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General discussion

Want clients to have own pages w/ upload ability on my site

Jul 12, 2005 2:53PM PDT

Basically, I think this is a simple concept, but harder to explain than it should be. I have a business with distributors (like sales reps, I'll call them "s/r"), that may go to a meeting and want to post a note (thru their laptop or PDA and wi-fi/internet. I want that to be capable through MY hosted site. Here's the context...

When a new s/r opens an account with me/my site/my business; I want to code (in Dreamweaver MX) a basic non-formatted or basic template page that my s/r can type notes onto or even upload a .pdf invoice to. Here's the idea in more detail:

s/r meets a client and needs to remember to follow-up in 30 days for an order. Or s/r quoted a price of $10 per item and wants to remember for next follow-up meeting. Or created a P/O and wants an off-site backup of the P/O for safekeeping.

The s/r could type (not necessarily a form field, not a blog) just AS NOTES to themself whatever they want on their secure, password protected page I've designated for them. Of course, I have webmaster capabilities to view the page, but I don't want to watch over this stuff.

Let's say that at the end of the year, they could even pull down all .pdf's and have their tax info handy right there.

The main catch is I don't want each s/r to have to have, use, or learn any FTP software. I want it to transfer to my host like a post in a discussion, or a form field, or a chat room message would.

I've been told wikipedia is open source and might do what I want, maybe with a little tweaking. I also have been told CutePHP might be close. I've talked with Salesforce.com because somebody directed me to them. I can't find something this easy available without a big price tag (even with a huge price tag). There are some app's closest that are for internal "dynamic or active" web page modifications. Here:

Like a s/r can be at a factory and learn "this widget will be made in green and delivered in 2 months." Then that s/r can go online and modify the web page to say just that. Then a sales manager or webmaster will approve it and it goes live. I don't want that approval step. And usually these softwares run about $1500+ for a 6-10 user license. I want unlimited license with little to no cost.

And open source is fine. I'm not a programmer. I've asked programmers. They don't really know what I need. Can anybody help direct me to something. Maybe freeware/shareware (I'm willing to pay if it works), or inexpensive without license restrictions? Sorry so long. Cheers.

Discussion is locked

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2 comments.
Jul 12, 2005 9:52PM PDT

1. I've yet to encounter a CRM, ERM, or such where you can't turn off some approval step requirement.

2. Just like car repair, you tend to pay if you can't fix it.

In otherwords, I don't see a solution (for you) for free or below the 4 figures.

Bob

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Confused
Jul 25, 2005 9:46AM PDT

Sorry, im a little confused over what your asking for. Are you just asking for a personal page where your users can upload information and then download them at a later date if needed?

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(response to Xangelo)
Aug 7, 2005 8:26AM PDT

Something like that. But I want it to be clear that I have a few SPECIFIC requirements.

1) they do NOT need to have, use, or know how to use FTP applications

2) that they can have an open page where they can just type notes and have them saved (like a forum or message board) and NOT have to upload.

3) that they CAN upload pages (like .pdf's) for later reference to their page(s)

4) that their page be secure (password protected) so only they can access it (of course, as webmaster, I would still be able to if needed)

Does that clarify a bit? Hope so, thanks all for your input.

Basically, I envision myself creating a page (in Dreamweaver for example) that is my clients personal page. They can type notes on it, save invoices (pdf's) to it, and retrieve the pages from remote sites (while traveling for example). That's about it.

Sounds simple, but can't find an app that matches my needs. Cheers.

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PHP with a database
Aug 7, 2005 10:00AM PDT

Thanks for clearing everything up for me. It should be pretty simple to develop a section of the site like that, with a main login page, which then will take users to their own personal page which will show them all available files that they uploaded that are now available for download as well as an upload section.

Currently I don't know of any apps out there that are like that, but I can keep checking around. If you need any more information, or would like the app custom created please send me an email at xangelo[at]gmail[dot]com.