Web Advise Needed.

Most web hosting companies offer a way via the control panel of your web site to add a "password protected" directory on the web server. You simply put a link to that directories index page and a password box will pop-up when people try to enter.

Hmmm... I'll ask, but that's a new one on me. Thx.

that is true and if they don't you can still get this done fairly easily with a .htaccess file.

RE .htaccess file: Ok Ivan. Let's try this. Explain it to me like I'm about four years old. lol Obviously I've got a learning curve ahead of me.

Here's the situation: I usually job these sort of things out, but this client is a pro bono gig. No money... blah blah. I was hoping there would be some plug and play solution out there.

I still have to check on the password-protected directory. If that's available I think I'm good.

Thanks again everyone for the input.

lemme know if you need help. I write that stuff on my own in PHP and ASP w/ either a txt database of mysql, but there are even simpler ways depending on the situation.

I'd be more than happy to help out for free by handing over my code or just building it for you (wouldn't take more than an hour at most).

send me specs and detailed info about what they want and what server you're using. My stuff is in PHP, but I also write ASP/VB if you need it. It can also be achieved using Flash (yes flash, only cuz its easy to interact with servers that do have somethign to write w/) if you don't have any backend language to use on the server.

thornysarus: it's quite simple really my child. :)

.htaccess is a file that gives instructions to the Apache server. Apache is the engine which serves the web pages on most linux, unix and os x servers. (on ms you have iss i think, which is different). Now, if you put certain commands in a file named .htaccess you can tell Apache how to deal with that particular folder that file is in. For example password protect it. In that case you will have to create another file too, which will hold the password: .htpasswd

Note:

In OS X creating file names starting with a dot can be tricky.

There are many resources on the net if you search the keywords: htaccess apache password protect folder... for exmaple

Sorry if i was too detailed, but you asked for it. :) Let me know if you face any issues.

I have had a lot of luck using the CMS called 'mambo' available at mamboserver.com.

You can design the password protected section very easily. Put content up that has a checkbox by it that says 'public' or 'registered.' Grab a free template, go through the pretty simple install. Uses PHP and MySql to do it's magic, so you must have a host that supports it....

Learning curve is pretty big (not a code thing, but a which button do a press thing), but once you get it every small or pro bono project will require you using it. Every non-profit I help out gets it. Cheap, they can update it 100%, easy; can't ask for more.

I am surprised more people don't know about it, anyone know why? Porsche Brazil is using it now...

Mambo roxors....I've been meaning to check out the code from slashdot too, dunno if it has the same features as mambo though.

i vote for http://drupal.org vs. mambo. mambo's code is quite messed up and if you want to hack it, you gonna have to get really dirty. drupal's admin is not as pretty is mambo, but its core is much cleaner.

It's so hard to judge one over the other because both sites fail to show off the CMS in the best light. They both offer a list of "Sites using our CMS" but both list any site that uses it, rather than the best ones. 99.9% of those listed, are using the standard boring "blog-looking" template, and no extra features.

that is true. this one is the best site i've seen done in Drupal. it's a good site for the content as well. linky.