Zope (was Re: [oclug] Free/open-source replacements for MS FrontPage as an *editing* environment?)

[Chris Herrnberger]

On Thursday 26 April 2001 11:09, you wrote:
> Chris,

> Well, I actually like Zope a lot and would use it if I could.  But last
> time I worked with Zope (about 9 months ago), all the editing of the files
> was through their (web-based) user interface using their DTML markup
> language along with standard HTML.  It was fine for me, but, I mean, I'm
> also the guy doing all our (e-smith) documentation using vim and DocBook
> SGML!
> Now you *can* use editors that support WebDAV against a Zope server, which
> was fine for publishing HTML pages and such... but if you want to do things
> like common headers and footers, you need to use Zope's DTML, and I wasn't
> able to do this with the editors I was using.  

if you like vi just ftp in localhost:8021 change the file and viola...

for webDave see....www.zope.org>resources and search using google on the page 
I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

further, nedit has a script available on zope.org that will allow it to 
include dtml symtax recognition and highlighting if you want an OS gui 
editors. 

looked briefly at jedit reference by others but not tested it yet as I need 
to upgrade my java install, not a pleasant exercise 

others have had success with seveal other editors 

You really should post this to the zope list... it will get sorted out rather 
quickly for you. 

>Things have no doubt
> improved since that time... but to use the features I needed I had to do
> all the file editing via Zope's interface, which worked well for me, but
> not for other users.

Well that all depends on how you set the interface up. Typically you would 
send users to an accont folder (similar to an ibay) where everything is 
templated for them, The alternative configuration is simply to integrate 
upload capabilities into the site via http/zope. User changes file with 
preferred editor, uploads file via http/ftp revision controll can be included 
and the site is changed. Security issues need to be addressed though.

It sounds all very simple and it is from a user perspective. The sites design 
and development is the challenge as zope admirable seperates logic from 
presentation and users from admins. Build in workflow using and object 
oriented database and dtml which can be a real bitch to learn. But.....

Here's a freebe for you at e-smith. A killer combo would be to integrate the 
i-bay system with Zope user management system. Each i-bay would then be a 
portal within a portal administered by a single site admin.  Throw in ZEO 
(zope load balancing cluster system) and a second server remote or local and 
you have a cluster accessible from each users i-bay along with all standard 
i-bay features that are accessbile to the outside. 

Can be done easily by users more skilled at the keyboard than I and would 
offer almost unlimited potential in terms of features as each url or peice of 
data is now an object with properties...:)

Again as time permitts, you really should look at this one again, and get 
support from the zope list. Its one of the better lists I monitor daily.


Chris