Web Content Management Systems Lecture Contents

Web Content Management Systems

Lecture Contents • • Web Content Management Systems Non-technical users manage content Workflow management system Different levels of access depending on role • Joomla • Tiddlywiki

Web Content Management Systems • A WCMS allows non-technical users to make changes to an existing website with little or no training. • Primarily a Web-site maintenance tool for non-technical administrators. • Typically requires an experienced coder to set up and add features

Web Content Management Systems • • • A WCMS facilitates: Content creation Content control Editing Maintenance functions

• Designed for users with little or no knowledge of programming languages or markup languages • Tools to create and manage content with relative ease of use. • Most systems use a database to store content, metadata, and/or artifacts that might be needed by the system.

• A presentation layer displays the content to regular Web-site visitors based on a set of templates. • Administration is typically done through browser-based interfaces

Key features • • Automated templates Easily editable content Scalable feature sets Web standards upgrades Workflow management Delegation Document management Content virtualization

Key features Automated templates • Create standard output templates (usually HTML and XML) that can be automatically applied to new and existing content • Allows the appearance of all content to be changed from one central place.

Key features Easily editable content • Once content is separated from the visual presentation of a site, it usually becomes much easier and quicker to edit and manipulate. • Most WCMS software includes WYSIWYG editing tools allowing non-technical individuals to create and edit content.

Key features Scalable feature sets • Most WCMS software includes plug-ins or modules that can be easily installed to extend an existing site's functionality. Web standards upgrades • Active WCMS software usually receives regular updates that include new feature sets and keep the system up to current web standards.

Key features Workflow management • Workflow is the process of creating cycles of sequential and parallel tasks that must be accomplished in the CMS. E. g: – A content creator submits a story – The copy editor cleans it up – The editor-in-chief approves it. – Only then is it published.

Key features Delegation • Allows various user groups to have limited privileges over specific content on the website. • Spreads out the responsibility of content management.

Key features Document management • Provides a means of managing the life cycle of a document: – initial creation – revisions – publication – archive – document destruction.

Key features Content virtualization • Allows each user to work within a virtual copy of the entire Web site • Enables changes to be viewed and/or executed in-context prior to submission.

The Evolution of Web Pages STATIC: • Easy for web designer to create initial web pages • Can't easily change a page - requires technical expertise • Difficult to add new functions

The Evolution of Web Pages CSS • Separates content from presentation • Style of entire website controlled by CSS. • Web page is smaller and loads faster

The Evolution of Web Pages CMS • Goes further than CSS - it separates the content from the page. • "Page" is a series of empty boxes that are filled from a database • Initially time-consuming to write: scripts, database, templates. • Many extensions and plug-ins

Joomla WCMS

Joomla WCMS • Open Source - i. e. free • But you'll have to pay somebody to personalise it, install it, back up the database every week and sort out hiccups • About 20 Mb • Main technologies: PHP, My. SQL • Also uses Java. Script & Flash

Joomla WCMS Users: • Front end access only: – Author: can create content. – Editor: Can create and edit content – Publisher: Can publish content • Front and Back end access: – Manager: Can change menus & site structure – Administrator: Can install/uninstall modules

Joomla WCMS Features: • On-line editing • Restricted access levels • Workflow management • Polls • Contact Forms • Site statistic display • Detailed statistics for admin • Search function • PDF for readers • RSS

Joomla WCMS Over 2000 extensions: • Forums • Shopping carts • Email newsletters • Calendars • Photo Galleries • Directories • Recipe managers • Help-desk management • Fishing tournament tracking • Hotel room bookings

Joomla WCMS Operation: • Menu led not page led • (Entering an article does not display it) • Menu item controls: – Articles – Modules (menus, polls, statistics etc) – Layout on page • Same article on different menu can appear differently

Tiddly. Wiki

Tiddly. Wiki • Download the file "empty. html" from the module website by right clicking. • Use this version – it has special features • http: //www. dcs. napier. ac. uk/~mjr/set 08109 /resource/tiddly/empty. html

Tiddly. Wiki • Single html file • Has all the characteristics of a wiki – Content – Functionality (including editing, saving, tagging and searching) – Style sheet. • It's a single file, it's very portable • Can email, put on server or USB stick.

Tiddly. Wiki Can use as: • A personal notebook • A GTD ("Getting Things Done") productivity tool • A collaboration tool • For building websites • For rapid prototyping

Tiddly. Wiki Features: • Can view Tiddly. Wiki files on all major desktop browsers • Can save changes to local Tiddly. Wiki files • Navigation, tagging and searching • Full text formatting • Embedded images • Macros for interactivity and Gradients

Tiddly. Wiki Help and Support

Lecture Contents • • Web Content Management Systems Non-technical users manage content Workflow management system Different levels of access depending on role • Joomla • Tiddlywiki