server side includes

[dandelion]

Are there any issues with using server side includes in brochure pages?

I have a client who wishes to be able to do a magazine style home page without using a web developers services to do this, using a range of layout styles and colours which I believe will be outside the capabilities of fragments.

I am thinking that I can write a CMS, and provide a range of css styles in the stylesheet, so that the client will be able to add, edit and delete items, and set background images, colours, text style/colour etc.

I can then call a PHP page containing the content with some markup in a fragment under the home page in Actinic.

Obviously I will have to have the server parse .html for SSI, but are there any issues that I am overlooking with doing it this way?

Many thanks, Dan

[jont]

Assuming all your coding works fine then there should be no issues as it is no different to creating your own homepage outside of Actinic as many do - just retain the Actinic coding and it should be fine.

Fragments are quite powerful and if you use the "text only" option can act simply as place holders for which you can insert your custom code between the famous !<< >>! tags for Actinic to recognise.

Probably best to trial out on a trial subsection to see how it holds togther before going for the homepage - been bitten there before

[dandelion]

Thanks Jonty

I think the client will turn up their collective nose at doing HTML coding themselves within the fragments, especially with the extra !!<>!! so I intend to write a stylesheet with a range of preconfigured formatting options for them, then have a style lookup within the CMS.

I will probably launch using fragments actually, as deadlines are, as ever, tight! and offer the CMS option as an upgrade.

[jont]

as deadlines are, as ever, tight!

Is there any other type with clients?

Good luck with the site launch - if you want any user testing after going live it is always worth posting a thread and a link on here for constructive feedback