Hi, I was wondering if anyone one could give me some ideas/help on a way to allow a client to update a small area of text on a standard HTML/CSS website.

I am currently designing a website for a client who as expressed an interest in a small area of the site which he could update himself with latest news/offers.

His needs are too simple to require a full blown Content Management System, which I can’t provide myself as I don’t have the coding knowledge. So I was wondering if there are any easier ways to create a site that is capable of basic dynamitic updates.

I have searched the net and found some information that this might be possible by using RSS Feeds or Notepad (Txt) Docs, but it never gave any information on how this can be achieved.

Can anyone shed some light on this subject for me or suggest a way that I might be able to achieve my client’s objectives?

Thanks
Webbo

Wordpress can be used to allow updates to part of a site. You just design your theme around the WP part. Its probably the easiest way to do it, if you can do the templates/themes.

Depends on your server. You'll need some server-side code.

If your site is on an APACHE server, you'll need to learn a wee bit of PHP, then you can use a text file to allow them to update that bit of text on the page.

If your site is on a WINDOWS server, you'll need to learn a wee bit of ASP.NET. Same deal, can read in a text file.

Richard's recommendation isn't bad, using a full Content Manager like Wordpress or ExpressionEngine (etc.) would let the client update much more on the site... There will likely be a learning curve there too, if you want to use your own design. These options are all database driven, so the client would login to the site and be able to select which areas of the site they want to update...much more friendly than a text file, and no FTP necessary.

Hi,

Something you might want to look that will require no knowledge of server side scripting or third party CMSs is Adobe Contribute (http://www.adobe.com/products/contribute/). It allows you to set up a page, or multiple pages, to allow a client or third person to update certain areas of a site without mucking up the rest. What's key is that the intended user doesn't need to know anything about HTML, CSS or another web technology. I've found that with a 30 minute tutorial the client can be up and running, updating their site.

Definately worth looking into.