Administering Your CMS-Based Web Site - A Basic Understanding of HTML and PHP
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It is true that you can manage an installed system without extensive coding knowledge. It is not true that you can operate the system with any confidence without such knowledge. It is also not true that you can install or trace errors in installation without some understanding of the language in which the system was written.
Understanding simple code, like how a link or an image are constructed, where and how to begin and end a snippet of PHP, or a line within a code block, will save you a lot of frustration.
Grammatical errors often abound in programming because writers come from all over the world. The coder won't understand proper sentence structure in English, Italian, German and Spanish for instance. Depending on the country for which your web site is intended, particular nuances in language and syntax errors can be embarrassing for a business site intended for professional users. Corrections like simple grammar fixes are very easy to make, unless you have no clue about how the code is written.
When you get to the point of customizing your CMS for look and feel, for language changes to the core system, you will need to understand some HTML and PHP.
You will certainly need an understanding of both HTML and PHP for upgrading the core system when new releases are issued. The same is true for upgrades of any add-on modules that you incorporate into your system.
There will be common changes that many users request or have problems with. These changes or problems are solved in most cases by paying close attention to examples given in the Install or README or on a good support forum. Recall the discussion on choosing a CMS and the need for a community of supporters for the system you select.
CMS packages also have a tutorial. By becoming familiar with the tutorial and the forum that is dedicated to that system, you will be able to work your way through many simple customization challenges.
Next: Final but Crucial Requirements >>
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