Web designers help please

[dk]

Have been asked to take over a website by the company owner, it's basically a website with images form company events on.

He's been using frontpage to do it apparently and they have just sent an email saying they are updating the server our site is sitting on from windows 2003 to 2008 and with it we will lose the frontpage extensions.

So he's now said, over to you and I need to deal with it. The site has 5000 photos apparently and it's a very amateur thing. I don't need to make it any better, just be able to add to it with new photos and content.

But I've only used frontpage in the past, when they update and frontpage extension go, am I likely to have issues getting to the content? How do I know what's been done with specific frontpage options.

They have recommended frontpage users go to visual studio 2008 or microsoft expression.

I just need to know where to start, if I connect to the site with one of those products will I be able to edit the frontpage created content.

Also, the root directory is changing, which will affect people who hard link or something.

I can't help wishing I'd said no now to looking after it, as he's landed me in a right mess here.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[_Logie]

Link to the website for more info on this?

Adding new photos is pretty easy with PHP and HTML. There are even jQuery plugins that can do this with a few clicks.

 

[dk]

This is the site, it's VERY basic as I said, I just need to make sure the content stays and I can update it afterwards. They say things like page counters will not work any more etc.

http://www.softcatphotos.com

 

[dk]

This is the email they sent

To continue to offer you the best and most secure environment for
your website, we will migrate our systems from Windows 2003 to
Windows Server 2008R2 in the coming weeks.

Please note:
===================

- To benefit fully from the migration, a number of configuration
adjustments might be necessary to ensure that your scripts and
applications continue to work smoothly. Further details
are provided below.

- The migration affects all website packages running on the server
ntxpw44 based on Windows 2003.


- The migration will take place in the week from 30 January to
03 February 2012 and will cause a downtime of 5-15 minutes.
Please adjust your configuration as early as possible.


What new features will you benefit from?
=======================================

- NEW: PHP 5 and Perl for dynamic Web contents

Following the migration, you will be able to use the popular,
easy-to-learn PHP5 and Perl scripting languages on the server.
Additionally, you can now use thousands of free open source
applications, such as forums, guestbooks, image galleries,
content management systems, and many more, which was not possible
in Windows 2003. Thus, your development environment will be
up to date and future-proof.

- NEW for developers: ASP.NET 3.5 to design small personal websites
as well as full-fledged professional Web applications.

The full performance and flexibility of this platform will be
available to you for the development of Web applications.

The .NET Framework 3.5 contains an extensive class library with
which you can quickly and easily handle even complex tasks such
as the access to databases. ASP.NET AJAX and LINQ are also part
of the .NET-framework.


What changes will this involve for you?
=======================================

- No FrontPage(r) Server Extensions

After the migration, we will be unable to offer you the FrontPage(r)
Server Extensions.

If you have integrated functions such as the FrontPage(r)
guestbook, discussion forums, forms, user sign-up, counter,
top 10 lists, search functions, or other functions on your website,
you will have to adapt your website.

To demonstrate how you can replace your extensions with comparable
applications, we have prepared some information for you.

More information: http://faq.1and1.co.uk/search/go.php?t=e781563

- No Sa-FileUp

In Windows 2008 shared hosting, the SA-FileUp module will
no longer be available, and upload scripts based on this module
will no longer work.

To enable you to quickly implement an alternative solution,
we have prepared some example scripts for file upload via ASP
for you.

More information: http://faq.1and1.co.uk/search/go.php?t=e776982

- Change of the home directory

Due to the migration to the new server environment, the home
directory (docroot) of your website will change. This will only
affect websites that use absolute paths to point to contents/
scripts.


Please adapt the affected paths accordingly.

More information: http://faq.1and1.co.uk/search/go.php?t=e781566

- No Microsoft Access 2000 databases

For technical reasons, Microsoft Access 2000 databases can
no longer be used in Windows 2008 shared hosting.

We recommend migrating your Microsoft Access 2000 data to Microsoft
Access 2007 or a later version.

 

[_Logie]

You could either get a few pages coded for you or else just find a free CMS (content management system) and put that in to place. Could also go down the FTP route.

How are the photos added at the minute?

 

[dk]

He said he just uses photoshop and frontpage.

It's been years since I did any web work and when I did it was also using frontpage, have no idea how to move on from that.

Appreciate the assistance.

 

[_Logie]

Hmm.. Any idea on how he uploads the photos to the server?

My guess is that he uploads the via FTP and then just adds the <img src""> tag into the HTML.

Can you not ask the previous guy how he used to run the show?

 

[dk]

He's the chairman, the guy who's handed it to me.

He said he was going to do a handover, but now this email changes the game as it can't be done how he did do it and he's going skiing next week lol.

Talk about being dropped in at the deep end.

I guess I just wait until he's back and Let him show me then, although by then I'm guessing he won't be able to coney with frontpage. I'm busy enough as it is, I don't even get time to do my own photos ffs, now I've got to sort out the photos to all the incentives I won't be on probably and all because I like taking pics......

 

[_Logie]

Jesus that was sure nice of him :/.

Well why not just re-write it as a side project? Time would be an issue but then he may think it's brilliant you've re-designed it? Bonus? Lol.

 

[dk]

Lol, 5000 photos, that's why I don't really want to rewrite it.

I don't even get to go through my own photos properly.

 

[_Logie]

Hmm. I'm sure I wrote a script in PHP like this before.. recursively searches for folders and then searches each folder for sub folder etc and lists the images.

I had mine set up like;


DIR_1
---> Folder_1
----> Image_1.jpg
----> Image_2.jpg
----> Image_3.jpg

---> Folder_2
----> Image_1.jpg
----> Image_2.jpg
----> Image_3.jpg


And it would go through and list all of those folder names as hyper links which would load the photos with an AJAX type system. Handy little script that was.

You could look into some free type of software and just throw it on there. Or just create a few different pages with a few photos on them?

 

[cava83]

Screw that.

Backup those 5000 pics.

Move the hosting from Windows to Linux, use Apache.

Install Wordpress/Joomla.

Use a gallery theme, with auto-resizer, which keeps the original if you want.

Jobs done.

You don't want to do nuts on this, front page is gay, windows hosting for general basic stuff is gay, unless it's for building web apps, but that is completely different

I'll be more than happy to help you out on this, if you help me out to finally pass my VCP 4.0

Let me know if you fancy it, I can email you directly.

_Logie = excellent script, used similar in the past

 

[Chapster5]

^

As above

Just re-do it in Joomla I could redo that site in 2hours or so (including all 5000 images)

You could run WAMP on the windows server though im sure? and just have the web address point to the localhost WAMP creates on the server.

Use a Joomla Gallery Extension which allows you to bulk import images from an FTP folder on the server easy as pie

Nick

 

[_Logie]

_Logie = excellent script, used similar in the past

Yeah I couldn't find one that I really wanted so I just done one in PHP to my liking. Worked pretty well. Although sometimes you gotta step back when working recursively with functions, feels like fcuking Inception at times lol.

OP - Go for Wordpress or Joomla. I completely forgot about those as I am pretty ignorant towards them. I needa learn more about the both of those systems. So easy to use and powerful, love my free blog on WP.

 

[Sym0n]

If time is a factor then just move hosts to another that supports (f**king awful) Frontpage extensions. Ten a penny.

 

[Rubicon_]

For the hassle you'll be as well as just making a new 'simple' site for them.

Will be easier and look a lot neater.

 

[dk]

Thanks all, looks like I need to investigate Wordpress and joomla then!

 

[Birdie*]

I'd go Wordpress like already said, easiest way out of this

People still use frontpage?? Infact didn't even know that shite program was still around lol

 

[Jon.G]

Stopped at the word frontpage.

its 2012 FFS. Wordpress is free, piss easy to use and will be a million times better looking and more efficient that front page crap.

Wordpress has loads of plugins for albums of photos.

 

[ChrisR]

I'd agree, new site that doesn't look s**t would be my plan.

Surely Softcat have someone with the skills who can help out

 

[dk]

I'd agree, new site that doesn't look s**t would be my plan.

Surely Softcat have someone with the skills who can help out

I will ask around, it's mostly sales guys though and none of the techies are web designers.

We know the site is s**t, it's not meant to be good, it's only purpose is so employees can look at them, it just happens to also be a public address, no idea why. It was created and maintained by the chairman, who's an entrepreneur, not a techie. It was probably never meant to hold that amount of images though as its been up aslong as I have worked there and that's over 20 years.

 

[Simon@SprayShack]

+1 for Wordpress a site ideal for a simple site, plus tons of free themes you can customise

 

[dk]

Is it likely they will support Wordpress, the installation sounds a bit complicated, but then I don't even know what our access is to this server.

I need to get more info I think.

I did actually create a website about 11 years ago, but I too used frontpage, but it's so long ago I can't even remember what access I had. If I could work it out back then, then I should be able to do it again I guess!

 

[Jon.G]

The installation is EasyPeasy.

Create your database in the backend and a user account. Download the latest version of wordpress, FTP the files to the root folder.

Change the wp_config.php file so the database name and account is correct.

Go to the URL, Follow the setup guide. DONE.

 

[dk]

Ok, thanks, guess I need to know what access I have to see about installing or creating the database.

Gabi, I think I've thought of someone at work who might be able to help me, I'll let you know if he doesn't work out, thanks for the offer of help.

 

[Jon.G]

If you've got cpanel its easy.

However, just did a quick check and you're on a microsoft server. This means you wont be able to run Wordpress, nor cpanel.

To run both of these you would need a Linux server. You should still be able to download all the photo's/pages from the IIS server so you can plonk them all into the new site.

 

[dk]

Doh, what the f**k am I going to use to put it on a windows server. I thought the Wordpress site talked about there being iis, which I thought was only for windows servers.

I've just seen apple do something called iWeb for macs but it doesn't seem to come on new ones and mines a month old pro

 

[Chapster5]

http://forum.joomla.org/viewtopic.php?t=52721

Dont fret... See above

The same method will work for wordpress too but I personally go for Joomla ALOT more flexible and expandable

Nick

 

[dk]

well thanks to chapsters help i have now managed to create my own domain and joomla site all for free so i can do some testing and messing.

www.davidnotdave.co.cc

 

[Chapster5]

Getting there slowly mate lol

 

[dk]

Getting there slowly mate lol

yep, got plenty of time, just having a play at the moment.

 

[Chapster5]

How are you finding it so far?

Still a bit daunting?

 

[dk]

YEP!

theres just so much choice, from what i remember of frontpage it was so much easier, i even used to just code the html myself, but all this fancy stuff now makes it so much more complicated, and theres too much choice.

 

[Chapster5]

LOL

Just play about matey youll soon grasp it Youve done well so far.

 

[cava83]

I must admit, Joomla is a lot more complicated. You have to create an article, then add a menu option, to link to that article or whatever you want.

I think Wordpress is easier in that respect.

Anyhow, have a play and see how you get on

 

[ChrisR]

I will ask around, it's mostly sales guys though and none of the techies are web designers.

We know the site is s**t, it's not meant to be good, it's only purpose is so employees can look at them, it just happens to also be a public address, no idea why. It was created and maintained by the chairman, who's an entrepreneur, not a techie. It was probably never meant to hold that amount of images though as its been up aslong as I have worked there and that's over 20 years.

This will be a good exercise then in getting it updated, just play about with it all and see what you can do

 

[Homer-Simpson]

Just been looking through the photos expecting another naked picture of you with a fake penis. Thankfully my eyes have been saved this time

I can't really add much to what is said above but whatever CMS you look at going with, just make sure you keep it up to date

 

[dk]

Just been looking through the photos expecting another naked picture of you with a fake penis. Thankfully my eyes have been saved this time

I can't really add much to what is said above but whatever CMS you look at going with, just make sure you keep it up to date

lol, that was the chairman who was naked wearing the fake penis on the beach in dubai.

in antarctica he pulled my pants down when i was on the bow of the ship looking at whales, then he got two other people to do the same while he filmed it! i was furious, then he played the video at the company meeting when we got back. thankfully i wasn't in so i didn't get any flack.

there is now talk of this becoming an internal only site, so we would develop a website on our infrastructure, or on share point. then we could also just put an apache server in our dmz and run our own site, something like photos.softcat.com. I also thought about just having a softcat flickr page too as thats an easy upload from iPhoto.....

 

[Chapster5]

Install PHP, Apache and MySQL then and you can run Joomla off the internal infrastructure mate.

Nick

 

[dk]

thats possibly my plan, as we are all virtualised (vmware ) i can just create the machine for free anyway and have a play from there.