Trade association website - advice on using C5
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Hi,
Ive recently discovered C5 after looking at several possible starting points for developing a new website for a trade association. It looks really good for most of the site, static pages, FAQ, Image gallery, etc. but there are 3 linked "applications" that I need to include and would welcome any advice from the "old hands" on how best to design for these 3 elements.
In this case "Members" are companies with 1 or more employees who would use the site at 3 levels. Level 1 - Reader, visits the site to get information & can access a Members only area as well as the public area; L2 - Editor, can make changes to information provided by the member; L3 - Principle, can add employees and assign responsibilities. Some member employees will also be special users within the admin area, e.g. Experts who can answer FAQs and Members of the Membership Application Committee (MAC) - both would just be members of their respective group. There will be an overall administrator in the associations head office and general public who can view public static pages, FAQ, Members directory, etc.
The 3 applications are:
1. Member directory with contact information, profile, list(s) of types of offering and areas of the country worked. The directory will be visible to anyone who visits the site. L2 & L3 employees would be able to edit the member's entry in the directory.
2. Membership applications. A L3 employee would fill in an application form providing some basic information. This information is held on the site and the MAC would be advised by email of the application. MAC members would review the information and comment via a form on the site. The site Admin would accept/reject the application and advise the applicant. Accepted applicants would then be able to edit/enhance (L2 & L3 employees) their own profiles and would be shown in the directory.
3. Case studies. L2 & L3 employees would be able to post/edit the Members own case studies - probably through completeing a case study template under a case study list page.
Specific questions
1. Will the permission system give me adequate control?
2. Is C5 really suited for building this type of system or would I be better off coming from the oposite direction with something like MODX
Ive recently discovered C5 after looking at several possible starting points for developing a new website for a trade association. It looks really good for most of the site, static pages, FAQ, Image gallery, etc. but there are 3 linked "applications" that I need to include and would welcome any advice from the "old hands" on how best to design for these 3 elements.
In this case "Members" are companies with 1 or more employees who would use the site at 3 levels. Level 1 - Reader, visits the site to get information & can access a Members only area as well as the public area; L2 - Editor, can make changes to information provided by the member; L3 - Principle, can add employees and assign responsibilities. Some member employees will also be special users within the admin area, e.g. Experts who can answer FAQs and Members of the Membership Application Committee (MAC) - both would just be members of their respective group. There will be an overall administrator in the associations head office and general public who can view public static pages, FAQ, Members directory, etc.
The 3 applications are:
1. Member directory with contact information, profile, list(s) of types of offering and areas of the country worked. The directory will be visible to anyone who visits the site. L2 & L3 employees would be able to edit the member's entry in the directory.
2. Membership applications. A L3 employee would fill in an application form providing some basic information. This information is held on the site and the MAC would be advised by email of the application. MAC members would review the information and comment via a form on the site. The site Admin would accept/reject the application and advise the applicant. Accepted applicants would then be able to edit/enhance (L2 & L3 employees) their own profiles and would be shown in the directory.
3. Case studies. L2 & L3 employees would be able to post/edit the Members own case studies - probably through completeing a case study template under a case study list page.
Specific questions
1. Will the permission system give me adequate control?
2. Is C5 really suited for building this type of system or would I be better off coming from the oposite direction with something like MODX
I honestly don't think that C5 is the right tool for your requirements.
C5, and ModX, are both content management systems -- which allow easy updating of website content.
I've developed trade application software on the desktop. And, in order not to constrain yourself, your needs extend well beneath the front end interfaces you describe to a whole host of database functionality which requires a significant amount of CRUD work. There is also a sophisticated business logic needed for true flexibility. This can be added on to C5 and it can be; but, you'll have little additional support in the community or in add-ons to do so. Custom coding would be the only way to go.
Your best foundation would likely be Drupal -- which is an application engine rather than a more restricted CMS -- and the use of an add-on module for association software. I note one such. This is not a recommendation, simply an identification. But, it may provide some additional insight into what you need in order to build a truly flexible and solid foundation for your client.
https://drupal.org/project/RedHen...
http://thinkshout.com/blog/category/redhen...
C5, and ModX, are both content management systems -- which allow easy updating of website content.
I've developed trade application software on the desktop. And, in order not to constrain yourself, your needs extend well beneath the front end interfaces you describe to a whole host of database functionality which requires a significant amount of CRUD work. There is also a sophisticated business logic needed for true flexibility. This can be added on to C5 and it can be; but, you'll have little additional support in the community or in add-ons to do so. Custom coding would be the only way to go.
Your best foundation would likely be Drupal -- which is an application engine rather than a more restricted CMS -- and the use of an add-on module for association software. I note one such. This is not a recommendation, simply an identification. But, it may provide some additional insight into what you need in order to build a truly flexible and solid foundation for your client.
https://drupal.org/project/RedHen...
http://thinkshout.com/blog/category/redhen...
Thanks to both respondents.
I rather suspected this might be the case. I do know about the business logic required on the back end but I was hoping that a certain amount of the front end could be created and edited more easily this way. I appreciate the input from those with experience of C5.
I rather suspected this might be the case. I do know about the business logic required on the back end but I was hoping that a certain amount of the front end could be created and edited more easily this way. I appreciate the input from those with experience of C5.
For the typical business website, C5 is close to the ideal development environment. I'm a big fan and it is my company standard for such.
But, I've done development for 25 years. Customer requirements are important and the more complex can sometimes be served by a different platform.
Better to have a data model that satisfies your requirements with a bit more difficult user interface, than an easy to use environment that doesn't do the job. You can train for the former, but not the latter.
All the best!
But, I've done development for 25 years. Customer requirements are important and the more complex can sometimes be served by a different platform.
Better to have a data model that satisfies your requirements with a bit more difficult user interface, than an easy to use environment that doesn't do the job. You can train for the former, but not the latter.
All the best!
However, I'm not familiar with MODX, but I'd imagine you'd have to build a similar amount of custom functionality into that as well. Maybe it's easier, though (scaffolding and whatnot...).