[Zope-CMF] newbie question

[alan runyan]

John,

this really belongs on the CMF mailing list.


> Hi,
>
> I'm new to Plone and Zope but I'm very interested in building a site using
> both.  I do have some questions before I try to install.

you should have at least attempted to install the software.  ZOPE/CMF/Plone
are very
hands on tools.  and since you havent installed the software, some of my
answer may not make sense.

> I have a few basic requirements:
>
> User registration (and user db customization) - I need to add fields
> specifically for custom data I need to store

portal_memberdata is just a propertysheet.  add whatever properties you want
there and each member will have those properties
available to them.

> Message Board Functionality - I'm familiar with the "news" style messages
> and ZUBB

CMFForum is checked into the CMF Collective over at sourceforge.

> User Submitted Photo Gallery

CMFPhoto is also availabled at the Collective

> Ability to integrate future E-commerce package

CMFCommerce will be available at the Collective (its currently at the Plone
CVS).
NOTE: CMFCommerce is *not* a 'out-of-the-box' solution.  you will have to
write python code. Although the code is trivial -
you will have to understand inheritance and know some python.

>
> My questions are:
>
> When you add functionality - do the Zope add-ons available tie into the
user
> db?  If not, what is required to do so?  Is it hard to modify the user db
> and integrate those changes into the user interface on Plone?  Like ZUBB
for
> example?

modify portal_memberdata  tool

> Do the photo apps like CMFPhoto, Photo, and Photo Extension
> http://www.zope.org/Members/mngibso/PhotoExt allow user submissions that
tie
> back into user records? Can you include comments on them?

I'm sure you can.  but I dont really understand what you mean, " allow user
submissions that tie back into user records"

> Does Plone integrate with any of the zope e-commerce packages?

the only *real* ecommerce system I would use is the one lalo and I created
to work with the CMF.  But I also
wrote the system, so I am biased.  I would search on google.  I dont know
how much of a programmer you are
but CMFCommerce is not going to be a 'out of the box' system.  you will have
to program some (suprisingly litle).

> And finally, Does plone allow any other "type" of information (other than
> news) be displayed on the front page?  Are multiple types allowed at once?
> I'm thinking of the Nuke blocks example that feature the newest * on the
> front page.

of course.  you create your own frontpage!  CMF/Plone encourage your to
customize the frontpage because its
trivial.  I find most PHP programmers coming to ZOPE/CMF/Plone shocked how
flexible the software is.  very very
rarely is there any limitations.  usually the product author allows for
*any* sort of content to be added anywhere.
Its up to you to query for 'News' items here or 'XXX' items there.

in Plone CVS look at frontpage_template for example.

trying my best not to belittle PHP,
~runyaga