Feature Question

Alright, first, let me say that I am VERY new to web programming. My first site was designed primarily by just messing around with templates in Dreamweaver. I chose that route on the basis that, at the time, I needed the site up fast. Now I'm currently working on a new design for the site and I have a question for the folks here. Secon, I don't know if this is even possible to do, so if it's not, just let me know.

My site is designed using a 3 column CSS style. The left column is a fixed navigation bar and the center is liquid. What I'm inquiring about is the right column/box:

What I want this right hand box to do is be kind of a feature or "what's new" box for people coming to the site. I'd like it to grab the headlines from recent posts on the forums (the most recent post) or the most recent blog automatically. My question is: Is this possible and how might one accomplish it?

I realize I haven't given a lot of information here, but then again, I'm still very new to all of this. So drop me a line if you have any ideas or need anymore information of me.

- Ashe

Such functions are typically realised using some sort of server side scripting. Most forums and many blogs use server side scripting for their back end programming, and the functions you're looking for often are part of the software or can easily be added to it as a custom addition. This would require some knowledge of the programming and the script language used.

Are you using some form of a content management system (CMS) for your site? If so, this might have these functions already present, or they could be added to it.

You know I have no idea about the CMS on my server, though I'm inclined to think there are such things. I'm on lunarpages currently. As far as ascripting and functions go, if there are certain ones I should use or need to understand I've generally been learning all of this as I go. I can get a grasp pretty quick on most languages and whatnot if given some information on them. I've been taking a lot in lately, but there's always room for more.

So what would I look for as far as CMS on my server control panel to see if it's there? And, if so, where do I go from there?

And while I'm at it, thanks for responding :)

Alright, I did some checking and I have phpWebsite and phpWCMS available to the site, as well as a few others (SiteFrame, Post-Nuke, Joomla). None are currently installed and I've no experience working with them. But with a bit of insight I could likely figure out how to integrate them into my design.

Alright i've been doing some reading and I think I'm going to go with phpwcms. So I suppose my new question is: is there a place I can go rof insight into scripting this features thing into my layout?