MODx to build various custom CMS'es for clients

I was on the verge of really delving into php/mysql and completing my custom CMS after just getting fed-up with WP/Joomla when I came across expression engine, and then immediately started looking for an open source alternative. I was so pumped up after realizing the whole concept behind MODx, which is ingenious. I read the MODx evolution book and checked out a few online tutorials just to get to grips with resources/template/chunks/snippets and I was like "man this is awesome".

But I soon realized, "wait a minute, I haven’t seen an example of any custom pages, e.g. an custom designed projects page where a client can upload 3 images, insert a heading, some text, a link maybe. The only "end user" update-able stuff I’ve seen is the blog comments. All the content adding has been from inside the manager? And worse yes, haven’t seen someone create a custom back-end for clients e.g. /admin so that when the client logs in, they get a custom list of all their pages, each page with a custom update-able fields etc."

Then I was like "hold on, isn’t the manager the backend login? It can’t be! that’s where I log in, the system architect, to create new templates and what not, right?
It would suck if that’s where my clients must log in, they want simpler! So now I’m all bummed out Were my ideas all wrong about what MODx is? In my mind I saw it as system where I could create a custom template for each page, no rich editors, just sweat unadulterated custom fields e.g. image, heading, text description. And maybe after really getting into the nitty-gritty MODx stuff, create a system where clients can add there own pages/navigation items. Then create a back-end where client can log in e.g. /admin with a user/pass. Is this not what MODx is, how could I have gotten it so wrong?

Thanks
Nomoretables

You can have different ways to deal with it.
By your point of view, you can try to maximize the usage of Template Variable (TV), which is the Template’s custom content.
You’d love how you could easily extend the content by putting any [+placeholder+]s, or even your client, without have to learn <?php $oop->is->a(’must’); ?> just to create a complete template.

You can do these types of customizations, but you probably need to shepherd the changes -- things can get wonky if random people get random control over random content.

There are two ways to go for what you want with MODx.

One is to customize the Manager. In Evolution, ManagerManager does the job, in Revolution it’s a combination of permissions and form customization rules. You can make the Manager quite simple so it looks very different to the client.

The second route is to create Front-end tools with various snippets, plugins, and your own code so that the user sees simple forms in the front end.

Thanks BobRay, you’ve answered my question, but I’m rather disappointed :’( Can you perhaps point me to a location where I can view screen-shots of the manager that has been simplified/stripped down? Do you think this custom backend I was dreaming of, is something that the developers are working towards?

Quote from: nomoretables at Oct 25, 2010, 06:52 AM

Thanks BobRay, you’ve answered my question, but I’m rather disappointed :’( Can you perhaps point me to a location where I can view screen-shots of the manager that has been simplified/stripped down? Do you think this custom backend I was dreaming of, is something that the developers are working towards?

Sorry, I don’t know of an example but it’s an interesting idea. Maybe others can post some.

The developers are not working on any particular back end. They are working on making it possible to have any back end you want through customization.

In addition to customizing the Manager’s main screen and form screens, you can also create Custom Manager Pages (CMPs) -- though this is more challenging to do -- and redirect the client to one of them on login.

The back end manager can be as absolutely simple as you wish. See the ManagerManager Add-on for more information (Revo will be catching up to this fast).

Here’s a presentation on customizing Evo’s Manager from MODxpo: http://www.amdbuilder.net/assets/files/modxpo/small/video2.mp4