Using CMS

[illumina foxz]

Hello,
if I were to use CMS to create webpages.. I can't just create the webpages out of dreamweaver and import it later right?
So.. does this means I'll have to get a web hosting and a CMS .. like Mambo or Php-nuke and then create my web page later on?

and.. I kinda think the design in websites that were made out of these CMS are soo similar... is there any "flexible" CMS that allows more to designing part? Or was I missing out something..?

and.. last question.. in the web hosting that offers lots of things.. like invisionboard or those CMS... do we go in and just enable it and we're done? I'm just totally new to this.
Please enlighten me..

Thanks a lot!

[abbeyvet]

I can't just create the webpages out of dreamweaver and import it later right?

Right. With a CMS you have templates - the design part - into which you add content through a control panel. Most allow you to add style to your content via a wysiwyg interface, but basically the content you add is just fed into the templates.

So you don't need to use Dreamweaver or anything else to add content.

design in websites that were made out of these CMS are soo similar

Many CMS systems, though not all, come with predesigned template sets and lots of people just use these with minimal or no modification. So you do see many similar sites.

However all allow you to create your own templates and you can, with a little work, make your site look anyway you want. Tools like Dreamweaver can be used to design the page, then the design used as a template.

do we go in and just enable it and we're done?

Pretty much, though most people will find they need to make some modifications, design or otherwise, to the basic installation.

[BillyS]

Mambo provides the user with Dreamweaver extensions. Basically, these are "calls" to the CMS for different types of content (components or modules). For example, a Banner or an Article. You can use Dreamweaver to place these modules anywhere on the page.

Once you know what you're doing the templates come easy. There is even a tutorial on creating Mambo templates. My last site was designed in about 2 hours - CSS and all. Personally, the site looks EXACTLY like I wanted it to (which means it's not flashy - built for download speed with a very clean layout.)

The designs do not have to similar at all. In fact, I am hard pressed to think of something you cannot do with Mambo from a website template standpoint. About two years ago I evaluated a bunch of CMS before settling on Mambo. That came after deciding PhpNuke and the like did not give me what I needed. You can sticky me if you'd like, I'm not in this forum much.

[illumina foxz]

thanks a lot guys..
and.. has anyone used Macromedia Contribute before?..
I was thinking of trying it...
but just need to know which one to pick on..

[cyfocus]

YOu can use macromedia extensions which you can download from mambo site