Academic Version - eCurriculum.net...2 Content Administration Saving you both time and money,...

Academic Version

2

Contents1 Overview 31.1 Key Advantage Factors 4

2 Content Administration 52.1 Content Pages 62.2 Workflow Approval Routing 82.3 Site Menu Structure 82.4 News and Events Pages 102.5 Faculty and Staff Home Pages 112.6 Academic Calendar 13

3 System Administration 163.1 Security 17

4 Look and Feel 20

5 Tools 225.1 Site Spell Check 225.2 Link Validation 225.3 Search and Replace 235.4 Reports 25

6 Automatic Generation 26

7 Key Benefits 28

8 Case Studies 328.1 University of Kansas School of Architecture 328.2 University of Kansas School of Business 35

9 Conclusion 38

AllofE Solutions, Inc. All Rights Reserved, 2002.

1 Overview

ContentM serves as an extremely effective and user-friendly content management tool for academic and higher education web sites. It gives academic institutions total control over every aspect of their site enabling them to express their unique image and ideas. Through easy to use interfaces, users design and modify the format, content, images, and links to their site. This allows institutions to create and maintain sites that reflect their distinct vision and culture. With a rapidly evolving economy, the ability to customize web sites is crucial to keep up with trends in site design and developing technologies.

The comprehensive system consists of modules specifically tailored to meet the needs of academic institutions. From separate templates for faculty and staff pages to news, events, lectures, and presentations, ContentM covers all scholastic bases. AllofE recognizes that potential and existing students, faculty, and staff expect a university to have an up to date site that focuses on research, creativity, and learning. ContentM’s customizable template driven interface allows for this and so much more.

The application was not only designed for academic institutions to experience greater freedom in their web site design, but also to serve as a cost saving devise. ContentM allows you to update and change the look and feel of your site with no programming experience. This is accomplished by an extremely easy to use menu driven interface, database driven backend, and a Rich Text Editor that functions like your basic word processor. The user simply finds the page to edit, clicks a few buttons, and they have instantly updated the content of the page.

ContentM is the answer for academic institutions that want to distribute site content responsibility to the departments where it matters the most. With features such as menu driven interfaces,

3


remote access, customizable security levels, and operating system portability, ContentM is the one stop solution that enables you to break free of the necessity to outsource one of your most important IT assets. ContentM provides tremendous freedom, flexibility, cost savings, and a rapid implementation timeframe.

1.1 Key Advantage Factors

• Faculty and Staff maintain their own Home Pages.• Site content responsibility distributed across departments or

academic programs.• Complete Academic Calendar functionality.• Management of News and Events, Lecture Series, and

Presentation information.• Administrative defined Workflow Approval Routing for all web

site content.

4


2 Content Administration

Saving you both time and money, ContentM makes your website content administration extremely efficient. There is noprogramming or HTML knowledge required. The system’sRich Text Editor will do everything for you from formatting textto inserting tables, images, documents, and links.

• Maintain an up to date web site keeping with the evolving economy of the Internet age.

• Database driven backend allows an institution to quickly and easily maintain site content.

• Eliminate the cost of outsourcing web site services or maintaining in-house staff.

• Format content based on modules such as Standard Pages, News & Events Pages, Faculty & Staff Pages, and the Academic Calendar.

Example Content Template Screens

5

News and Events Page

Standard Page


This is another example of a content template page.

2.1 Content Pages

With the enhanced security structure and database driven backend, you can store unlimited amounts of content pages without actually displaying them on your site. This allows you to work on site page content and then later connect that content to a menu item. You can, therefore, have anyone build site content and never have to worry about incorrect content appearing on your site. This presents the ability to have student aides or workers create pages allowing a supervisor afterward to approve the content prior to inclusion on your web site.

The Rich Text Editor permits any user to update and format content with no HTML or programming knowledge. Through an extremely user-friendly, “word processor like” interface, the user can add images, documents, and links; in additon, the user can create tables, format text, spell check, and create numbered and bulleted lists. This functionality is available for all pages including standard, news and events, faculty and staff, and presentation and lecture pages.

• HTML/Rich Text Editor that converts and formats text automatically from documents.

• Learn to manage the site in a matter of minutes.• Format and add content to the site using only dropdown

style menus and text boxes.

6

Academic Calendar Page


• Insert and create images, links, tables, spell check etc. through one accessible interface.

• Apply a consistent look and feel to site pages and sections with templates and themes

The following screens depict the functionality of the rich text editor within ContentM:

7

Update Page with Rich Text Editor Screen

Spell Check

Enter Description and Select a ThemeSelect a Template and Enter a Page Title

Enter Description and Select a ThemeEnter Description and Select a ThemeEnter Description and Select a Theme

ImageEdit TextFormat Text

Table Creation & Editing

Link DocumentAlign Text


2.2 Workflow Approval Routing

Workflow Approval Routing provides universities with a completely customizable solution to approving web site content prior to including it on your site. The administrative function allows you to build your own conditional approval paths. The system then tracks pages that have been updated as well as newly created pages. The Approver has the ability to view both the existing page content and the new page content. Only after such content has been approved will the page appear on your web site, thus limiting mistakes and errors.

This functionality, along with the 2 Tiered security structure, give you the most flexible approach to your site content management needs. Once set up, you can have anyone enter site content information and no longer worry about the wrong content appearing on your site.

• User-friendly graphical interface for building visual representations of your approval routing workflow process.

• Ability to enter conditional statements for each approval workflow.• Automatic generation of approval process based on graphical

representation.• Unlimited creation of different workflow processes.• Assignment of one or multiple users to a particular workflow process.• Approver ability to view both existing and new page content prior to

approval.

2.3 Site Menu Structure

ContentM allows infinite sub-categorization of your menu items. The menu is designed to provide your users access to the content in three clicks or less. With the creation of each menu item, you may choose to link it to an existing page, create a new page, connect it to an outside web site, or provide no link at all.

Having a site that can be expanded to include all of your university’s vital information is essential when forming a web site. The user can easily expand or contract the scope of the site by controlling the sub-levels and links of the site with ContentM. This allows you to put as much or as little

8


information desired on the site with the ability to change it when needed.

• Manage every aspect of the web site including format, content, images, and animation.• Infinite menu sub-categorization able to locate any page in a maximum of three clicks.

• Flash driven Menu Sorting Function to organize and rearrange all menu items.

• Ability to add submenu items and links to pages for complete customization and scalability.

• Easily add and remove menu sections, sub-sections, and pages to and from your site.

• Connect menu items to existing site, news, and collection pages and even outside web sites.

Menu Item Types

• No Link – Produces a Menu Item that does not link to a page with content.

• External Link – A Menu Item that links to another web site page.

• New Page – Creates a Menu Item that links to a page with content and allows the user to add the new Content. The user is required to select the Page Type.

• Existing Page – A Menu Item that links to an existing page’s content. The user is required to select the Page Type and an Existing Page.

• Collection Page – Constructs a Menu Item that links to a collection page. A Collection page provides links to individual pages in a particular module such as Faculty, Staff, News and Events, etc.

9


The following screen depicts the functionality of the add/update screen in ContentM:

Add / Update Menu Item Screen

2.4 News and Events Pages

ContentM’s News and Events modules allow for the creation and collection of multiple categories such as Current News, Lectures, and Presentations. Within each category, you can predefi ne what information you want to store – pdf fi les, images, presentation slides, summaries, titles, etc. Once you have added your News and Events, the system automatically creates a listing screen that includes each News and Event item with a link to the page content.

• Customizable News and Events section to update users on the latest site information.

• Sections for Presentations and Lectures with links to PDF’s and Presentation Slides.

10

Open Link in New Window

Select a Menu Item Type

Enter a Menu Title


• Collection listing pages providing links to each news item, lecture, presentation, etc.

• Consistent formatting for all pages to maintain your site’s consistent look and feel.

News and Events Collection Page

2.5 Faculty and Staff Home Pages The Faculty and Staff Home Pages provide an easy to use interface so that faculty and staff members can maintain their own information. For each Home Page, the user may store multitudes of information such as:

11

Listing of all News and Events articles automatically created.

Click (more...) to View Individual News and Events Page.


picture, job title(s), academic/administrative area(s), contact information, links and URL’s, background, activities, etc. Information is entered using the Rich Text Editor, so the least technical user will be able to enter and update content.

• Separate Home Pages for Faculty and Staff with only information pertinent to each user group.

• Web site users can view a listing of Faculty or Staff with links into each home page.

• Search Faculty and Staff by Academic Area such as Business, Accounting, Information Systems, Architecture, Fine Arts.

• View Areas of Expertise, Research and Interest, and Current Activities information about Faculty and Staff members.

• Categorize Faculty and Staff by either their Academic or Administrative Area(s).

• Easy adding and editing of content using the Rich Text Editor.

Staff Home Page Listing

12

Search Alphabetically or by Administrative Area

Click on a Name to view the Staff Member’s Home Page.


2.6 Academic Calendar

The schedule functionality in ContentM provides you with a tool to create an academic calendar as well as give administration, faculty, and staff a personal and work task calendar. From noting holidays to scheduling meetings and public events, the comprehensive calendar module will aid you in your planning and management needs.

• Schedule reoccurring events in one simple step for Daily, Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly.

• Add public events for everyone to view.• Assign attendees to meetings.• Set event permissions at the user level based on ability to view, update,

and delete.• View confl icting events based on attendee calendars to prevent double

booking.• Attach Documents and Messages to the event.• Categorize events such as Meetings, Holidays, Vacation Breaks, etc.• Display Public events on your academic calendar for all students, faculty,

and staff.• Show only events that pertain to the user logged in with the permission

functions.

Event Scheduling Screens

13

Time Confl ict in Availability of Attendeesof Attendeesof Attendees


These are two more screens depicting the scheduling module in ContentM:

2.7 Message Boards

The ContentM Message Boards give your site users, whether students, faculty, or staff, the ability to conveniently post messages to other users. With the enhanced security structure, you can set up multiple message categories and restrict access for adding, updating, viewing, and deleting messages in the category. This allows the university to have separate message boards for different user groups as well as provides a secure means of communicating between individual users.

• Create and manage infi nite message Categories and Subcategories.• Provide access to message categories based on individual users and

user groups.

14

Event Category

Public Flag

Attach

Access ListAccess ListAttendee

Message

Date and Time Range Date and Time Range Date and Time Range Date and Time Range

Event scheduled for the 3rd day of every month.


• Track Message Threads from initiation through replies.• Attach multiple documents to each message.• Search and sort messages based on dates, subjects, users, etc.

Message Board Screens

Attach Multiple Documents

Select from Only Categories to which the user has permission to Add Messages

Search and Sort Messages

View Only Categories and Messages to which the user has permission

15


3 System Administration

System administration has been made easy in ContentM by breaking it down into three main areas: users, groups, and security. Each module permits the administrator to create various user groups and assign security permission at both the individual user and group level. A department head would, for example, need a different level of access than a faculty or staff member.

With ContentM, you can give as little or as much access as necessary to any individual. From giving only faculty access to their own home page content to providing a technical administrator access to all user and group information, the system is fully flexible and adaptable. In addition, ContentM is a web based system that allows your users to manage the site remotely with anytime, anywhere access.

• Portable across multiple platforms, browsers, and technical environments.

• Security features that allow a university to define access at any level.

• Internet based administrative system that permits the user to manage the site remotely.

• Define security per user and user group. • Assign users to unlimited number of user groups.

16


These screens depict the process for activating and deactivating page permissions for users and groups within ContentM.

Page Permissions Screens

3.1 Security

With web site content being one of a university’s largest means of communication to potential and existing students, management of that content and its security should be taken very seriously. For that reason, ContentM’s security structure was built in such a way as to separate access permissions between the web site’s structure, accessible content, and

17

User Level Permissions

Permissions for View, Add, Update, Delete, Activate, Reorder, and Set Permissions for a given page

Set Group Level Permissions


individual page content. This structure allows pages to be stored without actually displaying them on the web site. These pages could contain content not currently in use that the administrator does not want to dispose of or future content that has not yet been posted to the site.

This system comes with a very rigorous and extensive security permission algorithm, which permits modular and incremental permissions to different levels of users. With a comprehensive backend security, the login interface will enforce access permissions keeping users in their respective areas. The menu structure permissions give the user the ability to manipulate page and/or content displayed on the web site. Permission to update page content can be assigned separately to individual users or user groups. This authorization will not however have an effect on the site’s menu structure. The section or sub-section administrator should first create all pages through the menu structure (or connect existing pages to the menu structure) and then assign menu and/or page permissions to users as needed.

• Security can be assigned when page is created.• Permissions dispensed to Users and/or Groups.• Assign page permission at any level independent of permissions

at preceding levels.• Ability to give permission to a level and to all sub-levels.• Automatically inherits permissions from the preceding level

when page(s) are added.

Menu Structure Permissions• A user may be given permission to one or more menu items at

any level. • Sub-Menu Creation- automatically inherits permissions from higher menu level.

Page Content Permissions• In order to update a page’s content, the user must have the

permission to access page. • To update through the menu structure, the user must also have

permission to the associated menu item.

18


A user that creates a page through the menu structure is automatically given both menu structure permissions and page permissions for the page content. The ideal way to add new pages therefore is for the user that needs both menu structure and page permissions to login and add the pages.

This division of permission provides the most flexibility in the area of system administration and content management. Above all, it saves money by giving you the ability to distribute site management and content administration across your various academic programs and departments.

19


4 Look and Feel

As with any university application or site, the system should accurately portray your organization’s unique image in a consistent manner. ContentM accomplishes this through its use of Templates and Themes. With Templates and Themes you can apply consistent colors, static images, and layout to everything under a particular menu, module, or section of the site. Themes define text, background, and object color schemes while Templates characterize the static images and layout of the page. These elements allow you to display a different top bar for different departments within the university expressing their individual ideas and image.

• Infinite combination of site layouts, photographic enhancements, and visual animation.

• Consistent look for all pages within a module, menu section, or menu sub-section.

• Maintain consistency in the appearance of your web site.

• Create pleasant looking pages quickly and easily with pre-defined layouts.

20


Module Template Defi nition Screen

These screens depict how to select the template and theme to create new pages within your dynamic site. This allows the user to easily apply a consistent look and feel through use of Content M.

“New Yellow Template”

“New Purple Template”

Select a Default Template and Theme for the Module Make Template Make Template

and Theme Static for the Module

Make Template

Defi ne Other Compatible Compatible Templates for the Module

Compatible

21


5 Tools

Tools within ContentM aid the user in administrative tasks and large scale site content testing and updating. No longer will you have to worry about misspelled words or broken links on your web site. With the ContentM tools you can do site-wide spell checking and link validating. In addition, site access information such as the type of browser or operating system your users employ to access your site, hits per day, or even a date range can be printed in a report format.

5.1 Site Spell Check

The Site Spell Check functionality provides the ability to check your entire site for misspelled words. As with the Rich Text Editor spell checker, you are even able to add words to your personal dictionary. The spell checker offers a list of misspellings broken down by menu sections and then allows you to update each entry in order to correct the misspelling or add the word to your dictionary. You can quickly and easily rid your site of typos that frequently detract from your overall message.

5.2 Link Validation

With constant updating of site information, the problem of broken links increases. ContentM comes equipped with a Link Validator to swiftly fix such links. From links between site pages to external links, the tool will test them and provide you with a list of invalid links. Then you have the ability to update each link in the list, retest it, and upload the new information to your site. What would take hours on a typical website acquires only minutes in ContentM.

22


• Validate Menu Links, Page Links, and/or Page Images.• Select particular Modules in which to search (i.e. General, News,

Faculty, Staff Pages).• Preview all invalid links in one listing screen.• Change and update links at the click of a button.

Link Validation Screen

5.3 Search and Replace

With each revision of web site content, the standard or desired language changes. The Search and Replace functionality supplies an easy solution to this problem. You can search your entire site for a word or group of words or even base your search on a particular module such as Faculty or News. ContentM will return every word or phrase from any page or menu item in the system. After reviewing the results, simply replace all values at the click of a button.

• Search Pages and/or Menus.

23

Validate Menu Links, Page Links, and Page Images

Select Modules to Search


• Select particular Modules in which to search (i.e. General, News, Faculty, Staff Pages).

• Make search Case Sensitive.• Replace one at a time or all at once.• Preview Search Results prior to replacement.

This screen depicts the functionality of search and replace as well as the different checkboxes available.

Search and Replace Screen

24

Select Modules to Search

Make Case Sensitive

Search Pages and Menus

Replace one at a time or all at once


5.4 Reports

With browser and operating system based reports to the number of site hits, ContentM provides usage profiling for system wide decisions and access information. This functionality can determine the percentage of your site users who access your site via Microsoft Internet Explorer vs. Netscape Navigator or those who use Windows 2000 vs. Windows 98 operating systems. The system will also tell you how many hits the site received during a particular date range. This information is most useful when conducting system upgrades or researching the impact of certain content changes on site usage. Another key element, ContentM allows you to provide the best web site service for your users.

25


6 Automatic Generation

To save you time and keep your site content up to date with the most recently added and approved information, ContentM includes automatic information generation functionality. This functionality automatically generates your site content pages as well as adds new content to your search and site maps. Now when a new page is added, you no longer have to go to through the process of adding to the menu structure, site maps, searches, etc. ContentM does everything automatically in one easy step. All you have to do is add the content, making the process fast and simple.

• Search Function, Site Map, and Navigation Menu automatically updated as links and content.

• Easy to use Search based on keyword and specific modules.

• Ranks search results based on relevance.

Site Map and Search Screens

26


This is the second screen depicting the site map in ContentM. Whenever new links are added through ContentM they are automatically added to the site map.

27

Links Automatically Added to Site MapAdded to Site Map


7 Key BenefitsThe many benefits that ContentM offers will aid your academic institution in all aspects of web site administration and maintenance. The return on investment is immediate since complex web sites can be built and sustained without the need for expensive technical resources. Your web site will contain current content since the updating process is so simplified. Enhanced security features will allow different personnel and departments to take ownership over their own site areas. Searches and site-maps are automatically generated on the web site.

Reduce your personnel costs while enhancing ownership within the university by distributing content responsibilities throughout your organization. With its browser based anywhere, anytime access and complete effortless usability, ContentM is a one stop solution that allows you to break free from the necessity to outsource one of your most important IT assets. As a state of the art content management tool, ContentM provides tremendous flexibility, immediate process efficiencies, security, cost savings, and a rapid implementation timeframe. While saving money, ContentM will save your next most valuable commodity – time.

ContentM is the answer for all your university web site and Intranet management needs.

28


The search function is extremely comprehensive and allows users to quickly locate the information they need. The search database is also automatically updated as information is added.

This allows the site to be accessed and maintained from anywhere at any time via the Internet through a password protected login. This also provides for concurrent access.

Search Web-Based

For most web sites, the process of updating content is agonizingly slow. It requires content changes to be made and tested on a development server, then moving changes to the production server via ftp or other means. With ContentM, the process is a lot simpler and updates happen immediately.

The implementation costs less than complete development of a web site and additional cost-savings result over time as nearly anyone can maintain the site. The site content workload can also be dispersed through multiple layers of access and security, allowing different units to have responsibility for maintaining their individual areas.

Cost SavingsReal Time Updates

The ContentM system will prove to be the most effi cient tool for web site content maintenance. While saving money, ContentM will save your next most valuable commodity – time.

Effi ciencyThe incorporation of multiple templates in the web site allows sub-sections within the web site to be based on different templates.

Template Driven

Site Maps are automatically generated within the tool as newer pages are added to the web site.

Site MapsThe use of this tool saves tremendous development time and allows the site to be rapidly implemented.

Rapid Implementation

29



Comprehensive security mechanisms ensure that each user’s access can be limited by module and functionality. The goal here is to provide a comprehensive yet easy-to-use tool for non technical users so that they can create and manage complex web sites.

SecurityThis tool provides for the site to easily scale and grow with the needs of the school. Also, no outside help is needed for this process due to the hierarchical menu structure that non-technical users can use to categorize and add content.

Scalability

Academic departments and programs can take control over specifi c aspects of the web site that pertain to them. Faculty and staff can also update and maintain their own home pages. This results in the distribution of the workload, quicker updates and ownership throughout the organization.

Immediate Buy-in

Since the tool controls the overall structure of the site, it ensures consistency throughout the site even with different people in charge of different aspects. This is very important for a university’s image and the quality of a web site.

Site ConsisitencyThe ease of update, involvement of a larger content administration base, and quicker updates ensure that the web site is kept current and has the freshest data.

Web Site Kept Current

The use of templates, a better defi ned navigation structure, automated search and site map generation all combine to make the site more usable and attractive to the end-user of the web site. The user can access any page in three clicks or less.

Navigation Structures

30

Comprehensive security mechanisms ensure that each user’s access can be limited by module and functionality. The goal here is to provide a comprehensive yet easy-to-use tool for non technical users so that they can create and manage complex web sites.

Academic departments and programs can take control over specifi c aspects of the web site that pertain to them. Faculty and staff can also update and maintain their own home pages. This results in the distribution of the workload, quicker updates and ownership throughout the organization.

AllofE developed this tool to give academic institutions total control over every aspect of their web site so that they can express a unique image and tailor the look and feel to individual needs. Images and content can be easily updated and changed. Individual departments and programs can access and control their individual sections of the web site.

No technical or programming knowledge or training is needed for updates due to the use of an extremely user-friendly interface. Non-technical users are able to design and modify the format, content, photographic images, and links to their site. End users access any information within the web site in a fraction of the time of other sites.

User FriendlyControl

Huge cost savings can be derived by freeing up technical resources from web site update related tasks to focussing on other important and critical projects within the university.

Freeing up of ResourcesSince the tool does not require any technical knowledge and comes with an advanced security structure, any part of the web site can be turned over to separate departments or individual users.

User Involvement

31


8 Case Studies8.1 University of Kansas School of ArchitectureProfile

The University of Kansas School of Architecture and Design (SAUD) is comprised of three unique departments: Architecture, Architectural Engineering, and Urban Planning. Due to the schools emphasis on design and visual communication, any medium to be used by students, faculty, staff, alumni, and potential students, had to reflect this emphasis as well. SAUD needed a web site that aggregated these three departments while still portraying their individual unique images. In addition, the school wanted a robust system to handle vast amounts of static and dynamic data. The school was also in need of a library system for all of their Architecture, Fine Arts, and Topics slide needs. The school, therefore, hired AllofE to develop comprehensive content and library management tools to accomplish this task.

Challenge

• Develop a web site that aggregated the Architecture, Architectural Engineering, and Urban Planning departments.

• Maintain the unique image of each of the departments. • Customize a content management tool to meet the schools

data needs. • Create a user-friendly menu structure. • Automatically generate page content, search pages, and menus

as content is updated. • Develop a site that allows users to update content with no

HTML knowledge or experience. • Develop a complete library system to store slide information

for three categories of slides: Architecture, Fine Arts, and Topics.

• Build customized printing functionality for slide labels/cards.


32

• Create extensive search functionality to quickly find slide, artist, architect, and other reference information.

• Integrate the existing slide library data into the new database. • Create both systems as web based applications to be accessible anytime

and anywhere.

Response

AllofE graphic designers worked closely with SAUD to develop templates for each of the three departments and then create a common portal into the school’s site. Once this was accomplished, the developers began to work on enhancements to the ContentM system that would allow for the quick and easy formatting of page content by any user. To accomplish this, AllofE developed a Rich Text Editor that works like a typical word processor to format fonts, images, tables, and links in an easy to use manner. With this functionality the school is now able to disseminate site content responsibility across the various departments.

AllofE then developed separate modules to format and store news and events, faculty information, and staff information separately to account for different content needs and display similar content in the same way. This along with the Rich Text Editor allows faculty and staff to update and maintain their own page information.ContentM was already equipped with functionality that automatically generates page content, search pages, and menus, so this task was easily achieved through slight modifications and customization. In addition the system separates user permissions into two categories: permission to modify the menu structure (ie. the pages that display on the web site) and permission to modify the page content. This further increases security and provides additional control over the content on the web site.

Due to the complexity of the slide library data and the poor design of their previous database, AllofE developers created a database structure that incorporated the existing data needs yet was scalable to adhere to new and future needs. They then built extensive searches and used detailed designs to develop customized printing capabilities for all labels and library catalog cards.


33

Effects

The dissemination of site content responsibility has reduced site maintenance costs by allowing users without technical knowledge to maintain their own information. The result is a secure, flexible and customizable web site with full content management capabilities. The slide library is currently in its implementation phase, but has already been proclaimed by library users as extremely easy to use compared to their previous system.


34

8.2 University of Kansas School of Business

Profile

The University of Kansas School of Business offers undergraduate and graduate programs for virtually every interest. With KU as a Tier I research university, it is necessary the School of Business reflect this commitment of integrating the latest research, technology, and information needs of its students, faculty, and staff with its web site. The school operates a web site that is specific to the school and its activities. It contains information concerning students, faculty, and staff, programs, news, events, enrollment, etc. Due to their ever increasing content needs, the KU School of Business required a system that could quickly and easily update content as well as convert many manual processes associated with HTML driven web sites into automated processes.

Challenge

• Build a web site that is representative of the prestigious image of the School of Business.

• Make it a completely database driven and customizable site with dynamic content that can be changed frequently.

• Ensure the site is easy to navigate by users due to the tremendous amount of information available.

• Build the site so members of the University faculty and staff can make modifications to the site with little or no programming experience.

• Create permission and security functionality that allows various departments to maintain their own departmental information.

• Ensure the flexibility to add new functionality as the web site becomes an increasingly comprehensive tool for managing all internal and external interaction.

• Provide Home Page functionality for both Faculty and Staff members.

• Develop a security structure that distributes site content responsibility across the various educational departments and programs.


35

Response

For this project, AllofE developed a content management tool that revolutionizes the way large web sites work. The tool improves the process by which large web sites are created and maintained, while making it simple for non-technical people to maintain and change content on the site.

Our first objective was that the application and the sites it created be as efficient as possible. Currently, the complete application is less than 100 kb and the pages it creates are immediately database generated. This results in the near elimination of time delays experienced by database connectivity for sites since all pages are saved as HTML.

Our second objective was for the tool to be reusable for additions to this site and also for the creation of new sites in the future. This is the result of highly customizable templates that can be reused as often as desired.Our final objective was for the application to produce complete web sites as quickly as possible. Uploading pictures, creating dropdown menus, and inserting content is a user-friendly point and click process. HTML or other web programming knowledge is not required. This site and its structure of 7 main drop-down menus, Contact, Feedback, and Search functions, 35 sub-menus, 25 third-tier menus, and multiple images on each page was completed in three weeks.

Effects

KU School of Business now has an effective web site design tool that can be utilized by any person in the organization to make customized changes to any aspect of the site. Menus, search pages, and content are automatically generated.

This is especially valuable when the information and services offered by the Business School are constantly being evaluated and changed. The content management tool that AllofE developed will enable the school to adapt to those changes in a timely and cost efficient manner.


36

Here are some screenshots from the School of Business website. They are examples of an overview page, faculty/staff page, and the home page:


37

9 Conclusion

ContentM is an extremely flexible tool for the creation of web sites and intranets. All of ContentM’s features are browser-based allowing anytime-anywhere management of site and system features. Updates are immediate and enhanced security mechanisms allow the delegation of site management throughout your organization. Features such as the Rich Text Editor, themes, templates, and collection pages give even the least technically oriented users the ability to update information pertinent to their personal, departmental, or divisional information.

With features such as automatic content updates, search page and site map generation, and rich text editing, ContentM is the most flexible and user-friendly solution available. From a comprehensive security structure at both user and group levels to its professional looking and customizable navigation structure to template and module creation, the functionality is endless. Through the use of one product, ContentM, you can handle every aspect of your site management needs:

Menu Structure Management – Dynamic manipulation of site menus.

Site Content Management – User-friendly content creation with Rich Text Editor.

Modules and Templates – Maintenance of consistent themes and organization of information.

System Access and Permissions – Definition of user and group access in all areas of the site.


38

Academic Version - eCurriculum.net...2 Content Administration Saving you both time and money,...

Documents

Transcript of Academic Version - eCurriculum.net...2 Content Administration Saving you both time and money,...