aims as simply as possible would be appreciated. Many thanks.

Report · Jul 08, 2009

datsomset wrote:
I understand that ColdFusion is similar to HTML (from what I have read) and that it can be designed in DW via design view?

ColdFusion is similar to HTML in the same way that French is similar to English. In other words, not very. The "similarity" is that ColdFusion uses tags that look like HTML tags - and that's about as far as it goes.

As far as "designing in Design view" is concerned, Dreamweaver provides similar support for three server-side technologies: ASP, ColdFusion, and PHP. It speeds up the creation of database-driven pages through server behaviors that generate a lot of the code for you. However, you still need a fairly good understanding of the technology you're using. Otherwise, you'll quickly run into difficulties.

Don't choose ASP. It's a dying language. Its replacement ASP.NET is not supported by Dreamweaver. That leaves you with the choice of ColdFusion or PHP. Both are good, and will do what you want. My preference is for PHP.

Whichever you choose, don't expect to be able to build what you want overnight. But if you're willing to do some reading and study, it shouldn't be too difficult.

Report · Jul 08, 2009

Thank you David, this is very helpful. I am more than willing to read and learn to achieve what I want, but I didn't want to spend hours learning the wrong thing - asp.NET for instance, if it is dying out! I have done similarly with HTML in order to build my site along with much help from the forums on this site along the way . Would I need to use javascript along with the php to achieve my aim or will php support the form alone? And would I need to set up a database to keep track of the activity? If so what would be best for this?

Many thanks again.