# Use Rails to develop websites that frequently change layout **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [August 29, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/use-rails-to-develop-websites-that-frequently-change-layout/147241 "2008-08-29T18:53:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ruby_tl)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/use-rails-to-develop-websites-that-frequently-change-layout/147241/1 "2008-08-29T18:53:01Z")
Hi experts! I would like to develop a website using rails that projects can do the following things. - Designers can freely and frequently design and change layout of pages (HTML,XHTML format) with a lot of dinamic data… Which is the good way to use Rails to build website like that? Waiting for your advices. Thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ruby_tl)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/use-rails-to-develop-websites-that-frequently-change-layout/147241/2 "2008-08-29T20:24:13Z")
Could you elaborate a little on what you mean by “changing layout frequently”? Rails is perfect for this as it lets you design views and layouts containing these views and everything is neatly organized and clean, but perhaps you are looking for something more specific like themes a la wordpress, with Rails handles via plugins. On Aug 29, 6:53 pm, Ruby G. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) ---
**Author:** ![ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ruby_tl)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/use-rails-to-develop-websites-that-frequently-change-layout/147241/3 "2008-08-29T22:26:39Z")
Ruby G., are you asking if Rails can handle being more like WordPress or something where there are installed themes that can be switched to easily? As for the actual design (and the changing there of), I think Rails is great for that with the way it handles partials and views. –Cory On Aug 29, 12:53 pm, Ruby G. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) ---
**Author:** ![ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ruby_tl)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2008, 11:41am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/use-rails-to-develop-websites-that-frequently-change-layout/147241/4 "2008-08-30T11:41:21Z")
It sounds as though you are looking for a way for your designers to do full page visual design. Our product, Ruby In Steel Developer, is the only Ruby IDE that has a full page drag and drop design environment for Rails. it assembles and translates Rails (Erb) templates into editable HTML pages. You can drag and drop buttons, text fields etc onto the pages and apply CSS styling. When you like the design, Ruby In Steel automatically splits up the HTML pages and translates them back to their original form as multiple ERb templates (layouts, views, partial). Some info here: [http://www.sapphiresteel.com/A-Brief-Guide-To-The-Visual-Rails](http://www.sapphiresteel.com/A-Brief-Guide-To-The-Visual-Rails) [http://www.sapphiresteel.com/A-Brief-Guide-To-The-Visual-Rails,235](http://www.sapphiresteel.com/A-Brief-Guide-To-The-Visual-Rails,235) Moreover, if your designers prefer to use 3rd party tools such as Dreamweaver, it takes care of exporting your page designs in editable format (to Dreamweaver, Expression Web or whatever) and importing them back when the designers have finished. More info on that here: [http://www.sapphiresteel.com/Visual-Rails-Workbench-The-Import](http://www.sapphiresteel.com/Visual-Rails-Workbench-The-Import) best wishes Huw C. SapphireSteel Software Ruby and Rails In Visual Studio [http://www.sapphiresteel.com](http://www.sapphiresteel.com) ---
**Author:** ![ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ruby_tl)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/use-rails-to-develop-websites-that-frequently-change-layout/147241/5 "2008-09-01T18:08:50Z")
Thank you for your answer. My Project just for my designer input HTML/XHTML (They use 3rd party tools to design). I’m worried about .erb(views part) is difficult for my designer!? and should I keep the format erb or not? I have once more question here. I have to separate the view into many group(base on User Agent). How can I do that in Rails. Best regards. Waiting for your advices. Ruby G.d. ---
**Author:** ![ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ruby_tl)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/use-rails-to-develop-websites-that-frequently-change-layout/147241/6 "2008-09-02T01:38:03Z")
You might want to have a look at RadiantCMS. Maybe it will do what you need and you won’t have to develop a new app. Peace. ---
**Author:** ![ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ruby_tl)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/use-rails-to-develop-websites-that-frequently-change-layout/147241/7 "2008-08-30T04:29:09Z")
Sorry experts for my unclearly question. Now I show you an example and hope that you will understand exactly. Example: You have develop a website on mobile for company. Your company has many designers(design website, image, they can wire html), their’s work are update content, change layout…of pages by using CMS. And you have to build a CMS for designer to create/update pages. I also define many parameters for designer to use and program will reply that params with real data (Ex. list of songs, top raking song…). How can I apply Rails to build website like that? Waiting for your advices. Thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@ruby\_tl](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/ruby_tl)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/use-rails-to-develop-websites-that-frequently-change-layout/147241/8 "2008-09-02T16:30:45Z")
You may also be interested in dynamically generating layouts as demonstrated on Ryan B.’ screencast: > **[\#125 Dynamic Layouts - RailsCasts](http://railscasts.com/episodes/125-dynamic-layouts)** > > Short Ruby on Rails screencasts containing tips, tricks and tutorials. Great for both novice and experienced web developers. karmen On Sep 1, 4:38 pm, Phillip K. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)