Bit of Website development help needed. Not sure if I should use Joomla?

[CM786]

Hi guys,

The head at one of my schools (primary and nursery) wants a new website.

He has seen:

Home Page :: Otterbourne Primary School, Winchester, Hampshire

and wants me to do something similar.

The existing website is updated using Adobe Contribute and that works well; but I was wondering if Joomla (of which I have very basic knowledge at the moment) could be made to look similar to the site linked above. All the Joomla sites I have seen have normal menus on them and not images for buttons etc?

If it is going to be too much hassle then I could just try making the site using Dreamweaver/Fireworks and continue using Contribute to update it.

I would need some way of making the round flash slideshow too

Any input appreciated.

Thanks

[jamesreedersmith]

Joomla and Artisteer should get you close to what you want.

[CM786]

Thanks for the advice.

I spent the weekend looking at Artisteer and it is good, but the templates it seems to generator are much more suited to business/secondary schools then what I am after which is a shame.


Thing I am just going to have to create the site in Fireworks and Dreamweaver and just use Contribute to update it.

thanks again

[SimpleSi]

Although I sure someone somewhere could do a site like that in Joomla - Joomla's more for people interested in content and updating than artisticly looking nice

A quick win might be to have a simple static frontpage like the one you linked to using simple image map techniques and then all links go to the joomla CMS - best of both worlds

You'd lose out in the frontpage concept but it would look nicer so you pays your money and takes your choice.

And them maybe the head might drop the arty requirement once they see advantages of CMS.

Also - have a look at some of the other primary sites that others have done (mine are too boring for you and seewhat you think

see Bells Farm Primary School and Children's Centre
as one example of "colourfull" content

regards

Simon

[Dodgex1]

I used custom HTML Modules to create image links on Joomla St Thomas More RC College

THe top buttons are images just in a custom module so you could do it in theory Youd just need a front page centred module posistion

[SimpleSi]

I used custom HTML Modules to create image links on Joomla St Thomas More RC College

Good idea - might try it out for my next site

Still might be easier/simpler to use sep prog/static for index page as modifying templates to add custom joomla mods isn't for beginners

regards
Simon

PS - for a quick win in the looks stakes you might want to add a static image to your front page flv video - see St Leonards CE Primary School as example

[Dodgex1]

Still might be easier/simpler to use sep prog/static for index page as modifying templates to add custom joomla mods isn't for beginners

If the template itself has the module posistion on the front page already you can just add custom through the module installer which lets you put whatever html you want in but no probably not for beginners I agree.


And yea, Im looking at setting up something that actually replaces the video without telling you if you havent got flash aswell, I wasn't keen on putting it on the front page and don't want YOU NEED TO INSTALL FLASH! popping up as soon as someone hits the site.

[SimpleSi]

And yea, Im looking at setting up something that actually replaces the video without telling you if you havent got flash aswell, I wasn't keen on putting it on the front page and don't want YOU NEED TO INSTALL FLASH! popping up as soon as someone hits the site.

Those days have gone now I think

I used to fight the fight but even I've given up now

regards

Simon

PS Maybe you could have image that links to a "dark page" with autostarting vide then?