atw: Re: CMS software questions

Hi Warren - I have used a top-end CMS called Interwoven. You enter data in
fireds in the screen, change parameters on standard, set-up elements that
you must add for lines, bullet lists and other standard HTML stuff. But I
have never heard of a CMS that imports HTML. In fact, the very idea of the
CMS is that you don't need to know HTML to publish HTML, so it goes against
the underlying concept to think about importing HTML code.

 

In other words, if you know HTML you don't need a CMS, especially if you can
use CSS to facilitate control of visual style.

 

What CMS does well is file management, especially when there is more than
one individual involved in the publishing process. In this way, you can have
an 'author' who prepares the content for publishing, and an 'approver' who
approves the content and sends it to the staging area prior to publishing. A
CMS may be configured so that content in the staging area is sent to the web
front-end on a cyclical basis. This scheduling function is especially useful
in large organisations that need to cope with a large number of postings to
the same server.

 

Keep in mind however that most CMS will have inflexibilities in terms of
page layout that you can easily get around if you know HTML. In other words,
a CMS may not have as much functionality in terms of presentation as good,
clean HTML plus CSS. These inflexibilities can always be got around, but you
may need to trim your sails. Such an outcome may be frustrating. On the
other hand, you may be able to live with this type of shortcoming.

 

Hope this is useful.

 

Matthew da Silva  BA (Hons) MMediaPrac Syd

m  0434 536 772  |  e   <mailto:mddasilva@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
mddasilva@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  |  w   <http://www.matthewdasilva.com/>
matthewdasilva.com

 

From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Lewington, Warren J
(WT)
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 10:06 AM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: CMS software questions

 

Hi everyone, 

I am currently exploring the world of CMS software and have found a couple.
I have started with "CMS Made Simple" which has been fun. Well, sort of, I
haven't actually been able to get it running yet, but, well, in the overall
big picture it is fun. The benefit of CMS Made Simple is that I can run a
test version on Windows (supposedly) and play around before I commit to a
live event on a web server...

At present I am looking at the use of CMS in website development and so on
amongst other things - obviously using it for my own file management is a
probably option too. One of the functions I would like to have in a CMS is
the ability to import existing content quickly. Does anyone know of any CMS
systems that can perform functions like this?

Also, given that I am not a programmer - I can code and understand the basic
principles of databases and so on but essentially I am a beginner - can
people recommend CMS software they have used, CMS software to avoid using
given complexities and so on, and generally any advice that might be
pertinent - you know, heads-up on traps for young players and whatever. 

I know my own web hosting company has a CMS (PostNuke) which needs Linux (I
don't know much about Linux yet either) and while I have one of my best
friends who is a Linux nut, and can ask him to help, any other background
advice would be happily accepted. 

Take care and thanks in advance etc. 

Regards, 

Warren Lewington 
Technical Writer 
Memcor Products Asia 
Siemens Water Technologies 

Memcor Australia Pty Ltd 
15 Blackman Crescent 
South Windsor 
NSW 2756 
Australia 
 <mailto:warren.lewington.ext@xxxxxxxxxxx> warren.lewington.ext@xxxxxxxxxxx

Phone:  +61 (0) 2 4577-0869
Fax:    +61 (0) 2 4577-0002
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