Intranet Journal Update CIO Update CodeGuru Update CrossNodes Networking Instant Messaging Planet HTML Practically Networked HTML Enterprise Storage Forum HTML Optically Networked HTML DRM Watch Datamation IT Management Careers Datamation IT Management Update Developer.com Update Gamelan Java Update Goodies to Go Javascript.com HTML JARS Java Update OpenSource Update SysOpt Tech Notes Grid Computing Planet HTML E-Security Planet HTML

Creating a PHP-Based Content Management System

For six months in 2004, Intranet Journal's Peter Zeidman published a tutorial on using the PHP programming language to build a content management system (CMS).

Writing your own CMS can lead to a solution that is better suited to your requirements, better addresses the needs of your users, and is better understood by your development team. If you have the time and expertise to write your own in-house system, it may well prove the better option.

• Part 1 of the series begins with a look at the overall plan for the CMS, and a look at PHP and the concept of object-oriented programming.

• Part 2 takes a look at the basic PHP code that will power the CMS.

• Part 3 examines the creation of the database and the database connector.

• Part 4 explores validation, and the creation of a validator class and the creation of sections for the content that needs to be managed.

• Part 5 introduces security to the content management system, and shows how to create a system that is accessible only to those with authorization to access it. It also takes a look at creating a log-in for users.

• Part 6 discusses layouts for the content, templating systems, and talks about possible add-ons and features that can enhance your PHP-based content management system.