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polarwarp-gmail - 1/27/2009 6:41:48 PM
   
Importing an existing Site
I have an existing site that we want to bring under control of a CMS. However there are a few features of the site that I'm not sure how to bring into the CMS.

1) Custom Image Gallery. We use a different layout to the standard available parts available. How easy is it to make use of using the file library but our own image gallery layout? The user needs to be able to add/remove images, as well as set a specific order in which they are displayed.

2) Video Gallery. We want a flash player, with thumbnails underneath - you click on the thumbnail and that particular video plays. We'd need potentially a subset of different videos and the ability to set a particular order on them.

3) Accordion style text. I want the user to be able to edit/add content to an accordion type list of text. How easy is that to do but make it foolproof to the user? Do I need to create an accordion type sample as a inline control/web part ?? Also I noticed in V3 the wisiwyg text editing is very word like. Does v4 allow you to select CSS appropriate styles (eg. H1, H2, etc). I don't want the typical user having to view source and manually apply those styles.

4) If we had a standard footer to apply to certain pages of the site - do I make a page template with that footer in html.. or do I make a web part/inline control with that content so the user can easily drag on??

5) What is the difference between a custom web part and inline control? When do you use each one if they're both just ascx controls.

Thanks in advance - I have a short time to get my head around this :(

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kentico_jurajo - 1/28/2009 10:05:36 AM
   
RE:Importing an existing Site
Hi,

1) and 2) These are special needs and I would recommend you to create custom web parts or modify the standard controls according to your needs.

3) I am sorry but I am not getting the meaning of the first 3 sentences, could you please be more specific? You can add your custom styles as described here - http://www.kentico.com/docs/devguide/defining_styles.htm.

4) This is up to you - you can create template with the footer predefined in the code or you can have web part which you will place where you need to.

5) Inline control can be placed only into the text editor. You can pass some parameters to it but there is no other interface and option to set properties. Also, the life cycle is different. In web parts you have many properties which can be set according to your needs.

Best Regards,
Juraj Ondrus

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polarwarp-gmail - 1/28/2009 6:02:50 PM
   
RE:Importing an existing Site
1 & 2) When you purchase the license - does the source code we get include all the controls (ie. is it then easy to take an existing control you guys have built and make modifications to it - or are you generally starting from scratch each time).

3) There is an ajax control called Accordion which lets you put text in such a way that you have say a topic with a plus sign next to it, you click the plus sign and extra content appears underneath it. Obviously its easy for someone with html knowledge to ensure they put it in the right format - but what I'm after is how to make something like this foolproof for a CMS user. To be able to add expandable sections of text with little ability to break it :)

4) What if I want to make the footer content editable by the user? Is this possible if I make it part of the template or a web part? I'm trying to avoid just making it part of page content on several pages for maintainability purposes.

Thanks

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kentico_jurajo - 1/29/2009 3:19:00 AM
   
RE:Importing an existing Site
Hi,

1) and 2) Yes, it is a part of the web project. More information here http://www.kentico.com/Buy/Licensing-FAQ.aspx#FAQs18 and here you can find out how to modify the standard web part http://www.kentico.com/docs/devguide/modifying_the_design_of_standa.htm.

3) I think that the best way is to create custom web part with the AJAX functionality as you need. Then you can place it on the page and the editor will only insert certain text.

4) You can add editable text web part to the footer zone of certain page tempaltes where you want to have it editable.

Best Regards,
Juraj Ondrus

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polarwarp-gmail - 1/29/2009 4:56:37 PM
   
RE:Importing an existing Site
Thanks for the link.

4) I'm not sure if I'm understanding correctly. If I had an editable text web part on the footer zone - any entered text would be shared across all those pages with that footer web part? As I'm trying to avoid the user having to edit in multiple places.


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kentico_jurajo - 1/30/2009 6:18:32 AM
   
RE:Importing an existing Site
Hi,

You can use static text web part, or you can code it directly to the template. But then it won't be editable for the editors on the Edit - Page tab.

Best Regards,
Juraj Ondrus

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polarwarp-gmail - 1/29/2009 5:54:10 PM
   
RE:Importing an existing Site
Hi,

Could you also clarify what you meant as a recommended solution for 3)

As the number of expandable sections is dynamic - I don't see that I could create a single "accordion" web part with preconfigured editable heading/section areas.

Creating a single webpart for each heading/section - would result in bloated html and complexity as there is associated javascript that needs to go in both the head and the body of the page - but only once.

Or are you suggested to create something that generates the required html and be more data driven?

Thanks

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kentico_jurajo - 1/30/2009 6:20:14 AM
   
RE:Importing an existing Site
The custom web part will have e.g. a property where will be specified that this one will have e.g. 8 sections, so the user will be able to add 8 section of text and the web part will ensure that the text is added to appropriate section of the AJAX control.


I hope it makes sense.

Best Regards,
Juraj Ondrus

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polarwarp-gmail - 2/5/2009 6:54:06 PM
   
RE:Importing an existing Site
Hi,

The problem I see with this - is if they only want 7 sections, or want 9 sections.. they'd then need to drag a different custom control onto the form and repopulate all the data. i e. its unlikely that they'll stick with the predefined number of expandable sections.

I figure I'd have to create a custom control that handles the whole logic of dynamically generating entries, etc..