squadron website

[Dutchboy]

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

[Dutchboy]

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.

[Eclipse]

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.   

[RiverAux]

Interesting.  I'll contact the overall system "Yoda" about it to see if it is something they're looking at. 

[LtCol Hooligan]

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   .

[SarDragon]

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.

[stratoflyer]

well this aint helping much anymore.

[SarDragon]

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.

[stratoflyer]

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.

[SarDragon]

Sorry, dude, there's no "Easy Button" for web sites.

[JC004]

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.

[pixelwonk]

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>

[EMT-83]

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.

[Capt Rivera]

EMT: URLs?

[EMT-83]

Sorry... www.399cap.org