Content Management System

1
Content Management System

• Information Session

2
Discussion Summary

• CMS Overview
• Demonstration
• CMS Migration Decision Criteria
• Information Resources

McMaster University
3
McMaster Web History

• Centrally managed web services
• Moved to distributed web services
• Current web services difficult to manage as they
  are spread over a large support base

History Overview - McMaster University
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Past/Current Setup
Each group required its own hardware, hardware
technicians,web admins, and development tools.
Tools required by all content providers.
History Overview - McMaster University
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Future Setup with CMS
CIS manages server hardware, and hardware
technicians.Each group has a web admin and one
set of development tools. Content providers may
edit content directly through the internet.
History Overview - McMaster University
6
What is a CMS?

• Tool to manage website content
• Depository for information
• How does it work?
• Data from content providers is stored in a
  central database, not static HTML

CMS Overview - McMaster University
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What is our CMS?

• Ektron eMPower
• Requires a Cold Fusion application server
• Requires an Internet Explorer web plugin for
  content editors
• Utilizes an extension plugin for Dreamweaver
• Find more details at www.ektron.com

CMS Overview - McMaster University
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CMS Workflow

• Web administrator designs webpage template
• Web administrator adds eMPower CMS tags called
  content blocks to webpage template using CMS
• Web administrator positions content blocks in
  webpage using Dreamweaver
• Content provider logs in, updates content block,
  and logs out

CMS Overview - McMaster University
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CMS DEMO

• Request a trial account

Demo - McMaster University
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CMS Licensing

• One license allows unlimited installations per
  parent domainie. http//www.mcmaster.ca,http//
  www.mcmaster.ca/cis,http//www.mcmaster.ca/...
  all one license
• Limited number of URLs based on vanity
  licensingie. http//faculty1.mcmaster.ca,
  http//faculty2.mcmaster.ca

CMS Considerations - McMaster University
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Things to Consider

• Who is the administrator and/or how many do we
  have?
• Current and desired URL of the website
• Web applications running on current system, can
  we switch?
• Is the whole faculty/department moving?

CMS Considerations - McMaster University
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Making the Switch

• Request a demo site from ways_at_mcmaster.ca or
  webmaster_at_mcmaster.ca
• Attend administration training session
• Develop your site
• Migrate your site to the production server

CMS Considerations - McMaster University
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CMS Information

• Steve Way xt. 24170 ways_at_mcmaster.caWeb
  Services Analyst for McMaster
• Faculty/department Web administrator
• Ektron Homepage http//www.ektron.com
• McMaster CMS FAQ http//www.mcmaster.ca/cis/cms
• DailyNews http//dailynews.mcmaster.ca

Information Resources - McMaster University