PMJ advice please

A couple of things to consider.
Your next site could be based on a content management system (CMS) that
would enebale you to make any alterations to any of the pages via your
web browser.
Small downsides to thiis,
1: CMS systems are database driven and some do not produce search engine
friendly URL's out of the box so speak to your web developer about that.
Using a linux based web server will make it easier to achieve this.
2: Cost. CMS based web sites tend to initially cost more than static but
if you have to constantly update and maintain the site, there are cost
savings over time.

Alternatively look at Contribute, originally from Macromedia now Adobe
Systems.
Contribute allows a similar editing functionality to a CMS but the
website has to be constructed with this in mind. Although it is quite
often possible to use Contribute with an existing site that is not
constructed on any template system with uneditable regions. I believe
your existing site may well be easily editable as it is using
Contribute.

There is a 30 day trial.

Hello PMJ

John the R-T...

Not pmj but I hope to help.

Could you please advise me on the best way to change the prices on a website

John the R-T...

How much html to you know?

pmj...

Like the others have said, basically it's just a matter of Downloading
the existing HTML Pages fgrom the Web Server where they are Hosted
(using an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) Package/Utility, or even just
by using a normal Web Browser) & then Saving them to your Local Hard
Disk.

Then you Open up the HTML Pages in an HTML Editor, Edit (change) them
how you want & then Upload them back up to the Web Server (for which
you *will* need either an FTP package, or access to the File Upload
Pages on the Admin Control Panel for the Site - for both of which,
you will need to know the actual Server Name & UserName/PassWord
(Login) details)

At the moment I have to rely on an administrator to change prices for me -
the site is hosted by 123-reg.co.uk and I have the necessary password - can
I download something like filezilla - or an FTP server to actually change

pmj...

Yep!!!
:-)

But that's actuall yonly just the *beginning* of what you will have
to think about & there are various complications that will crop up,
when you try it...

the prices myself ?
Any advice appreciated.

John the R-T...

I've changed some of the prices on two of your pages by increasing
them by 100. :-)

Not difficult but you do need to know a little html and how to upload
the new pages.
Personal choice is Arachnophilia for html and CoreFtp to upload.
Free CoreFtp is only available for personal use. Frogman has LeechFtp
on his website. ISTR LeechFtp is free. Others us Internet Explorer.

pmj...

Bear in mind that if the existing Web Page was written by someone else
(maybe as part of a "package deal" of "Web Design" & "Web Hosting",
they are going to prolly wash their hands of any Support issues, once
you start trying to Edit the Pages yourself.

The Prices they charge usually include the making of the Site in the
first place & Uploading the stuff - & any "maintenance" after that
(alterations of Pages etc,) is either charged for extra, or as part
of the ongoing charges they make.

Any WebSite that periodically needs changing (such as any "Selling"
type Site will always be a whole lot more difficult to maintain,
than a basically "static" Site.

If you want to keep it up to Date, (which you will need to, with any
Site that has prices on it), then it will prolly be better to start
again, from fresh, with a Site that is written using things which are
designed to make it easer to maintain & make alterations.

Ali...

Also bear in mind that the page as seen in a web browser (even in view
source mode) may not be the same as the actual HTML source file on the
server, as the server can alter pages, or even create them 'on the fly'
from a database. This is done to make maintenance easier.

If that's the case here, the html files as downloaded by ftp will differ

Saxman...

Good advice. These 'free' sites appear to offer a lot, but if you need
something more personal, then you will have to learn it yourself or pay
somebody else to do it for you.

Knowledge does not come cheap if one includes college fees, books and time.

Ali...

Time is needed, books and tutorials are available on the internet.

John in Cornwall