Quite a few of my customers have enquired about managing their own content once their sites have been created (I use CC software). This would be good from a time perspective from my point of view as the changes are small and numerous and this is certainly an option I'd like to add for the future. Is it necessary for them to purchase CC software in order to do this or is there some other way that this could be effected more efficiently? Do I pass all the files on to the customer and then get them to purchase the software in order to do changes or is there some other way, still using CC of course? If they want to use alternate software then I guess that's their perogative, but I'd like to push CC as I'm now very familiar with it and can assist them if they encounter problems. I'd be grateful for any suggestions as my little web business is starting to fly and I'd like to be competitive with others in the area offering similar. Thanx!

You'd probably hafta insist on CC for your clients wouldn't you? Especially if you're using VSD and not HTML Editor.

But yes, they would have to purchase their own copy of the software.

If I were you, giving web design software to clients, I'd be afraid that my whole life would be taken over helping them trouble shoot issues. I'd much rather charge them to make the change myself

When a site is up, it is possible to download it with any ftp client and edit it with any code-based html programme. The problem with sites made in VSD is, that without the .vnu file you can't open them in VSD, and any changes made with other programmes will be discarded if you open them from the original .vnu file afterwards. And, as Chad points out, there is most likely going to be a mess that unexperienced site owners have created because they don't know what they are doing.

With a CMS solution it would be possible to give restricted editing permissions to the site owners, so that they may be able to change text and pictures, but not the layout, font style etc. We have been asking CC if they would make a CMS programme, and we are hoping that they will do so one of these days.

Most CMS systems require a database - and CC dont like them for some reason *shrugs*

I agree - its more trouble than its worth trying to give a customer all the code to mess with - thats why i wrote my own CMS

Try this free software.

http://www.cushycms.com/

CC prolly doesn't like database bc there software has to be EASY to use, and creating databases is not for the novice. It SEEMS easy to those of us with experience, but for the typical user, it's too complicated and CC prolly doesn't want to have to troubleshoot database problems through their tech support. I don't blame them

What about using iframes where the source doc is a word doc saved as html?

The have your cusotmers' use word to manage straight text content and upload via FileZilla?

ick M$oft

The recommendation for CushyCMS is a GREAT solution. It is simple to use and FREE if you don't want custom branding. If you want custom branding it is 19.95 per month and if you have a lot of web customers that is very reasonable. It lets you do all of your development in CC and keep things the way you like as a developer and just mark parts of the document editable in CushyCMS.

Second to CC software, CushyCMS is one of my favorite solutions. It is great to see something done well and affordable.