Cool Tools

Best HTML editor for custom CMS’s

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

When building a custom administrative backend for clients they often need the ability for format the content beyond the rules in the stylesheet. I try to make it as simple as possible and sometimes that means just a textarea to add the content. Often they want a little more control without having to use HTML. I cringe a little as I imagine the mess of inline style tags from a dreamweaver cut and paste.

I’ve used a couple variations of javascript WYSIWG (what you see is what you get) editors in the past but was never really satisfied with the outcome. I’ve gone as far as customizing them a little with relevant css.

Not sure how I missed WYMeditor (what you mean editor). Its the same editor used in wordpress and its incredibly easy to install with jQuery.

One less thing to worry about.

WYMeditor

Using Highrise for contact managment

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

Normally I don’t exude high levels of salesmanship. My pitch is simple, “You want this? No? Ok.” I certainly don’t run around selling other people’s products or services unless they are just unbelievably good. And as for affiliate programs this would be a first for me also.

Do you ever find yourself searching your mail folders looking to see what you’ve said to a contact? Unless you set up a rule that automatically puts what you’ve sent in that folder you probably only have half the conversation (the email that was sent to you). Then you go digging through your sent mail box or your trash. Gmail does a really good job of keeping and organizing your data but I use my inbox as a todo list. If its sitting in my inbox it requires action, most likely immediate.

Here is where Highrise comes in. Lets say I get an email from a client with some details I need but don’t need to respond to. I simply forward this email to my HighRise account. If the contact does not exist it creates the contact for me. Later I can go in and add more information. Two weeks go by and I have to send an email to the client. I want to document this communication so I BCC a copy to my HighRise account. Now all my correspondence with client is in one place in chronological order. I can set tasks that are associated with the client and receive reminder emails. I can add notes and also associate the client with a company. Now when I’m talking to multiple people from the same company it is all filed under the company in chronological order. You can add dates, reminders, tags. The layout is aesthetic and intuitive. Oh and the base plan is free.

HighRise really shines when you have multiple users that share information. You can share files, notes, contact information all under one URL. I can’t imagine a business that couldn’t use Highrise.

Highrise