Is MODx the right app (or can it even be done) for creating this structure?

I’m new to MODx, and not a strong coder.
Any, and all helpful feedback is highly appreciated. You have my thanks ahead of time.
(I’ve included this same info in an attached MS Word doc, if it helps)

Please let me know:

• Can the feature items listed below be done at all in MODx?
• Can it be done “out of the box” ?
• Can we create these individualized application input forms (ADMIN INTERFACE/FEATURES area) ?
• If we can create these individualized forms, will the MODx framework automatically generate these new tables and such
• in the MySQL database ?
• Is this way too much to ask for in an open-source framework (semi-serious on this question)

NEED
We want to build an online app that will work for IT Support, Users, Managers, and Others.
This is the basic concept -

USER INTERFACE/FEATURES
People can do a single search / sort as:

• Ex: Show ALL USERS that have “App – B”

People can do a multi search / sort as:

• Ex: Show ALL USERS that have “version 7” of “App – B”

Quick-search for doc’s

• Ex: Search for “Users Guide” of “version 7” of “App – B”

Bulletin Board – Removing certain words/language
Tips & Techniques – unique to individual apps

• Ex: Search for “exporting files in … format” with “App – C”
• maybe single or multi search/sort, if it can be done “somewhat” easily

IT Support can search for “Software Maintenance is coming due”

• We’d like to be able to set the date to send an email
• Are there already modules out there that do things like this? (in or out of MODx)

ADMIN INTERFACE/FEATURES
IT Support people can fill out a “New User to support” (type of form)

• Selection List for Major Areas in the Company
• Selection List for available Workstations, Hardware, etc
• Selection List of ALL Apps to be used by the User
• Things like this…

IT Support people can fill out a “New Software to support” (type of form)

• Selection List for Current Vendors
• Maybe a blank field for New Vendor
• Cost of SW
• Date Purchased
• Number of Licenses
• Floating or Node-Locked
• Maintenance Due on…
• Selection List for “available for” Windows, Linux, ……….
• Things like this…

IT Support people can install different online app manuals.

• Currently, it’s a nightmare doing a fast-find for specific versions, of specific manuals, for both IT Support AND the Users
• With hundreds of applications to support, and each vendor coming out with releases all the time…it’s insane

Again, any sincere “helpful” feedback is appreciated.
Also, I was reading that MODx has a very friendly and knowledgeable support group;
this would indeed be a true test, with all that I’ve laid out. Cheers.

Dave

There’s nothing out of the box to do the above in MODx. It would take fairly extensive custom development to achieve what you spec’d out above.

Hi Dave

I’m quite sure you won’t find any CMS that provides all the functionality you ask for "out of the box". Maybe you’re even looking at the wrong "Software-Section". Possibly you’ll be better off with some CRM or Support-Helpdesk Software Package?

I recently had a closer look at the silverstripe cms (http://www.silverstripe.com), because i had to build a site using it. It is quite nice really (sorry for blasphemy on these forums ). The reason i’m bringing it up here: it could be closer to your requirements than MODx, because:

• DB Tables are automatically being generated from your PHP Objects
• Many-Many DB Relations can easily be modelled and edited/updated in the CMS
• CMS Fields and Page Types are easy to customize

I’d say the time required to implement your specs using SilverStripe might be shorter than the time you’ll need to do this with MODx. It’s doable in any of these software packages of course.
However:

• You’ll have to do PHP Coding either way. (If that’s not an option, look for a Software that already comes with all required Features or a Feature Set that is close enough to your Specs)
• If you’re tempted to try SilverStripe: The Forum/Community over there is really bad (as opposed to the MODx community). I asked several questions there and didn’t get one single satisfying answer. And believe me when i say: Questions will come up rather quickly..

Hope that helps you in your decision.

banal,

What were some of the issues/shortcomings you had with ss? I was just running through their tutorials and checking out the code. Could you do a brief ’what you like about ss’ vs ’what modx does better for you’?

Chuck