Archive for the 'CMS Systems' Category

Downloadable documents in CMS Made Simple

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It is often useful to provide visitors to a website with a downloadable document. This can be a PDF (the recommended format) but could also be a Word document or Excel spreadsheet. In recent versions of CMS Made Simple (CMSMS) that use the TinyMCE editor this is quite simple. With the page editor open at the desired page follow these steps:

  1. Highlight the text the visitor is to click to download the file
  2. Click the link icon in the editor toolbar
  3. When the popup window appears click the browse icon to the right of the URL field
  4. Click (open) the ‘files’ folder and either select a previously uploaded file from the list or browse your local PC to upload a new one.  Note: if a ‘files’ folder is not present you can create one with this popup screen. Is is always a good policy to keep downloadable files separate from images.
  5. In either case once you have selected your file set the target to ‘Open in a new window (_blank)’ when the Insert/Edit popup window appears.

SmartStart: the ultimate small business web site design solution

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To help kick start your small/micro business in 2009 The Online Shop Designer (TOSD) has just released SmartStart, a very comprehensive solution priced at just $599.00 AUD (inc GST).

Given that the package includes a website with a choice of professionally designed layouts and colours, delightfully simple Content Management System (CMS) facilities, a solid range of interactive features, unlimited page creation, 12 months hosting and a FREE domain name . . . SmartStart delivers amazing value.

Is SmartStart the ultimate small business web site design solution?

Visit the SmartStart demonstration site now and see for yourself!

Inserting anchors in CMS Made Simple

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Anchors are an effective aid to internal page navigation on long pages.

Typically they take the form of a bulleted list at the top of the page with hyperlinks to sections further down the page.  In this way clicking on a link at the top of the page will take the visitor directly down to the section of interest, without them having to scroll down to find it.

These instructions apply to CMS made Simple, or any other application that uses the TinyMCE editor. If you are a little unsure of the TinyMCE editor icons refer to this downloadable quick reference chart.

Here are the steps to insert anchors into a page:

  • Decide what points you want your visitors to be able to go to when they click on a link at the top of the page. Usually these will be sub-headings at the start of each section.
  • Click to the left of each of these sub-headings, click the anchor icon in the editor’s menu and insert a name for the anchor. Make this either the same as the sub-heading or an abbreviation of it. When you click insert you will see a little anchor symbol appear next to the sub-heading. This is only a marker in the editor and will not be visible to the public.
  • After you have created the anchors go back to the top of the page and create the bulleted list of hyperlinks. The list items should contain the same text as the sub-headings that you are linking to.
  • Working with each list item in turn:
    1. Highlight the text that will form the link.
    2. Click the plain link icon in the editor menu
    3. Click the drop down arrow on the ‘anchor’ field and select the anchor you wish to link to.
    4. Add a title - once again the same as the sub-heading text
    5. Insert.

That’s It!

Website solutions with CMS Made Simple

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All website designers have a preference for the particular website application they like to use. This is perfectly natural. It is borne out of their personal experiences with different applications and the most common needs, and capabilities, of their clients.

In my case I develop many website solutions using CMS Made Simple, an excellent Content Management System(CMS) whose name belies it capability.

What is does, can be anything but ’simple’ - as is evidenced by this site that I recently completed for a client: www.babyboomerstravelclub.com.au. How it does it, from a user administrator’s point of view, is simplicity itself. Essentially, if you can use a word processor, you can create web pages and create news articles in CMS Made Simple - also known as CMSMS.

So what can be achieved with CMS Made Simple?

  • Web sites that owner/administrators can readily manage themselves.
  • Solutions that can grow with future needs.
  • Embedded features such as:
  • News
  • Calendars
  • Events
  • Testimonials
  • Booking systems
  • Dedicated forms
  • Member systems
  • Simple online sales

If you think you need a very capable Content Management System (CMS) for your next website contact me. I would be very happy to discuss your needs.

Creating a popup image in CMS Made Simple

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This process will enable you to link a pop-up image to an existing image in CMS Made Simple. This is very useful where you either want to pop-up an enlargement, or simply provide an alternative image.

Step 1

  • Insert the first (small) image in the usual way.

Step 2 - link the first image to the pop-up image

  • Select the small image and click the [link] editor icon.
  • Click the [Pop-up] tab and check the ‘Javascript Pop-up’ box.
  • For the ‘Pop-up Url’ field browse and select the (large) image that you want to display in the popup window.
  • Allocate a ‘Window name’ (can be anything)
  • ‘Size’ is the size of the pop-up window - make it about 40px larger than the large image.
  • Enter c in both ‘Position’ boxes
  • Leave the ‘Options’ as default
  • Update

Test by displaying the page and clicking on the image. The larger or alternative image should popup in its own window.