Automated static output of content

What free tools are you aware of?

[sun818]

I'm trying to find free tools that will merge template files with content to create static HTML files. The requirement is these tools run with little technology as possible. I prefer scripts that write to flatfiles instead of a database.

For content management, I ran across Chico Digital Web Tool and FAQ-o-Matic. Can anyone recommend any other free scripts?

[gethan]

I use wget and a scripting language (php/perl) or equally SSI for this type of thing.

I point wget at my development server running dynamic pages and recursively fetch pages - voila - static pages ready to upload. (simple and free).

HTH

Gethan

[Marcia]

>I point wget at my development server

How about if that's not available, and it's just a regular hosted site?

[topr8]

i have used an app called dbtoweb [endpoint.freeserve.co.uk] by an english guy called matt (unknown to me), it hasn't been updated for years so assume he's gone onto other things, but it does work.

make your own template files and it will generate the pages from a database, it is free, the pro version is 10 ukpounds and has a couple of extra functions.

[sun818]

Thanks gethan! Wow, this could mean that I could just use a static web host and save lots of money on hosting fees! Hmmmm :)

Also found a program called [url="http://www.idata.sk/~ondrej/pavuk/doc.html"]pavuk[/url] which I was able to run behind a SOCKS 4/5 proxy firewalls.

[sugarkane]

> How about if that's not available, and it's just a regular hosted site?

Marcia, I think gethan is saying he has a copy of wget locally on his own machine, and uses it to spider the site on whichever server it's hosted on - there's no need for your hosts to have wget installed.

[Craig_F]

dbtoweb looks like what I've been looking for.

I'm pretty green on databases. dbtoweb looks like it runs on my machine and then I simply upload the files once created, is that correct?

Seems like this could be the solution to the endless price changes that I've been having to do by hand to ensure SE friendlyness. Anyone see any problems with this system?

[topr8]

>>>dbtoweb looks like it runs on my machine and then I simply upload the files once created, is that correct?

yes ... the way i've used it is from a basic access database, make up some templates, use the code as shown in the instructions which then inserts the data from the relevant field into the page.
the pro version has a couple of extra handy functions but for just updating price changes the lite/free version will suit you.
the help pages are basic but complete.

i use it for one site that i can't use dynamic pages for and it works fine, probably not a good solution if your changing prices every day as there would be a lot of ftping involved,
no doubt there are more elegant ways of doing it yourself but if you're not a programmer (like me) it is ideal.

[Craig_F]

Thanks topr8. Sounds perfect. I don't do price changes often, but when I do it takes hours on end. Sounds like this is just what I wanted.

[sun818]

DBtoWeb: 1. Its not free, 2. It only runs on Windows.

[chuladi]

Well, this tool is far from free, but it works on both Windows and Mac. I've been using it for a few months and it is a godsend.

www.fourthworld.com

[amoore]

HTML::Mason will run stand-alone without being connected to a webserver to generate HTML for you. It's supposed to be a perl module for use in a mod_perl module, but they have kept that other functionality. see masonhq.com for more info. Note: It's a rather involved (and powerful) tool.

[sun818]

Just a follow up to note that I used DBtoWEB to generate static HTML files for my site. If you are familiar with ColdFusion syntax, it is similar. The IF/ELSE registered function is very useful.