Web site Creation and Management

[SJSerio]

What is a good tool/site for creating and managing web sites? I am thinking of creating a website that is focused on information and can be easily navigable and updatable. I was thinking of Squarespace, but I am not sure if it would be perfect for what I want to do. I am hesitant on getting any trials because (1) I want to start designing the layout of the sight, but I want to know what tools are at my disposal and (2) I am not sure that I want to sign up for anything without knowing if it will work for what I want to do.

Basically, I want to have a main page and maybe a few core sections that go along with it. I still have to plan it out and this is pretty rough. Also, I hesitate to go into to much information (like what it will be about) until I get further into development and it looks more likely to happen. To expand a little, I want to:

• Have a main page with core links to the site and an update / news section
• Core Section 1 where all of the basic information would be stored. This will likely be edited very little once the information is gathered and put in initially.
• Core Section 2 where all information would likely be updated more frequently after the initial input. This one will likely expand some over time.
• Core Section 3 for more information submitted by users. This would, theoretically, be the most expansive section over time.
• A final section would be reserved for links, about and the like.

Does anybody have any suggestions?

 

[PeteAtoms]

1) There is a "Computer Talk" section I think this would fit better.
2) I'm a little lost in your description, are you describing a CMS or a website? Wordpress is a popular website/CMS tool (open source too).
3) Have you looked into a Wiki? This might be more up your alley.
4) Maybe provide a link to an existing website that you're drawing inspiration from, or has some semblance to what you're vision is.

 

[SJSerio]

1) There is a "Computer Talk" section I think this would fit better.
2) I'm a little lost in your description, are you describing a CMS or a website? Wordpress is a popular website/CMS tool (open source too).
3) Have you looked into a Wiki? This might be more up your alley.
4) Maybe provide a link to an existing website that you're drawing inspiration from, or has some semblance to what you're vision is.

1) I didn't even notice that section... is it new?
2) I'm not really sure what a CMS is... if you are referring to a Content Management System, I don't know. From the brief description after a Google Search, I am not sure that is what I am after. Basically, I am looking to create a website. I am NOT HTML literate, so I am looking for something simple, but flexible, to update. In other words, I don't want to be spending more time updating the website then creating, inputting, or organizing the information that I am putting up. Especially since I would be doing this all in my free time.
3) To be honest, I am not sure if a Wiki is what I am after.
4) I guess the best example would be Arioch's page for Civ V.

I know I am being pretty vague, but I don't want to go into too much detail until I know for certain that it will happen.

 

[Birdjaguar]

Moderator Action: Moved to computer talk.

 

[PeteAtoms]

oooh

Well it looks like that kind of thing can be done with Google Sites or a Webs.com site
Heck, even Google Blogger has the ability to add pages for different sections

 

[SJSerio]

I would also like to be able to add tables and such (for example: created in Excel).

And each section would be divided into sub-sections.

 

[PeteAtoms]

Well there are a couple of ways to handle this, as far as I know...

If you want to embed a spreadsheet into a website, you can use Google Docs.
You can also organize text/information into tables using HTML codes.

 

[SJSerio]

Well there are a couple of ways to handle this, as far as I know...

If you want to embed a spreadsheet into a website, you can use Google Docs.
You can also organize text/information into tables using HTML codes.

I have to be honest...

I am not crazy about Google Docs (or cloud computing in general)
And the second one just gives me a headache! Unless you can create a table and it generates the code, I don't think that is an option for me. On another note, does that code work in these forums?

 

[PeteAtoms]

No, HTML is disabled in the forums (BBCode performs a lot of the same functions).

But I just checked in OpenOffice Calc (the spreadsheet program in the open source office suite, compare to Excel), and there is the option under the "Save As..." prompt that lets you save a spreadsheet as an HTML file. This might allow you to upload the spreadsheet to your website. I checked, and it keeps the formatting of the spreadsheet (borders, background colors, etc). And if you want a closer look at the actual coding, you can view/edit it with Notepad++.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

A content management system (e.g. WordPress) may be what you want. My job involves editing a WordPress site and the tables are quite easy though one in a while they'll get screwed up.

 

[warpus]

If you don't know any HTML at all and you're not willing to learn, a blog or cms type setup is your best bet. If you want more control over what it looks like, learn html. (it's very easy)

 

[Zelig]

If you don't know any HTML at all and you're not willing to learn, a blog or cms type setup is your best bet. If you want more control over what it looks like, learn html. (it's very easy)

I dunno, I started writing my own CMS, but got bored with reinventing the wheel, so instead just made my own theme for TangoCMS.