help with Content management system project.

Welcome to TWF!

If it's a blog type website WordPress is a good platform, and not as complex as other CMS like Drupal.

My "CMS of choice" is Drupal - a basic installation is not too complicated, advanced configuration takes some learning.

I generally use the FCKeditor RTE in Drupal for content management.

Drupal has a good security plugin module, Secure Site.

I recommend reading through the Drupal documentation before jumping in!

IMO Joomla! is the evil cousin of Drupal

On one Joomla! project, I was prevented from using the word "from" in a particular post/article.

Another resource is OpensourceCMS which has default installations of dozens of CMS and related apps you can try out.

At the risk of being presumptuous about your level of expertise, if you have to ask how, you might not want to do it.

I have built a few admin control panels for people's websites now, to control/edit/add/delete content throughout the client's site, and it is a lot of designing and hard work.

Pre-built CMS's and similar software such as Drupal, Wordpress, Joomla etc, have had many people spending many hours developing it. Albeit to make them cater for mass requirements, but still they require a lot of work to make and upkeep, update, improve etc.

The answer to that really depends on what the content is on the website you are developing for. What is the site for?

To build your own CMS tailored to the client's needs will require mostly PHP and MYSQL (or another server side language and database). So if you don't have a lot of experience with these two, you will need to learn as you go.

Q) Do you have time to learn about all the additional code required in PHP and MYSQL to complete this project?

If the answer is no, and the client has a relatively tight deadline, then I would most certainly suggest you use an already made CMS like one of the ones mentioned.
Again, which one depends on the site content and requirements.

From what you've said about your level of expertise it sounds like you'd want to use something already built.

Make sure you work with the client to clearly articulate what their needs are before you decide on a particular platform. Thhink about what they want to do now as well as into the future. You don't want to end up with something you'll quickly outgrow. On the other hand, you also don't want something that's too big and complex for your project.

The client is in no rush. He would be happy to wait quite a while for a good result at a cut down price.

Have you made a decision or not yet?

Please let us know what was your choice.

talked it over with client. explained that at first glance it is a significant step up. Said that if he is ok with extended deadline it will take me to do it right and that in the end I may not be able to do it then I will take on the project at a below market rate (which is fair). He said that he has been waiting for 3 years to do this site and was only prompted by my enquirey so he is in no rush what so ever.

Sending an initial briefing form through to get a written scope of the project and then will follow up with questions in a meeting from that. Then will decide whether to use an off the shelf system or develop a bespoke item.

Have been thinking about doing a bespoke system as it may require less learning, or at least more continually relevant learning. I will be in control of all anomalies and will understand how it works. don't fancy the idea of delving into other peoples code and figure out who's wrong. If its bespoke I've misunderstood something. Also if I just wanted a content management system that would be fine but with a secure viewer access involved as well from what I have seen the info around doing this isn't great.

Having said all that, there is an aspect of having to re-invent the wheel about a bespoke item which sits uncomfortably with me.

The answer to your original question is that "we", the client and I have decided we would both like to continue on the project together, it suits us both. I realise I have to tread carefully and may extra effort to keep him informed of the progress and lack of it while taking into account of false dawns. However I have not decided whether to use jomla,drupal or another system.

Quite a challenge, eh? Could you please update the information about the project, it's very interesting to follow.