im a web designer more then a hoster
and i need to let customers have a private account
within script not on the server

and let them upload things like logos or pictures
and submit text and other content choices
that will be put in their site

I was thinking of support ticket software hacked up to
let them do image uploads maybe

Guess i would also need to have chat
and a way to account for all the time and stuf

anyone have a suggestion
I figure im going to endup finding 5 open source / Public domain scripts
and hacking them all together to make my own
but

if you have been there done that maybe you can
take the blindfold off and give me a shove towards the donkey picture on the wall

thanks

Well, in terms of an upload script, I would recommend EZUpload Pro (http://www.scriptscenter.com/ezupload/). We have 2 clients running it, both publishing houses/print designers, and they are both very happy with it. Note, you will need to modify the max upload size in your php.ini but that's no biggie. :)

Sounds to me like you are looking much more for a project manager than a support system. Have you looked at the paid Basecamp (http://www.basecamphq.com/signup)? To get time tracking you will need to do the $49/month package, but, Basecamp is also a professional-looking and professional-working system. If you take your business seriously and you want the whole thing looking right, working right, under one roof, IMO Basecamp would be a great way to go.

If you can do a stand-alone time tracking system (like on your PC...personally, I use Studiometry (http://www.oranged.net/studiometry/), but it's an OS X-only package) then you could get by with a cheaper Basecamp, $12-24/month depending on your project volume.

I'm sure there are other solutions, but if I needed the same set of features, rather than hassle with my own script installations and patching and skinning, etc., I would just outsource the job to Basecamp. They do it right, it looks sharp, and it works. :)

:D Bailey

Looks like Studiometry is Win now too

Windows 98/Me/2000/XP
8.8 mb (zip)
Download Studiometry 4.0.3

I guess I need something hosting companies

use for their web designer staff to help manage and track customers that need sites designed

The reason I thought support ticket softwareis because it is private to the outside world

but i will need many more options customer will have to pick their design package
if they use my template they have to choose it

if they use like a monster template they will have to upload it

then they will need to provide text for pages

Then I assemble it all and they need to login and download the zip
or they need to give me user and pass for a remote host so I can upload it all

and they will probably want to have livechat sessions
that I should time and charge for

I guess another way would be to just install a shopping cart
setup a vonage account
setup a file upload with user / pass then email or phone with download links

but it would be nice to be able to track everything
all in one spot

Hi chickenmoo

I'm curious about the solution you find to your problem. I do hosting, not webdesing, but I have encountered similar requests from my customer base. And I have not been able to give definitive answer, but just recommend a set of tools. Not ideal...

So, if you get something close to what you describe and want to post here, it could be great. Or just drop me an bump and we can complain together about this missing piece ;)

bithost, I will have to check that basecamp. But upfront, from the website, seems a bit too overkilling, isn't it? For just uploading things, I mean.

Q

bithost, I will have to check that basecamp. But upfront, from the website, seems a bit too overkilling, isn't it? For just uploading things, I mean.

Q

If you just need a way for people to upload things, go with EZUpload Pro, link above.

But for all the functionality that chickenmoo is looking for, no, Basecamp isn't overkill at all. ;)

:D Bailey

i dont know about that basecamp
it does have some features i would like
but it is a service so security is an issue

i dont even feel good about having mysql on someone elses servers
but its something i will have to live with
unless i host off of my cable modem

heheh