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Blog software that could be converted to PR web application

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 6:27 pm
by Luke
A lot of our clients need a system to publish press release articles / news / etc. on their site. I could build it myself, but I imagine some sort of blogging software would be perfect for this, and I'm sure there are already tons of blogging applications. The features I need are:
  • PHP/Mysql (of course)
    Add/Edit/Delete
    Automatic RSS
    Article preview (in list view)
    Ability to upload files and link to them very easily
    WYSIWYG type editor
I believe that's it... any recommendations?

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:11 pm
by RobertGonzalez
Wordpress. It has all of that.

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:15 pm
by DaveTheAve
Defiantly Wordpress.

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:46 pm
by Luke
I actually downloaded that and was messing around with it a little before I left work. It does have all of that, but it seems much too complicated for many of my clients. Is it possible to disable about 90% of what wordpress does so that it wouldn't be so confusing for those who barely know how to use a computer?

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 4:36 am
by matthijs
You could try the plugin admin simplified and see what that does.

I do have good experiences with Wordpress as well. Also some non-tech clients are able to learn to work with it quite fast.

Only thing I miss in wp for real non-tech people is some undo or at least an auto-backup feature. It's possible to delete posts/articles with one press on a button (you do get a warning before definite deletion though). Or with one press on the save button the existing article is overwritten. With button-tricker-happy people that could be a problem. You know, that's when you get a phone call late in the evening or sunday morning from a panicking client who accidentally deleted or overwrote a page ..... :?

What's cool in wp is that with the user management system it's possible to create users with limited rights. That way you allow them to only edit a restricted amount of pages. Or they are limited to what they can do in the admin system (like not allowed to edit templates).

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:23 am
by RobertGonzalez
Load the software, then create a user. By default, Wordpress sets users up at the lowest possible levels and requires them to be increased in steps one at a time. Log in as the new user and see what you have access to. You'll be amazed at how stripped down it gets.