Am I on the right track

Hi Everyone

I have been doing web design for about 10 years and only know how to do static sites in CSS, HTML and whatever else. Having this experience do you think that it will be possibly for me to learn MODx. I have tried Joomla and hated every moment of it. I found it confusing as it seems to work backwards to me. I have been researching other CMS options for about 3 weeks and am thoroughly confused. I would normally conceptualise and then build the index page and then use that as a basic template for the rest of the website. I want to improve my skills and to be able to offer more options to potential clients. I have the possibility of doing a property based website and know that a CMS is going to be vital for this task. My website is www.brends.co.za if anybody wants to have a look at some of my work.

Brenda

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Brenda,

I started that way, tried Joomla, Drupal, Wordpress. Modx to me, with hardly any PHP knowledge is the easiest.
Specially the templating makes it an attrective CMS. One can indeed build an "start" page. And create the rest of the dynamic page around that one. So the index will become your template, with a link to your CSS and some snippets/chunks/TV s in your template to generate the content. So that last part is where the learning part starts. I d say welcome to Modx, give it a try and you will find the community very friendly in helping you, best,

Frank.

Thanks Frank

I will give it a try. I think one of my biggest problems is that I don’t understand the teck speak and lack confidence Who knows I might become an expert. Let me get started.

Brends

Okay Brenda, give it a try and dont get scared of by the php abd MYSQL bits
. Read the manuals that are there for the install. Once on the road here s a helpfull guide,

read more

There are more on the web, wiki etc,

fr.

Hi Brenda,

You might find this helpful: http://bobsguides.com/porting-your-site-to-modx.html

The rest of the site has more information to help you understand how things work.

Welcome to MODx.

Hi Bob

Thanks for that. I am thoroughly confused and am unable to install. I have uploaded all the files to my server. I have emailed my ISP to find out if all the server requirements are in place. I know that the database is set up. On your site you say and I quote "manager/includes/config.inc.php file as directed in the instructions" where are the instructions on how to do this? I suspect this is the next step? Is there anywhere where I can find a help document with a complete set of instructions in plain English without too much tech speak? Possibly I’m in over my head here? Should I switch to Wordpress? I’ve used it once before with no problems at all. A support technician at one of the local IT businesses in my town told me about MODx and said that its the way forward. I decided that if that was the case I’d simply have to learn how to use it. He unfortunately isn’t prepared to share knowledge and yesterday I spoke to him and he said its going to be a steap learning curve. I’m sure if I can just get the install right and get to the Content manager I will be fine.

Again any help will be most appreciated. I have to get this up and running asap!

Brends

To install, just upload the files and then go to domain.com/install in your browser. If you’ve already created a database, use the correct database information when the installation asks for it.

Be aware that many database creating "wizards" will automatically append something (usually your domain name) to the database name and user name when you create the database; and it will sometimes also truncate your database name if it’s too long. When you create the database and user, it will report the actual names that the "wizard" uses.

Don’t get excited over the table prefix; that’s only used by MODx itself in case there are other tables from other applications in the same database with the same name. If you leave it at the default modx_, then the tables will all start with modx_ (modx_site_content, for example)

Depending on your hosting, you may have a SimpleScripts feature in your control panel that will do an installation for you. For example, I just installed Revolution for the first time myself using Bluehost’s SimpleScripts feature. Totally painless; it even created its own database.

manager/includes/config.inc.php

Hi, to add some more info, the config.inc.php file is the file that holds information for modx as how to connect to the database.
It is not something you will have to fill in, but that file is "read only" by default. So you need to access that file with ftp and change the chmod so Modx can edit that file and finish the installation. As you did more websites I suppose that is easy for you.

Hi @brendesign Welcome to MODx.

I’m in Cape Town.

Are you trying to install Evolution or Revolution.

I found it easier to install a localhost before venturing to a live server.

I use Wampserver.
Evolution has less server requirements than Revolution.
In other words on SA servers Revolution could be a problem.
I do know both work on Serve-Hosting but this runs on servers in the US.

I do not think it should be anymore difficult to set up MODx than Wordpress.

By the way your work is very impressive. Great Design. (more of a programmer).
MODx would certainly set you free to do a lot more.

Everyone here is very helpful if you give a full description of your problem.

Hi Allan

I’m trying to install Revolution coz thats what the MODx website said I should do. The traditional one not the advanced. I think trying to set up a local host is going to be a nightmare for me. I want to be able to install on the server. I remember years ago running an apache server on my pc and hosting my own website but that was years ago. I don’t think I’m technically able to go down that route.

Thank you so much for the compliment re my design work. I appreciate it and my confidence has just soared!

Is there any possibility we could chat on skype or the phone? I’d really appreciate it as I feel like I’m really fumbling around in the dark without a flashlight!!

Brenda