Welcome to the Chapter Web Site Forum

[dmoulton]

Welcome to the new home for the chapter web site forum. This forum replaces the former Web Board that was available to chapter leaders with questions about the web sites. Please post your questions about chapter web sites.

[dbr]

Hello,


I serve as a 2006 Chapter Chair for a Connecticut chapter, and I would like to begin maintaining our website. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks,

Daphne R.

[billirwin2003]

Hi Daphne,
While I am not a webmaster expert, I maintain 3 web sites including the one for Baltimore Chapter 13. I looked at your chapter's web page and it does look dated it also looks like it was created with a template form Microsoft FrontPage. The easiest way to start maintaining the site is to get Microsoft FrontPage2003, download the files from your Internet Provider, SME and use FrontPage to edit the files. There are some quirks about how it was originally set up as to how easy it will be to maintain, but several hours spent with the guide that comes with the program will get you started.

There are other programs besides FrontPage2003 that will do the job, some cost less; some like Dreamweaver, which costs a whole lot more and has a lot more capability, but require a lot more training to use. You can even learn HTML and use Word to create your files. In the end it is the HTML files that you will create and modify that you are going for.

You can view your modified files with a browser feature built into FrontPage; this shows you how your site will look and perform after you upload it.

You can upload or download files from the SME site by using the following File Transfer Protocol: ftp://xxxw@chapters.sme.org where xxx is your id and pw is your password.

[monkey2]

Originally Posted by dbr

Hello,


I serve as a 2006 Chapter Chair for a Connecticut chapter, and I would like to begin maintaining our website. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks,

Daphne R.

Hi Daphne,

I originally did our chapter in FP03 (sme082.com), I'm in the process of getting the NC chapters all up with new websites using CoffeeCup.com software ..The basic package is $49 to design your webpage. They have a 30 day trial on all of their packages.

You don't need to understand html code, you just drop your pictures & add text where you want it, CC ads the code to get it down they way you want it.

FP has a longer learning curve plus it costs a bunch more. CC has tech forums in case you need help understanding how to use their software .. and general forums on what others have done using CC to make theirs.

My 1st website using CC .. is http://carolinaramblers.org .. I sold it to the CR President, they've made a few changes. I also made up a template using CC .. chapters.sme.org/182 is the first using it .. they are in the process of filling in the rest & understanding how it works. They can add the missing and / or spruce it up .. sky's the limit.

A posted WS on CC forum .. http://www.ifreelance.com/pro/63028, check his website http://www.spinland.biz/ .. nice touch to abilities ..

Let me know if I can help.. CC is cost & time effective!

Fun w/o the headache!

[luckystar09]

thanks so much for useful info