Create a Members Area

andrew-dalton wrote on 5/4/2022, 10:57 AM

I want to create a password protected members area in a new website I am building using Xara Web Designer Premium. Ideally each member would have a unique password but if that's not possible then a single password for all members would suffice.

Help and advice would be appreciated. ps I am hosting on IONOS.

Thanks in advance

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 5/4/2022, 12:38 PM

@andrew-dalton

To do this correctly you would need to use PHP and MySQL both of which are available with IONOS, however, unless you have some programming skills, preferably in PHP and MySQL, this method is not easy to implement.

The PHP/MySQL option may take you into the EU/UK GDPR regulations - on the storage of, and usage of members data depending on services offered.

The single password method is much easier to implement, you need to create a .htaccess file - you can use online resources such as this one to do this for you, however:

you must ensure that the 'protected' pages are in a separate folder.
using Web Designer you would have to create two site projects, one for the free access area and the other for the members area, being careful on the navigation link handling.
anyone with the password can access the 'members area' and you have no member management.

HTH

John EB
Forum Moderator