I am starting a website from scratch using CoffeeCup. I have no prior experience with the software but have reviewed the Help materials and getting started video. Here are some of the things that I would like to accomplish.

* Secure distribution of an informational product for which a fee will be charged. The program will include text, graphics, hyperlinks, audio, video, etc: would an Open Office presentation be a good idea? Should I create a PDF? How do I deal with Mac OS vs Windows, etc.? I have purchased the Shopping Cart here. I would like an auto-responder to fill orders.

* A forum for purchasers of the product with password protection.

* Real time updating of news feeds (less important)

* Blog (less important)

Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Everything your requesting can be accomplished with CC software. As far as how it's to be done has to be determined by you. You need to design your website for your target users. Thats to say a website to sell engineering data is going to look a lot different then a site selling connect the dot drawings. Your already a head of the game by listing out your sites requirements. I would look at other websites on the net that have similar content and target groups to get an idea for design concepts. Just rember it's your website not theirs so make it you own.

"Everything your requesting can be accomplished with CC software."

Really? Did I miss the announcement of the release of CoffeeCup forum software?

Eric,
Any hints or suggestions about how to accomplish the forum bit using CC software?

Sure, If you want a forum using what CC has to offer make a user form for people to submit their post on a webpage protected with WAM. That way you can review their post for proper content. Then you can post it to a webpage. I didn't say it was the best way.

OK, thanks!

There's another thread around here somewhere about forum software. Simple Machines Forums (free!) was highly recommended.

http://www.simplemachines.org/

I would also recommend simple machines. I didn't in the first response because mark said he was starting from scratch. I didn't know if this ment he had never designed a website or he was just new to CC. I didn't mean for it to sound like CC had a forum software but that all his requirements could be handled with CC software. If I can put a link to my forum made with simple machines on my web page made with CC VSD or HTML editor then CC software accomplished the task.