Comments on: Adobe Contribute is broken

By: MJ

MJ — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 06:42:33 +0000

I can sympathize! A few of the pages I created in Contribute 4 I cannot edit! The error message: “You don’t have an application to edit that type of file.” Really? Because I made them with Contribute! Do you have any suggestions for a stable CMS? The site I am using Contribute with was built in Dreamweaver. Thanks!

By: Wayne Smallman

Wayne Smallman — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:39:45 +0000

Hi Gisella! Sadly, your experiences are consistent with those of many other people I’ve spoken to — Adobe don’t care Contribute is broken.

I’m sorry you’re not able to resolve your problems.

If your website is more than 10 web pages and you need to make changes on a regular basis, I suggest you explore the option of using a proper CMS (Content Management System), which I’ve done for several of my clients.

All the best!

By: Dr. Gisella L. Zukausky

Dr. Gisella L. Zukausky — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:30:42 +0000

I have had an ongoing problem with Adobe CS3. My link “Institute” will not properly line up correctly when I make changes and click on Publish. It lines up all wrong on my website. I have called tech support and after over one hour the lady could only tell me she was able to duplicate my problem but gave me nothing but double talk in how to fix it. I tried today again to get help by calling customer service after waiting 30 minutes, and he told me he would conect me with a more experienced tech person. I timed how long I was waiting after 90 minutes I gave up and humg up. This program has not worked for me, and customer service is usless. I need to talk to someone who has some real authority or I’ll have to take my business elsewhere.

By: Wayne Smallman

Wayne Smallman — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 08:24:11 +0000

Chris, you’re not alone. And it’s not just a Mac thing, either. The client I mention are having the same problems still.

We’ve tried everything and nothing works. The fact that Adobe got involved and couldn’t fix things tells you everything you need to know — just don’t use Adobe Contribute.

What I’ve done since is developed another one of my client’s websites in the Joomla! CMS (Content Management System), which the they love.

Yes, it’s more expensive because of the time involved, but with proper planning, it’s proving to be far more flexible and certainly more predictable, too…

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 04:27:20 +0000

Adobe Contribute 4 is the most frustrating product I’ve ever used. I have Macromedia Contribute 3 on a PC—no real problems. I have Adobe Contribute 4 on a Mac—nothing but headaches. It might work for one or two or five minutes, then the connection goes down—and my Mac AND PC are knocked entirely offline. I can’t tell you how much time I’ve wasted with resetting the internet connection. Adobe’s customer/tech support has been no real help. Am I the only person with this problem? I would actually buy Contribute CS3 if I knew the problem would go away, but I tried the trial version and the same thing happened. Are there any decent alternatives to Adobe Contribute? Thanks!

By: Wayne Smallman

Wayne Smallman — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:11:00 +0000

Hi Matt, and thanks for the comments!

Sometimes, when you’re in the thick of web development, when things are just going wrong all of the time, you begin to wonder whether it’s you.

This is precisely how I got with Adobe Contribute.

It’s just unusable, and since then, we’re looking into using the Joomla! CMS for the website and getting away from half-hearted solutions like Adobe Contribute that are just a total waste of time…

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:30:00 +0000

I agree with every word that you said about contributie. I have always done everything by hand, never had much of a problem, until my current client’s website, which has been created and edited for the better part of a decade in contribute. I have been using the program and it seems every day I get some new error message or some other bizarre obstacle…