Thread

I am working on an update/overhaul of a ministry website that has a catalog of 2000+ mp3 sermon audio files and am wondering how EE could fit into the picture. I have never used EE, but looked at it several times. (I normally use another CMS.)

Each sermon has these details:

- Index#
- Title
- Speaker
- Date
- Category
- Description

This would need to be a searchable list by any combination of the above fields (besides Description). There would also need to be the option to order the message on CD/tape (no payment processing though, all free resources, so not a complete e-commerce, more of a catalog with a simple request email submission).

I looked through http://www.show-ee.com and found this website:
http://show-ee.com/gallery/details/grace_presbyterian_church_montclair_new_jersey/

They have a really interesting searchable sermon list that would probably be close to what I’d like to use. I would prefer separate search boxes for each field rather than simply one search box. And, at this point, I plan to host the mp3 files on Rackspace Cloud Files rather than iTunes.

There will be alot of other needs for the website that I’m sure EE will handle well, but this need I thought I would get your wise counsel on. 😊

Thanks for your consideration, time, and help. It is very appreciated!

-Eric

Hi Eric and welcome to the forums 😊

This would need to be a searchable list by any combination of the above fields (besides Description).

These types of fields are perfect for EE. There are a number of File fields and even some that allow you to uplaod directly to your cloud while keep the reference in EE. Take a look on devot-ee.com

There would also need to be the option to order the message on CD/tape (no payment processing though, all free resources, so not a complete e-commerce, more of a catalog with a simple request email submission).

You could use something like Freeform and then on the form submission thanks you page include a link to the file for download.

They have a really interesting searchable sermon list that would probably be close to what I’d like to use. I would prefer separate search boxes for each field rather than simply one search box.

This a an actual jQuery plugin called DataTables

Other options would be Dynamic Parameters or SuperSearch

Does that help?

Thanks, John Henry! I appreciate that explanation.

It seems I need to answer the question of whether (or how) to make the website integrated with the desktop database that is being used (Alpha 5). The biggest motivation is to avoid duplicate work.

The parts of the website that need to be integrated with the desktop database are:

1. Sermon listing
and if possible, 2. Customer orders (even though they are free, they are still tracked)

Could there be an automated (or at least push button) way to pull the sermon listing from the desktop database weekly? or vic versa?

How powerful is the EE database (the database was mentioned in the FreeForm add-on)? Is it relational? Or is it more of a simple table database?

We would get a better website by using something like EE, but we get more of an all-in-one solution with something like Alpha 5 (they have a web application server but I don’t think it’s layout is as customizable). I would prefer to access and manipulate as much of the ministry’s database info as possible from a web browser. But we do need a nice website when we’re done. 😊

I know there is plenty you don’t know about this project, but do you have any general recommendation or direction to point me in regarding desktop database integration into EE? Or is there another thread that covers this? And they’re not using an SQL database or anything that complicated.

Thanks again!
Eric

Hi Eric,

I’m not familiar with the desktop software you linked to, so I can’t provide any insight there. Since I’m not familiar with this desktop software, nor is it a question that’s come up before, I’m not sure how to answer the rest of your questions. Desktop database integration into EE? ExpressionEngine requires a MySQL database server, so it would indeed be a relational database. We do have a powerful Developer’s API in ExpressionEngine, so any outside programs that want to integrate would need to have a module developed that would allow such integration.

Do you have a web development team that recommended using both Alpha 5 and ExpressionEngine together?

Thanks for your reply, Kevin. I’ve been trying to find my way in this whole thing the last couple days. I need to keep moving.

I think the DataTables jquery plugin works with an XML file. I think I should be able to throw some script together to upload an MP3 file and add to the XML file at the same time. It wouldn’t be integrated, but it would probably be good enough. Otherwise, I would need an operation to export from the database and upload to replace the file DataTables is using.

Now I just need to convince myself to buy EE rather than use one of the other open source solutions I usually use. 😊  I appreciate the community and support surrounding EE. I guess the least I can do is use the 30 day money-back guarantee and see if I get hooked. I have heard EE mentioned in quite a few forums. It seems like everyone that uses it is pretty well sold on it.

Thanks again!

Yeah, I came on board with ExpressionEngine years ago solely because the community was raved about. Still holds true today! There’s such an active group supporting and surrounding ExpressionEngine.

I definitely encourage you to take the plunge since that’s really the best way to learn. We’ve got that money-back guarantee precisely so folks can give EE a try without worrying that they might be stuck with something that doesn’t fit their needs.

Is there anything else I can help you with?

I think I need to plunge in…then we’ll see what questions I come up with.

Thanks!

Eric,

Excellent. I’ll close this thread for now but feel free to start a new thread in our Technical Support forums if you have any more questions when you come up for air.