Maybe something like Wordpress or Drupal might work for you? Google 'cms' to see your options.

Just incase you missed it snowman, if you select all the items on your home page you have edited, with the shift key held down

Then go to each page in turn and select same items to replace with shift key held down, and delete all at once,

Then you can paste all the edits in one go, in the exact place on each page, takes about a minute per page.

Hi Viv,
Thanks for the tip. I am aware of the copy-paste functionality and it works exactly as it should. When I implemented an improved logo on our site I used the copy-paste to populate to each of the 4 pages. Simple. Now if I had 40 pages, how long would it take? With true Master Template capabilities I would make that change once, and every other page would automatically inherit the change.

I'm actually quite surprised this isn't a bigger issue for people on the CC forums. You all seem to create some pretty sophisticated sites. But all sites grow and then get "old" over time. When that happens the fastest way to give them a refresh is with a Master Template approach. Sure a total refresh would require touching every page but for simple stuff, say a download button or RSS feed on every page, it seems that having to edit every page would make you guys insane. (Although for anyone that is a contractor I suppose it does drive the billable hours. )

I really like most everything else I've used in CC. I'm weighing the time, effort, cost to move to a system that provides the Master functionality. Right now it looks like about $100-$180 depending on which system you choose (there are actually several) but then I'd still need to check if the new system has all the functionality I've come to appreciate in CC.

If I had any idea that Master Templates were coming in VSD I would wait for it (depending how long) and pay for it (depending how much). My other main desire is to have non-Flash forms, for the growing iPhone and iPad user base. But that's a topic for another forum.

Most of all, I truly appreciate the quick feedback and attempts to help that I've received from this group. That level of concern and cooperation will be difficult to give up if I move to a new system.

Anyone from CC want to share R&D timeline and functional milestones?

Best regards,
Snowman

Snowman you can code the parts that you know might change often like a header image. That way all you have to do is upload a new image and all the pages are changed. I think most users are not making changes to their sites as you would like to.

I think its the usual message here, VSD was aimed at people like me, complete technophobe with no html experience.

1 month after buying CC vsd I had my own acceptable website, and its improved in leaps and bounds, 2 years later and 8 websites under my belt yet I still have not got the fogiest idea how it works, or how i am doing it

Make it more complex and I would never have got to manage it as it may have been to complicated

Rolly,
My last post got deleted. Probably because I mentioned another product by name that does many of the things people have been asking for, including Master pages and all the other add-ons. My bad, but it sure would make your life easier. Anyway, I was writing to thank you and paintbrush for being great Ambassadors. I appreciate your patience and attempts to help me. Unfortunately I was told my requests won't be implemented. So I need to decide if I should stand on principal and kiss the current investment goodbye to buy a new package, or keep paying CC for the additional modules I'll be needing and suffer with the kludgey editing. Tough choice.

I know you're fully bought in to CC but the alternatives out there are very compelling. Anyway, maybe I'll see you around this forum, maybe not. Depends on how I feel about flushing $88.

Thanks again, you and paintbrush have been great.

PS Viv, the other tool requires no HTML coding. All WYSIWYG. Just more features.

Snowman, Hope your search ends the way you want. If you have any more questions post back.

Confession of a software junkie here - I've bought more web software over the years than I can remember. There's always something new, improved, better, faster... whatever. The one thing they all have in common? No matter how many bells and whistles, there will be something it doesn't do.

The reasons CC VSD finally made it to the top of the pile for me:
- It doesn't produce the horrible, bloated code most WYSIWYGs do - and it validates.
-Very easy to use - saves me time
-It's made to easily accommodate additional code and scripts, so I can customise my site as much as I want (or know how to ).
-FREE upgrades for life!
-And if I ever want to build a site from scratch, I can quickly mock it up/test it in VSD before moving on to the HTML Editor

Snowman - whatever program you're considering, see if there's a forum for it - that will give you a real good idea of whether the software is a good choice or not

Paintbrush is spot on about there is always something better quicker faster, and always something missing,

That's why to date I have owned 27 motorcycles, never once got my money back, and 40 years later I am back to what is now a classic that I started off with when I was 16

Thank heavens these programs are a mere £30. 00 or so each !

Paintbrush and Viv,
You both make excellent points about reliable siftware that generates tight and valid code. That's the most important piece and I really hadn't thought a lot about it so it is something to consider. I will check the forums on the other vendor and, as I said to Rolly, if I stick with Coffee Cup, it will be because of you Ambassadors.

One observation however, free upgrades for life cuts both ways. Ever wonder why CC has so many different modules? It's not to make it easy on consumers because it's nearly impossible for a newbie to know which modules to buy. New modules is how CC generates new revenue for new features. (I have no issue with that, they should be paid for new functionality.) The problem is, every new module needs it's own UI and it needs to be tested with VSD, HTML Editor and all the other modules it may touch. It's a QA nightmare! The result for consumers is that a really cool new feature may not make it into a base module because CC perceives the value as being so high that it can generate better revenue streams as a standalone module. (Existing customers buy a new module rather than getting it built-in for free.) So really you don't get free upgrades for life because the really cool upgrades are new modules. As an example, Web Form Builder is not part of VSD, yet it's visual, it's interactive editing and it behaves very similar (not quite as good) as VSD. As a result, when added to VSD I see a big ugly box where the form should appear, rather than the beautiful form I see in WFB. If I need to edit it I have to go back-and-forth between VSD and WFB. Really? That makes no sense, except that CC wanted to separate the revenue streams. In this scenario, I would welcome maintenance/upgrade fees. Then at least I know the modules I care about are getting new features.

The CC guys will use WFB as a prime example of upgrade for life as they move from Flash to HTML5 and CSS. Don't buy it! They have no choice because Flash doesn't work with Safari and iPad/iPhone. Unless they want a revolt from the install base they had to make this move. But because of the R&D investment I bet someone considered making it a whole new module!

Anyway, you guys are great and I love the thought provoking conversation. But it's probably no longer appropriate for a public forum. Wish there was some way to converse with you directly.

All the best!
Snowman