M-CONTRIBUTE? or a better solution?

[regeisle webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

This is a common issue, I'm sure. I just would like to know the most efficient solution. I have designed a site for a client, who needs to do occasional updates to the content (almost always text only). In the past, I have asked her to just email me the changes and I go in and apply them. Fine...

Now she is asking to be able to update the text herself to make things a little more accessible.

I know the new prog. 'Contribute' is one solution to this problem, but what did developers (you all) do before the program? I'm looking for some different options since I don't know how much I will use Contribute, so am not sure whether or not it's worth the $.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Richard

[Stefan Kursawe]

Hi Richard,

I installed Contribute for one of my clients.
It is really easy for the client to update any text content, if you
designed you pages with a template,
then the client can only edit the areas that you allow him.

The downside to Contribute is: it is slow like hell.

regards
Stefan


"regeisle" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:bg10s1$cv3$1@forums.macromedia.com...

> This is a common issue, I'm sure. I just would like to know the most

efficient solution. I have designed a site for a client, who needs to do
occasional updates to the content (almost always text only). In the past, I
have asked her to just email me the changes and I go in and apply them.
Fine...

>
> Now she is asking to be able to update the text herself to make things a

little more accessible.

>
> I know the new prog. 'Contribute' is one solution to this problem, but

what did developers (you all) do before the program? I'm looking for some
different options since I don't know how much I will use Contribute, so am
not sure whether or not it's worth the $.

>
> Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Richard
>
>

[John Waller]

>I'm looking for some different options since I don't know how much I will
use Contribute, so am not sure whether or not it's worth the $.

If you have Dreamweaver 6.1 (MX with the 6.1 updater) then you don't need
Contribute.
Your client would be the one using it.

Is your web site primarily static content? Then Contribute may be a good
option.

Why not get your client to download the 30 day no-obligation Trial version
of Contribute 2.0 and try it out for herself?

--
Regards

John Waller

[Kim Cavanaugh]

Richard--

Contribute is a little on the slow side as each page that needs to be edited
is pulled from the server, a temporary page is built, and then the whole
thing goes up by FTP when the user clicks the Publish button. So, on a fast
connection the download isn't too bad, but on dial-up it's a bit slow.

Why Contribute over Dreamweaver? Cost of course is one factor, but also by
using DW and Contribute together you have all sorts of options as the site
administrator, specifically in regards to keeping the client out of areas
you don't want them playing in. Also, they would need to be up to speed on
the FTP function of DW as well as the more difficult work environment. With
Contribute they get a password from you, are given permission to edit only
those pages you want them working with, and can easily send their changes on
to the server when they're ready.

You might want to take a look at this article. It talks about what sites
work well with the DW/Contribute
combination and the kinds of things you want to look out for if you decide
to go that route.

[url]http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/contribute/articles/contribute_client.html[/url]

--
Kim Cavanaugh, author
Beginner's Guides to Dreamweaver and Fireworks
[url]http://www.dw-fw-beginners.com[/url]
------------
Extending Knowledge Daily at:
[url]http://www.communitymx.com[/url]
------------
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Fireworks
[url]http://www.macromedia.com/go/team[/url]
"regeisle" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:bg10s1$cv3$1@forums.macromedia.com...

> This is a common issue, I'm sure. I just would like to know the most

efficient solution. I have designed a site for a client, who needs to do
occasional updates to the content (almost always text only). In the past, I
have asked her to just email me the changes and I go in and apply them.
Fine...

>
> Now she is asking to be able to update the text herself to make things a

little more accessible.

>
> I know the new prog. 'Contribute' is one solution to this problem, but

what did developers (you all) do before the program? I'm looking for some
different options since I don't know how much I will use Contribute, so am
not sure whether or not it's worth the $.

>
> Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Richard
>
>

[E. T. Culling]

Marvelous article... very useful... thank you!
Eleanor
"Kim Cavanaugh" <REMOVEkim@dw-fw-beginners.com> wrote in message
news:bg1pej$ca8$1@forums.macromedia.com...

> Richard--
>
> Contribute is a little on the slow side as each page that needs to be

edited

> is pulled from the server, a temporary page is built, and then the whole
> thing goes up by FTP when the user clicks the Publish button. So, on a

fast

> connection the download isn't too bad, but on dial-up it's a bit slow.
>
> Why Contribute over Dreamweaver? Cost of course is one factor, but also by
> using DW and Contribute together you have all sorts of options as the site
> administrator, specifically in regards to keeping the client out of areas
> you don't want them playing in. Also, they would need to be up to speed on
> the FTP function of DW as well as the more difficult work environment.

With

> Contribute they get a password from you, are given permission to edit only
> those pages you want them working with, and can easily send their changes

on

> to the server when they're ready.
>
> You might want to take a look at this article. It talks about what sites
> work well with the DW/Contribute
> combination and the kinds of things you want to look out for if you decide
> to go that route.
>
>

[url]http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/contribute/articles/contribute_client.html[/url]

>
> --
> Kim Cavanaugh, author
> Beginner's Guides to Dreamweaver and Fireworks
> [url]http://www.dw-fw-beginners.com[/url]
> ------------
> Extending Knowledge Daily at:
> [url]http://www.communitymx.com[/url]
> ------------
> Team Macromedia Volunteer for Fireworks
> [url]http://www.macromedia.com/go/team[/url]
> "regeisle" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
> news:bg10s1$cv3$1@forums.macromedia.com...

> > This is a common issue, I'm sure. I just would like to know the most

> efficient solution. I have designed a site for a client, who needs to do
> occasional updates to the content (almost always text only). In the past,

I

> have asked her to just email me the changes and I go in and apply them.
> Fine...

> >
> > Now she is asking to be able to update the text herself to make things a

> little more accessible.

> >
> > I know the new prog. 'Contribute' is one solution to this problem, but

> what did developers (you all) do before the program? I'm looking for some
> different options since I don't know how much I will use Contribute, so am
> not sure whether or not it's worth the $.

> >
> > Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> > Richard
> >
> >

>
>

[regeisle webforumsuser@macromedia.com]

Thanks for the helpful info. Looks like contribute will be the best option, since it's mostly basic text
changes. Guess I'll have her give the demo a try. Thanks for all the help!

Richard

[Kim Cavanaugh]

Thanks Eleanor, and you're most welcome.

--
Kim Cavanaugh, author
Beginner's Guides to Dreamweaver and Fireworks
[url]http://www.dw-fw-beginners.com[/url]
------------
Extending Knowledge Daily at:
[url]http://www.communitymx.com[/url]
------------
Team Macromedia Volunteer for Fireworks
[url]http://www.macromedia.com/go/team[/url]
"E. T. Culling" <etcetc@notatcrcwnet.com> wrote in message
news:bg1u6k$hpd$1@forums.macromedia.com...

> Marvelous article... very useful... thank you!
> Eleanor
> "Kim Cavanaugh" <REMOVEkim@dw-fw-beginners.com> wrote in message
> news:bg1pej$ca8$1@forums.macromedia.com...

> > Richard--
> >
> > Contribute is a little on the slow side as each page that needs to be

> edited

> > is pulled from the server, a temporary page is built, and then the whole
> > thing goes up by FTP when the user clicks the Publish button. So, on a

> fast

> > connection the download isn't too bad, but on dial-up it's a bit slow.
> >
> > Why Contribute over Dreamweaver? Cost of course is one factor, but also

by

> > using DW and Contribute together you have all sorts of options as the

site

> > administrator, specifically in regards to keeping the client out of

areas

> > you don't want them playing in. Also, they would need to be up to speed

on

> > the FTP function of DW as well as the more difficult work environment.

> With

> > Contribute they get a password from you, are given permission to edit

only

> > those pages you want them working with, and can easily send their

changes

> on

> > to the server when they're ready.
> >
> > You might want to take a look at this article. It talks about what sites
> > work well with the DW/Contribute
> > combination and the kinds of things you want to look out for if you

decide

> > to go that route.
> >
> >

>

[url]http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/contribute/articles/contribute_client.html[/url]

> >
> > --
> > Kim Cavanaugh, author
> > Beginner's Guides to Dreamweaver and Fireworks
> > [url]http://www.dw-fw-beginners.com[/url]
> > ------------
> > Extending Knowledge Daily at:
> > [url]http://www.communitymx.com[/url]
> > ------------
> > Team Macromedia Volunteer for Fireworks
> > [url]http://www.macromedia.com/go/team[/url]
> > "regeisle" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
> > news:bg10s1$cv3$1@forums.macromedia.com...

> > > This is a common issue, I'm sure. I just would like to know the most

> > efficient solution. I have designed a site for a client, who needs to

do

> > occasional updates to the content (almost always text only). In the

past,

> I

> > have asked her to just email me the changes and I go in and apply them.
> > Fine...

> > >
> > > Now she is asking to be able to update the text herself to make things

a

> > little more accessible.

> > >
> > > I know the new prog. 'Contribute' is one solution to this problem, but

> > what did developers (you all) do before the program? I'm looking for

some

> > different options since I don't know how much I will use Contribute, so

am

> > not sure whether or not it's worth the $.

> > >
> > > Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance,
> > >
> > > Richard
> > >
> > >

> >
> >

>
>

[dc]

Hmm....say if you edit the same file a second time like a day from now and
most of the files like images are already downloaded and still the same.

Is it still slow on the download?

How about the Upload? Is that faster since it should not be uploading the
template or images if that's not what the Contribute user is not allowed to
edit?


dc


"Stefan Kursawe" <skursawe@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:bg49dh$nhs$1@forums.macromedia.com...

> Hi dc,
>
> for my opinion far too slow. My client is on a DSL line, you

experience

> a similar slowness
> if you have Dreamweaver's features for Contribute enabled.
>
> I don't exactly know, what the Macromedia guy programmed, but the
> software is taken an
> awful lot of roundtrips to the server.
>
> If you try to edit a page with Contribute, it tries to download the
> template first, then the actual page.
> In my particular case both template and the actual page are about 30 -
> 40 KB in size.
>
> It takes up to 2 minutes in Contribute after you hit the EDIT PAGE
> button, before you can actually type.
> (We talk about a 1.5MB DSL line here)
>
> It seems for each file (.jpg,.gif), Contribute creates a .LCK file and
> retrieves a .MNO file, probably
> so slow because it has to check the dependencies for each file.
>
> So Download and Upload is slow, editing is not, because you edit the
> file locally.
>
> If you work in Dreamweaver in a Contribute enabled site and you edit a
> file, it first "check-out" the file
> then you can "put" it back on the server, in your FTP panel, you can

see

> who locked the file. And finally
> you "check-in" your file to permanently publish you changes and unlock
> the file.
>
> Contribute does not allow you to update data stored in a database,

only

> static content, but it displays
> the placeholders, if you edit a a page with Contribute, it looks like
> you edit a page with a Dreamweaver
> template attached.
>
> Hope this explains it better
> Stefan
>
>
> "dc" <dc-re-m-o-v-e-me-@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:bg1egc$stf$1@forums.macromedia.com...

> > Like how slow? And what parts are slow? The update, or

download(opening

> > the file) or just like editing text?
> >
> > If you were to install Dreamweaver MX on your client's computer as

opposed

> > to Contribute and this client were only to do those simple updates,

would

> > this client be able to tell the speed difference between DWMX and
> > Contribute?
> >
> > Compared to like a Web based content management system where you have to
> > have the page refresh in order to update the page or other maintenance
> > tasks, how does this Contribute thing stack up to it?
> >
> > I am thinking Contribute would be great, but I am very interested in

> hearing

> > actual user experiences.
> >
> >
> > dc
> > decloak, Inc.
> > [url]http://www.decloak.com/[/url]
> > __________________________________________________ ___________
> > Multi-Navigation Templates and Menus
> > [url]http://www.decloak.com/Products/Dreamweaver/NestedTemplates/[/url]
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Stefan Kursawe" <skursawe@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> > news:bg1aig$ofm$1@forums.macromedia.com...

> > > Hi Richard,
> > >
> > > I installed Contribute for one of my clients.
> > > It is really easy for the client to update any text content, if you
> > > designed you pages with a template,
> > > then the client can only edit the areas that you allow him.
> > >
> > > The downside to Contribute is: it is slow like hell.
> > >
> > > regards
> > > Stefan
> > >
> > >
> > > "regeisle" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
> > > news:bg10s1$cv3$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> > > > This is a common issue, I'm sure. I just would like to know the

most

> > > efficient solution. I have designed a site for a client, who needs to

> do

> > > occasional updates to the content (almost always text only). In the

> past,

> > I

> > > have asked her to just email me the changes and I go in and apply

them.

> > > Fine...
> > > >
> > > > Now she is asking to be able to update the text herself to make

things

> a

> > > little more accessible.
> > > >
> > > > I know the new prog. 'Contribute' is one solution to this problem,

but

> > > what did developers (you all) do before the program? I'm looking for

> some

> > > different options since I don't know how much I will use Contribute,

so

> am

> > > not sure whether or not it's worth the $.
> > > >
> > > > Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
> > > >
> > > > Thanks in advance,
> > > >
> > > > Richard
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >

> >
> >

>
>

[Paul Whitham TMM]

Richard

You might want to also look at the article from Joe about cobranding
contribute as it is very easy to do, and makes it looks like the program is
an extension of the service you provide.

--
Regards

Paul Whitham
Valleybiz Internet Design
[url]www.valleybiz.net[/url]

Team Macromedia Volunteer for Ultradev/Dreamweaver MX
[url]www.macromedia.com/support/forums/team_macromedia[/url]
"regeisle" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:bg20r6$ksn$1@forums.macromedia.com...

> Thanks for the helpful info. Looks like contribute will be the best

option, since it's mostly basic text

> changes. Guess I'll have her give the demo a try. Thanks for all the

help!

>
> Richard
>
>

[John Dowdell]

Stefan Kursawe wrote:

> for my opinion far too slow.

If you saw connection slowness in 1.0, then you might want to download
the trial of 2.0... it rewrote the connection engine for security as
well as speed. (We still usually do more operations than a single file,
though, and it will never be as zippy as editing a local file.) If
you've got 1.0, then the 2.0 (with FlashPaper) is $9.99 through the end
of September.

jd




--
John Dowdell, Macromedia Developer Support, San Francisco CA
Search technotes: [url]http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/[/url]
Soapbox column: [url]http://www.macromedia.com/desdev/jd_forum/[/url]
Daily technical diary: [url]http://www.macromedia.com/go/blog_jd[/url]
Offlist mail is trapped by spam-filters... best here, thanks!

[Stefan Kursawe]

Hi John,

tried version 2.0, it indeed is faster than 1.0.

On my 1.5 MB DSL line it still took 1m 45sec to open a page as draft,
better than before, but far from being speedy.

After hitting the EDIT button, I see a .LCK file (34 bytes).
A _notes and a _baks folder with every single file on the site.

Do you have a technical document that explains, what you are doing ?
I'd really like to understand, why it takes so long.

Last time when I explained my client how to use Contribute, he already
ran out of
patience since it took 7 minutes to edit a file on his 750KB DSL line.

Stefan

> If you saw connection slowness in 1.0, then you might want to download
> the trial of 2.0... it rewrote the connection engine for security as
> well as speed.