How it works
Site Foundry benefits Modules Configuration & pricing How it works
Site Foundry has been built from the ground up to meet the demands of content management across a broad range of applications. We’ve only used technologies that are tried and tested (such as Smarty), adding value rather than unreliability. We’re committed to ensuring that the most demanding application of the software can be easily handled, with usability always the prime objective.
Enough of the pep talk - we'll get to the point!
Below is Site Foundry's technical overview in all its glory. If you have any questions or feel that something needs explaining in more detail, please do contact us. We love to talk about Site Foundry!
Usability
The majority of the server transactions in Site foundry are based on AJAX, this makes each data entry action (updating/adding) quick and easy, avoiding page refreshes during management tasks. This is also completely expandable to any bespoke module (even ones that you build) via the framework that supports Site Foundry. The system gives constant feedback to the administrator, letting them know if anything has gone wrong, if the data is corrupt or not of the expected type (depending on validation).
Branding & management
Branding
It's incredibly easy to brand Site Foundry. You can take your client's logo, pick two colours using something like Photoshop, enter the data, upload the image and now it’s yours (or theirs).
Manage
Control all the aspects of you installation, meta tags (key words and description), shutdown the site for maintenance, or backup your databases - it's all very easy.
Manage menu/pages
This is the core of any CMS, and we like to think we approach it in a different way. Each page is based around a template (with assignable areas) and this can be changed regardless of the content, with each area being re-assigned to the new template automatically.
Each page is further defined by a MIME type, so that creating something like an RSS feed is as simple as changing the mime type and assigning the module.
You can create as many menus as you require throughout your site - simply and easily by using the build in menu manager - with as many levels as you require, all to the highest web standards.
SEO functions are also catered for, with each page (or module content item) having the ability to control its title, meta keywords and descriptions.
Manage media
This function is incredibly simple, but hugely powerful. The media manager is broken down into two sections: management of media folders, and uploading of files.
This is all pretty standard stuff, but Site Foundry copes with all manner of file types. See the table below for a complete list of media that Site Foundry can manage and include across all modules and pages.
| | Mime type |
|---|---|
| JPEG | image/jpeg & image/pjpeg |
| Flash | application/x-shockwave-flash |
| Gif | image/gif |
| PNG | image/png & image/x-png |
| Quicktime | video/quicktime |
| WMV | video/x-ms-wmv |
| application/pdf | |
| Word | application/msword |
| FLV (flash video) | video/x-flv |
| Excel | application/msexcel |
| Powerpoint | application/mspowerpoint |
| MP3 audio | audio/mp3 |
Template driven
As an agency, you’ll be familiar with creating static HTML and CSS – with Site Foundry this is all you need to know to create templates for your site. Smarty handles all the caching and implementation of each template and rendering of each piece of content assigned to it. This makes getting something up and running very easy.
Administrator management
All access to the back end is easily managed with the administrator management tool. Each page, (and even each item on each page) can be locked down to admin groups based on level – making it really simple to hide complicated tasks from untrained users that may inadvertently disable important pieces of functionality. Of course you will have complete control over the access levels, and who can do what!
Server requirements
Ideal server requirements (based on a Linux server)
- PHP 5.2 (running as a module, not CGI)
- MySQL 5.1
- Full mod_rewrite access
- GD 2 and fileInfo*
- Apache 2.2
- Shell access for PHP (for backup functions)
If you are going to use Site Foundry on an IIs/ISA server, then you will need to have ISAPI rewrite installed to perform the mod_rewrite functions.
* Please note that if your server doesn't have fileinfo, then you are opening up your server to attack from illegitimate file types. Although not necessary, we highly recommend installing it.
Interested? Give us a shout.