A CMS is a software system used to
manage and control a large, dynamic collection of Web material.
A CMS facilitates document control, auditing, editing, and
timeline management. A CMS provides the following key features:
Automated templates
Create standard output templates
(usually HTML and XML) that can be automatically applied to new
and existing content, allowing the appearance of all content to
be changed from one central place.
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.
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.
Workflow management
Workflow is the process of creating cycles
of sequential and parallel tasks that must be accomplished in
the CMS. For example, a content creator can submit a story, but
it is not published until the copy editor cleans it up and the
editor-in-chief approves it.
Delegation
Some CMS software allows for various user
groups to have limited privileges over specific content on the
website, spreading out the responsibility of content management.
Document management
CMS software may provide a means of
managing the life cycle of a document from initial creation
time, through revisions, publication, archive, and document
destruction.
Content virtualization
CMS software may provide a means of
allowing each user to work within a virtual copy of the entire
Web site, document set, and/or code base. This enables changes
to multiple interdependent resources to be viewed and/or
executed in-context prior to submission. |
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