Having spent loads developing a huge catalogue-type web site about a year ago, my company forgot about the resource needed to keep such a site up-to-date. Doh! I've just started working here, and the turnaround time for site changes is causing me to pull my hair out in chunks! (2 months+ waiting time in some cases)

A CMS would be the perfect logical solution, but I have been told there's no budget for a complete site rebuild. I was wondering whether anyone knows if any CMS would be compatible with an existing site architecture? I've always implemented them from the ground up, and have never heard of using them on pre-built sites.

How difficult it is to move your site across to a CMS will have a lot to do with how the content of your site is currently stored.

Can you post (or e-mail) further details?

Steve

Hello, my company Hex40 specializes in "site makeover". Basically, we reverse-engineer existing sites into our proprietary hex40 cms. After the makeover, the site owner will have a site with comparable functionality and looks (if so desired of course) but with the added benefit of having full guided access to all site components. If you can provide me with some details on your site, we will gladly give you an estimate.

Greetings,

Rob Tijbosch

Hex40 associate.

On 09:26:57 17 February 2005 miko wrote:
>hi there, the site is at http://www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk

Ok, the presentation layer will be relatively easy as the design and functionality of the site is not complicated.

The site is reasonably well structured and most CMS vendors will have facilities (a combination of importing tools / scripts and manpower) to migrate the content across. Does the careers site also need to be migrated?

If the catalogue is the section of the site giving you the most pain, you're in luck as that sort of content is the easiest to move because it's so structured.

Cheers, Steve

On 11:49:06 16 February 2005 miko wrote:

Having spent loads developing a huge catalogue-type web site about a year ago, my company forgot about the resource needed to keep such a site up-to-date. Doh! I’ve just started working here, and the turnaround time for site changes is causing me to pull my hair out in chunks! (2 months+ waiting time in some cases)

A CMS would be the perfect logical solution, but I have been told there’s no budget for a complete site rebuild. I was wondering whether anyone knows if any CMS would be compatible with an existing site architecture? I’ve always implemented them from the ground up, and have never heard of using them on pre-built sites.

Miko. Looking at the existing site it appears that the basic pages are static HTML and the products are in some form of database linked to a shopping basket.

It might be worth you looking at our CMS/Portal solution, built specifically for Publishers. As part of our system set-up we often take existing sites and populate our system to get you to the point where you can take the same site over in our CMS. And if you choose our Application Service option, there is no huge capital outlay to replace what you have and a simple monthly flat fee from then on. Go to http://www.publishingmedia.co.uk , or for a view of our latest release (site not quite completed), go to http://pmv3.accessemedia.com
Alan