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By KnutPet on
Hi
I’m not familiar with Drupal but need a cms system to rebuild one of my websites.
Today they are on W2012 server with MsSql backend and classic asp code.
I need better design, mobile friendly pages, easier maintenance and updating.
The websites have food recipe with nutrition values and information around this theme.
What I think about doing is:
Migrate to MySQL backend.
Install .php.
Install a cms system and build up my website completely from scratch.
What I do every day:
1. Add new recipe, text, images and connect ingredient to ingredient table with nutrient values.
2. Add new ingredient or import them from Excel, other database files. Add all kind of value.
3. I use today 10-15 templates, all connected to database.
Extra;
Login for users so they can save recipes, images, nutrition values ++
Fulle compatible with all screen resolution, responsive design!
Do anyone of you think Drupal can handle this, with appropriate plugins?
35.000 recipes in the database.
150.000 records about ingredient and nutrition.
And integration with my own nutrient tables
Some special function in ordinary VB script.
and ++
I must do this because of my health condition.
Today it is to much work for me.
mvh
Knut Pettersen
Norway
Website: www.matoppskrift.no
Comments
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Drupal would be a great tool to tackle your website.
But I want to clarify a point on your plan:
To be clear Drupal will not help you manage existing content in an existing database (not without a lot of work). You would install Drupal and then migrate the data to it. There are some great tools to help you like the Feeds module, but this can still be a painful process with so many records and if there are relationships between the records.
Drupal can help you build a more mobile friendly website. This is really all done in the theme layer, so check out the themes to see if there are any you like. Some are easy to make small modifications to. Getting your site to look exactly how you want is a good sized development project.
But Drupal is going to make all kinds of things easier. There is a module that is going to give users the ability to favorite recipes. You can import excel files with the Feeds module. And creating recipes is going to be dead simple.
- Brendan
Agreed, many options, just
Agreed, many options, just got to experiment a little to find what is best.
Thanks for helpful answer.
All data is now in MsSql database.
I think I will first migrate all data from MsSql to MySql.
I need to show these records on my websites trough different queries.
But do Drupal make their own tables, so I perhaps should wait with install MySql?
For now I’m totally blank with .php and Drupal, but I normally learn quickly. I got 15 years’ experience with .asp and MsSql.
But all updates, maintenance, programming is too much for me, and I desperately need an easier way to do the routine tasks, design, responsive design, add new records and different user tasks ++.
My website is what I do for living, and this is critical for me. I now loose readers bcause of bad design and mobil solution, and Google is sending me down SERP because of that and ++.
And now it is the time to start all over again with a new website with fresh design and better user experience.
Knut
_
Yes, Drupal installs it's own tables and it's pretty complex. With Drupal you don't ever do anything directly in the database. You use the UI. And you don't write queries, you use Views.
If this is a critical site for you and it's your living, you might want to pay someone to do it for you. Drupal has a steep learning curve and I am confident that you can learn it, but there is a lot of pressure on you right now. If you don't have time to take it slow, try out some stuff, watch some videos, and read some books it's going to be frustrating and probably a failure.
- Brendan
Thanks again Brendan
Thanks again Brendan
I will try to learn and also set up a test site.
I can run an extra website beside the old and see if I understand and can work with Drupal,
And see if it is possible to migrate all data, set up similar services and features, and learn how to use it.
I got 3-4 domain that I can use for that, or just run it local
I was in doubt about what CMS to choose, but I need something that can handle complicated websites. Perhaps other are more appropriate for me?
I have plenty of time, and hope that a new website is up before August.
What I need to reduce is the time I use on design and all new feature like responsive site, login service, ++ which is not easy anymore in old .asp.
And can find ready made modules that can reduce my work.
Knut
_
You are on a Drupal forum, so you may not get the most unbiased answer but Drupal is almost certainly the right solution. "complicated" can mean a lot of things. No CMS handles complex data, logic, or functionality better than Drupal. The only think it is not ideal for in my opinion is complex or deep site structure and hierarchy. Bases on what you have shared so far, I think you are on the right track.
- Brendan
Last Update
After good advice from you and other resource people here in Norway, this is what we do!
First of all install some templates or maybe bootstrap on the existing biggest website, and get it responsive as quick as possible. It's here I loose money.
Then install Drupal and start with 2 of my small websites, and rebuild them in drupal, but on my W2012 server.
And after that learn and also rebuild 3 other websites and hope I will learn during the work, so at last rebuild the main site. I got 6 active websites, with 30 to 10.000 readers a day.
I have also been in contact with programmers here in Norway who is behind some Drupal Modules. Perhaps we share some work and ideas together.
And this summer me and my wife need some holiday. So I hope I can get on the plane without all my thoughts on my web sites.
Knut