WordPress can easily run a site – you can even have a static front page. There are thousands of themes (looks) for your WP site. I would just install it and that will give you a week to play with and memorize it’s features.
If you need help with install:
http://install4free.wordpress.com
Hi All,
I’m completely new to WP, but I find it intriguing. I saw a site that I think was made using WP and I’d like to know more about how this is done.
First, I should say that I’m not interested in blogging, I’m really only interested in whether or not WP can act as a simple (or not so simple) CMS. I would like to create a website which has lots of images that need to be stored in a database, to be called up upon a search by a visitor. I don’t know how to connect a webpage to a database backend and I was wondering if WP might be able to perform this function? What’s not clear to me is if “blogging software” is just too specific to be used for my purposes. I mean, WP uses PHP/MySQL to run a blog, could it be used for what I want?
My host already has WP installed on my server so I have access to it already. I have spent much of the day looking at documentation on the website, but again, it is geared toward blogs not surprisingly.
One question I have is, why would someone create a website using WP instead of Dreamweaver? Is there any advantage to using WP to run the site – a site that does not have a blog? This is what made me think about using WP as a CMS. Any comments would be appreciated.
Yes, WP can be used as a CMS – I’ve done it several times.
why would someone create a website using WP instead of Dreamweaver?
That’s like asking why someone would make an omelet with eggs instead of milk. Dreamweaver is a program that writes HTML and creates static pages. WP is a program that creates dynamic pages on the fly. You can use Dreamweaver (if you so choose) to create your site templates, but it can’t make a blog for you. You don’t upload Dreamweaver to the server and use it as a blogging tool – it’s used to write code and nothing more. WordPress *can* write code, if you so desire to use it for that, but that’s not it’s main function.
You don’t have to use WordPress as a blog – it’s very effective as a CMS. There’s stuff in the codex which can tell you how to accomplish what you want. Don’t read it and think “this is info only for bloggers” because *all* of the info can be used and implemented to make your site a CMS “static page” looking site without a blog. Look at template heirarchy to get ideas on how to separate each section of the site. The Loop will tell you how to reduce posts to only 1 posts per page, so each section is a “blog” but with only 1 post showing (thus implementing the CMS system – it looks static, but it’s not). I’ve used the loop to show excerpts of 4 different categories on the front page, so the home page gets updated with new news – if only one category is changed, that’s the only exceprt that changes on the front page.
There’s all kinds of things you can do – it just depends on what you’re looking for. The codex certainly has all the answers you need – just don’t read it like it’s for “bloggers only”. 🙂
Doodlebee,
Thanks for the response. I did a search on WP as CMS and found a number of interesting posts – some by you I think. You’re right, I need to stop reading everything as “for blogging”.
Dreamweaver is a program that writes HTML and creates static pages. WP is a program that creates dynamic pages on the fly.
Yeah, it was a bit of a stupid question I realize now that I have been studying it more. I gather that design is accomplished through CSS, since it is not HTML. I also assume that one simply takes a – what’s the term you use here, a Template or Style – and edit the CSS to change the design elements – images, background, etc. Is that right?
I would appreciate it if you would be kind enough to supply some links to websites you have done in this manner. That will help me to see the finished piece and I can look at your CSS to see how you have accomplished it.
Many thanks.
