[Zope-CMF] Using CMF without portal like features

[Tres Seaver]

Lynn Walton wrote:

> Can anyone give me some pointers on how to make use of CMF for a site
> where for now I don't to get into a portal like look with membership,
> etc.
> I want the main zope root itself to be able to use the CMF Document
> type, etc, and be skinned using ZPT,


The "main zope root" can't (at the moment) be skinned;  the skinning
mechanism requires using a subobject.  CMFSite objects *can* be skinned
using ZPT.

> but I don't want stuff to end up in a member's folder,


Content needn't be created in a member folder;  members can create
content anywhere they have the 'Add portal content' permission.

> or for the pages to have the typical portal action_box


You should be able to suppress the 'action_box' just by removing it
from 'statndard_html_header'.

> or login option.


If they can't log in, how do you plan to allow them access?
You could move the login link up into the 'standard_top_bar', for
instance.

> I want users who have been given access
> using the usual ZMI user folders to be able to create CMF Documents in
> our various subdirectories under the zope site root.


Again, they can create content anywhere they have the appropriate

permission.  The stock CMF uses a standard Zope user folder, BTW.


> I've seen very little beginner info that starts with using the different
> types of CMF content types, despite having search through the docs and
> exploring numerous times.


You are going to have to customize more skins, if you don't like the
current layout.

>  I believe that many other web developer's are
> going to have this same need to have some sites that aren't portal
> oriented for end users, but that still take advantage of the CMF
> framework for either workflow or separation of presentation and content
> or both.  So, I'd sure like to see some good tutorial docs geared toward
> that.


Could be you would write one?


> Also, can PageTemplates macro's and tal expressions be used inside a CMF
> document? Or can they only be used in a PageTemplate document?


Nope;  like DTML, TAL and METAL are *code*, not content;  CMFDocuments
are *never* supposed to contain code.  If you find yourself thinking,
"TAL would help here", then you are no longer doing "pure" content
authoring;  you have slipped on the page designer hat.

Tres.
-- 
===============================================================
Tres Seaver                                tseaver@zope.com
Zope Corporation      "Zope Dealers"       http://www.zope.com