PULSE: Self-Hosted CMS Solution and Tutorial

[Frank B.]

There is now a neat self-hosted cms solution that integrates very well with WebPlus. It a product called Pulse CMS. It allows for the creation of HTML pages through a simple web based editor. It also allows for the inserting and uploading of images all through the editor interface. Another nice feature of this product is that it has a gallery option, so galleries can be created on-line, and automatically update site pages that have the gallery object embedded.

The ONLY problem with this product is the lack of documentation, therefore, I've compiled a tutorial aimed specifically at WebPlus users. It can be viewed/downloaded from HERE. There are links within the tutorial interface, and within the tutorial pages to the download page.

For people who want their own CMS hosted on their own server, this could be an ideal alternative to SWR CMS. By the way, in the low-cost, paid version of this application, there is also a Blog, plus additional gallery styles.

Hope you find this of use.

Kind regards

NOTE: THE TUTORIAL LINK ABOVE IS NO LONGER ACTIVE. I'VE BEEN ADVISED BY PULSE CMS THAT THE LITE (FREE) VERSION OF THE PRODUCT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. FURTHERMORE, THE PUBLISHERS HAVE STATED THERE WERE SECURITY ISSUES WITH THE FREE VERSION. THEREFORE, IT IS NO LONGER RECOMMENDED FOR USE ON LIVE WEBSITES. PULSE NOW ONLY PROVIDES A PRO (PAID) VERSION OF THE PRODUCT, DETAILS OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED ON THEIR WEBSITE.

[grovesie]

Frank,

Firstly, thanks for the tutorial, I shall read it shortly. The CMS certainly looks good and affordable for the pro version.

Might be something worth adding to the 3rd party apps thread?

Steve

[Frank B.]

Hi Steve,

I couldn't agree more. Apps like this are something that Serif could easily include, and maybe tweak for easier integration into webplus.

Regards

Frank B.

[Username]

Thanks Frank, looks good and well worth a try.

[Jim B.]

Originally Posted by Frank B. There is now a neat self-hosted cms solution that integrates very well with WebPlus. It a product called Pulse CMS.

Web site located here.

"Basic", unsupported, and limited-features version is free.

"Pro", lifetime license, fully supported, and REBRANDABLE (!), is US$15 per domain name, or US$50 if you buy a 5-pack (save US$25 over buying 5 "singles").

Hmmm. Perhaps a web builder could buy a 5-pack, or even a single, then resell to a client, with the additional fees covering the time/cost of modifying the WebPlus site, and installing on the server, and perhaps preliminary instruction and/or support to the client to use the CMS.

As this seems to NOT modify the web site's HTML files on the server, then this would seem to be a much better alternative to CUSHY CMS.

Hmmm. This raises some interesting possibilities!

[Frank B.]

Hi Jim,

Yes, the pricing is very reasonable, and the Pro version does have some nice extra facilities. It's just a shame that webPlus pages aren't expandable as in normal CSS sites. A product like this comes into its own on such sites, as every item of text could be handled very easily with this product. As it stands, it really does need to work with iframes in webplus site.

And, of course, you are right about the non-modification of the html pages. This helps maintain site integrity after the site is handed over to a client. I've used it on a few sites now, and it hasn't caused any problems yet (even the clients can handle the simple web interface with the smallest learning curve.

I think you should give it a try on a test site - I think you will find the exercise well worth while.

Regards

Frank B.

[Martin Taylor]

Originally Posted by Frank B. There is now a neat self-hosted cms solution that integrates very well with WebPlus. It a product called Pulse CMS.

Yep, first mentioned here by starhunter in this thread, afaik. It looks like a good simple solution, and runs off plain text files, iirc.

[Frank B.]

Hi Martin,

Just to let you know that the security vulnerabilities mentioned in the referenced thread were sorted out in release 1.2.3, so perfectly safe to use now, as long as you set a good strong password.

Regards

Frank B.

[Ali]

Originally Posted by Frank B. There is now a neat self-hosted cms solution that integrates very well with WebPlus. It a product called Pulse CMS. It allows for the creation of HTML pages through a simple web based editor. It also allows for the inserting and uploading of images all through the editor interface. Another nice feature of this product is that it has a gallery option, so galleries can be created on-line, and automatically update site pages that have the gallery object embedded. The ONLY problem with this product is the lack of documentation, therefore, I've compiled a tutorial aimed specifically at WebPlus users. It can be viewed/downloaded from HERE. There are links within the tutorial interface, and within the tutorial pages to the download page. For people who want their own CMS hosted on their own server, this could be an ideal alternative to SWR CMS. By the way, in the low-cost, paid version of this application, there is also a Blog, plus additional gallery styles. Hope you find this of use. Kind regards

Frank - this looks like the answer to my prayers! Just glancing through the tutorial I don't see you mention the encoding of your web pages anywhere - the default (in a UK version of WP, at least) is UTF-8, and this doesn't work with .php page extensions, so presumably will need to be changed. Sorry if I missed it in the tutorial - I'll have a proper look tonight.

[4d00]

Frank I'm sure you have become an early santa clause for a lot of people with this gem of a gift. I have briefly read through your tutorial and have downloaded it for a play with and seems straight forward enough even for my sometimes easily confused brain.
on a separate issue i sent you an email the other day about a specific problem I thought you could help me with as you have helped me with a similar one before. I sent this through the forum and was wondering if you got it?

again thanks Santa
4d

[Frank B.]

Originally Posted by 4d00 Frank I'm sure you have become an early santa clause for a lot of people with this gem of a gift. I have briefly read through your tutorial and have downloaded it for a play with and seems straight forward enough even for my sometimes easily confused brain. on a separate issue i sent you an email the other day about a specific problem I thought you could help me with as you have helped me with a similar one before. I sent this through the forum and was wondering if you got it? again thanks Santa 4d

Sorry 4d, I haven't seen your message. Maybe you could email me on serifusers at flashpubs.com

Regards

Frank B.

[Frank B.]

Originally Posted by Ali Frank - this looks like the answer to my prayers! Just glancing through the tutorial I don't see you mention the encoding of your web pages anywhere - the default (in a UK version of WP, at least) is UTF-8, and this doesn't work with .php page extensions, so presumably will need to be changed. Sorry if I missed it in the tutorial - I'll have a proper look tonight.

Hi Ali,

All the pages I've used this on are UTF-8 encoded and there is no problem. I don't know of this php/UTF incompatibility. Almost every PHP site we make is UTF-8 Encoded and we've never run into a problem. Is it something specific to WebPlus pages?

Regards

Frank

[Ali]

Originally Posted by Frank B. Hi Ali, All the pages I've used this on are UTF-8 encoded and there is no problem. I don't know of this php/UTF incompatibility. Almost every PHP site we make is UTF-8 Encoded and we've never run into a problem. Is it something specific to WebPlus pages? Regards Frank

Well, when I incorporated Martin Taylor's PHP counter code a week or so ago, which has a counter.php page in the site, it wouldn't work with the UTF-8 encoding - Martin suggested that I change it to ISO-Western Europe, and it was fine after that. He might be able to shed more light on the issue than I!

[4d00]

Originally Posted by Frank B. Sorry 4d, I haven't seen your message. Maybe you could email me on serifusers at flashpubs.com Regards Frank B.

thanks frank I sent you a private massage through serif forum.

[Ali]

Well, I've started having a play with this Pulse CMS and the first problem I have encountered was uploading to my host. I use CuteFTP Pro for this sort of thing, and one particular bunch of files (including one called cklist, or something like that), just wouldn't go. I kept getting an error message about incorrect orders of commands. In the end I had to upload each of these six or seven files individually. It took quite a while to upload the entire Pulse folder - it takes up more space on the server than I was expecting!

I'm going to try to create a page with content next. I'll post again later to relay how I get on.

[willmoore]

I have downloaded the free version but i can not find the .exe file to install it, Any ideas ?
Thanks
Will

[nfc212]

Originally Posted by willmoore I have downloaded the free version but i can not find the .exe file to install it, Any ideas ? Thanks Will

There is no installer as such, open the zip file and read the install.txt file.

[willmoore]

Originally Posted by nfc212 There is no installer as such, open the zip file and read the install.txt file.

I can not see install.txt file. I do see description.txt
Will

[Ali]

Originally Posted by willmoore I have downloaded the free version but i can not find the .exe file to install it, Any ideas ? Thanks Will

Will - try reading Frank's very thorough tutorial linked to the first post of this thread!

[willmoore]

Originally Posted by Ali Will - try reading Frank's very thorough tutorial linked to the first post of this thread!

Thanks Ali. I think I've grasped it now.
Will