My squadron has assigned me the task of making a website for them and I was wondering what would be a very good domain and if anyone could tell me how to get started on the website. ???
The website that works for me is Homestead Site Builder. It is cheap and ad free. I, also make the website for my squadron. That is what I use.
the "standard" would be, "squadronname.wing.cap.gov", so in your case, one option might be:
rccs.inwg.cap.gov
To get a cap.gov domain will require you apply for it from the National domain administrator, and
accept some rather..."comprehensive" security checks against the hosting site.
For me, personally, I opted for a simpler domain name, which precluded the need to involve NHQ.
As far as hosting, you should be able to get tons of space, lots of bandwidth, and every content engine
known to man from any of dozens of sites for less than $5 per month if you are willing to pay in advance for
1 or 2 years.
okay I need a hosting site that would be approved by national, I need to know how o request something like that from national and a hosting site that will allow certain members to login to a members only page.
Check out CAPR 110-1 for internet procedure's. IIRC it explains the application process for obtaining a .gov address.
This website has the info on obtaining a cap.gov domain:
http://ns1.cap.gov/
If you don't go for a .gov address, no approval from NHQ is required, though the guidelines in CAPR 110-1 would still be in effect as applicable.
I need this info as well. Good work SgtJoker.
Didn't national give out a website kit complete with graphics and all?
How does one create a password protected zone only for members of the squadron?
It depends on what content engine you use, both Mambo and Joomla, among others, can do it fairly easily.
What's a content engine? Did I mention I have no experience on this matter and I've got no one better qualified?
I came across this site. Anyone know about it as far as reliability and stuff? GoDaddy is a very popular one I know that.
Quote from: stratoflyer on September 12, 2008, 04:25:01 AM
What's a content engine? Did I mention I have no experience on this matter and I've got no one better qualified?
A content engine is the backend application that runs a website and creates pages dynamically so that you don't have to edit HTML manually like the old days.
You may hear them referred to as Active Server Pages (ASP), Common Gateway Interface (CGI), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) or other names. Cold Fusion is another backend which is more complex (and robust). And there are others as well.
Joomla an Mambo are branches of the the same tree of software for (fairly) easily creating dynamic webpages.
If the above is Greek, your best best is to find a host that provides template-based sites, or perhaps even a site like blogger or Typepad. Create some blog pages and see if you have anything to actually put there.
Remember, content is king, and unless you've got support from people providing content and guidance, the site will die after a couple of months.
In that case, a basic contact-info/marketing site is probably the way to go and be done with it.
http://www.freeforums.org/ is one of a number of sites where you can create discussion forums with password access, coincidently is is a CSS website and you can get an idea of how robust a site you can make using something like Joomla.
Capblog is good example of a robust Typepad page.
Thanks a lot for the info. So how would Mambo be installed and used?
Let's say I buy a domain from doteasy.com of godaddy.com and I want to use Mambo or something like it to create the site. How would it be done?
If you are considering a content management system (CMS), there are two things that you must keep in mind: 1. You MUST keep the software updated. You WILL get hacking attempts. 2. If you're not familiar with this type of software, consider one that is very simple like Frog CMS.
Joomla/Mambo and Drupal are two of the most popular, but they are very big and complex with probably far more options than you actually need. You could also consider WordPress, which is made for blogging, but a lot of people use to power regular ol' web sites now. Two of my favorites are SilverStripe and modx. Modx is very capable, and great overall. SilverStripe has also proven itself. In fact, their largest site is the Democratic National Convention, and it preformed well.
Last time I did this sort of stuff I used FrontPage and the host service has a buttom for uploading the webpage created through frontpage. Here are our requirements now:
It's got to be cheap for we want a domain name.
It's got to be easy to navigate for visitors and what not.
It's gotta be visual as well, with pics of activities and CAP graphics.
We would like to have our own publications on the web so that cadets may simply download their stuff in one place.
I think it's pretty straightforward. If taught properly, I could run it myself. My thing right now is finding something easy to set-up and use asap for recruiting. We are prepearing our first squadron meeting this monday and our first class of cadet basics will begin.
Again, thanks for all your input.
Frontpage is the work of the devil. >:(
No...its Microsoft!! >:D
Quote from: stratoflyer on September 12, 2008, 05:59:32 PM
Last time I did this sort of stuff I used FrontPage and the host service has a buttom for uploading the webpage created through frontpage. Here are our requirements now:
It's got to be cheap for we want a domain name.
It's got to be easy to navigate for visitors and what not.
It's gotta be visual as well, with pics of activities and CAP graphics.
We would like to have our own publications on the web so that cadets may simply download their stuff in one place.
I think it's pretty straightforward. If taught properly, I could run it myself. My thing right now is finding something easy to set-up and use asap for recruiting. We are prepearing our first squadron meeting this monday and our first class of cadet basics will begin.
Again, thanks for all your input.
Provide links to the NHQ site for pubs and forms. Why fill up your server space when the stuff is already hosted somewhere else? And you won't have to keep updating your local copies, either.
I was mostly referring to our own stuff, such as squadron memos and what not.
I run a joomla site for a chapter that is part of a national organization's web page. I like the ability to edit the stuff, but the system is not all that intuitive. Also, the joomla pages load very slowly when you try to open them up. Not sure if that is just our site or something found in other joomla systems.
Joomla loading speed depends a lot on the server where it's installed. I work on a Jomla site, and we ended up having to change providers because toe old on couldn't provide the server "power" needed to host the site.
Quote from: Eclipse on September 12, 2008, 04:20:07 AM
It depends on what content engine you use, both Mambo and Joomla, among others, can do it fairly easily.
content engine is more popularly ( and officially)recognized as a CMS = Content Management System
Quote
Provide links to the NHQ site for pubs and forms. Why fill up your server space when the stuff is already hosted somewhere else? And you won't have to keep updating your local copies, either.
Amen to that. Doing this will make life alot easier. Just make a text link to the documents you want to have listed.
There are a number of freeware tools available that will validate the links on a website - make a note to run one (them) monthly to see if anything has changed.
Dead links make Jeebus Cry. :'(
Interesting. I'll contact the overall system "Yoda" about it to see if it is something they're looking at.
One thing I have been experimenting with outside of an HTML website that i do use Microsoft Frontpage to edit is having a live space from Microsoft as a supplement. Take a look at http://nd119.spaces.live.com/. We use this as a squadron newsletter and a supplement to our actual website at www.happyhooligans.org. I have also bee looking into using www.officelive.com for sharing files and other data I need to secure to specific people. It seems to work pretty well. Yes, I am pro-Microsoft- Go Vista and Zune ;D.
Front page is the EVIL incarnate. You are doing a disservice to the users of your page by using it.
It produced horribly bloated code, and is not fully compliant with established web standards, causing slow loading and weird appearances on non-M$ browsers.
Caveat emptor. Notary sojac. YMMV. *Batteries not included.
well this aint helping much anymore.
Quote from: stratoflyer on September 17, 2008, 02:59:17 AM
well this aint helping much anymore.
OK, let's review:
Asked about domain - pretty well covered
Asked about adding content - you got info on CMSs and how best to make outside assets available
Got advice about FrontPage and why we think you shouldn't use it
Any other Qs? We don't know what you don't know, or what you need until you tell us.
There's just many different options here and I was hoping for a quick and dirty guide to getting something up on the web. I'm very busy with the squadron and the website is something that no one else can help with, and me being the hard-headed fellow I can be, I just thought maybe I could find an easy answer. Thanks anyways guys.
Sorry, dude, there's no "Easy Button" for web sites.
Quote from: SarDragon on September 19, 2008, 04:58:30 AM
Sorry, dude, there's no "Easy Button" for web sites.
Agreed.
I recommend you look at a simple CMS that won't take a lot of time and energy to learn. Joomla and Drupal do not really fall into that category. They are powerful, but they are huge, bloated, and therefore complex.
Quote from: SarDragon on September 19, 2008, 04:58:30 AM
Sorry, dude, there's no "Easy Button" for web sites.
oh but there is.
I'd recommend starting with Wordpress.com or blogger. Their simple text editors and easy-to-upload photo tools make them truly great for beginners. If not them, stick with something that's free and focuses on your content. (ie: your squadron news and info)
If later on you get the hankerin for including more robust features within your site, go with a CMS, but for now...
Content Content Content!
(No easy button for that.)</soap>
Who says websites aren't easy and FrontPage is out of the question?
If you're looking for a basic site to post information about your squadron, and you know your way around Microsoft Office, by all means use it! I've used FrontPage for the last 5 years to create websites for my camping club, Relay For Life and the squadron. The only compatibility issue I've experienced was a certain font color that couldn't be viewed by Mac browsers. Changed the color, problem went away.
I suggest not obtaining your domain registration from your hosting provider, even if it's free. They can sometimes delay the transfer if you decide to change hosting services. I recommend GoDaddy.com for domain registration. They're cheap and very easy to work with.
As for a hosting provider, I like webhostingpad.com. Their c-panel interface is powerful and very simple to use. Not all providers using c-panel offer the same features. Directory protection with user names and passwords; PHP forums (like this one); mailing lists and webmail are all easy to set up.
Our squadron has a member-only section of the website to access information which shouldn't been viewed by the public. The password protection satisfies the requirements of CAPR 110-1. We use forums to keep members up to date on activities, and scheduling O-flights. Pilots post their availability, and cadets sign up to fly.
Our squadron website has improved internal communications 100%. By posting information on the forums and using mailing lists (seniors, cadets, parents), everyone is kept in the loop. The public area is great for posting general information for prospective members, with links to wing, regional and national sites.
EMT: URLs?
Sorry... www.399cap.org