web design
The intelligent way to
manage web content
In this special feature, we examine how a content management system can make edit, update and publish within a very quick
it easy for non-technical contributors to maintain and expand their website using
timescale with no dependencies on outside
software and a database to manage and organise website content.
help. When an end user requests a page, the
server takes the content, adds it into your
Have you already got a website or maybe With CMS, the content experts add
template, and serves it on the web. Some
@
just started to think about one? Are you content, images and multimedia files,
systems allow for advanced personalisation
dependent on one person adding new content schedules and much more in a
or even multi-language versions.
content page-by-page with their favourite more simplified manner – not through
HTML editor and this is taking more time
Moreover, a template–based environment
complex programs like FrontPage or Dream
than you prefer? This is where a Content
allows changes you make to templates to
Weaver, but through a simplified graphical
Management System (CMS) comes in.
be approved and seen by end users in
interface without all the design controls
a matter of minutes, not days or weeks.
Determining whether you actually need a
they don’t need. (Often, CMS interfaces are
Changes you have made to a template
CMS will depend on how frequently you
browser–based and have a learning curve
go through the normal workflow and are
update the content on your site, and to what
closer to Notepad than Word.)
published to the server. The next user who
extent. If this is only a few times a month with
Content people can author a page and
requests a page with that template gets
only a few changes, then you don’t. However
edit existing pages. Best of all, they now
the new version; it’s a lot like changing a
if it needs updating often, or the content is
take full ownership of the content so can
server–side include.
updated by multiple authors, then for ease
of organising and editing content, a CMS will
be advantageous. Plus you can expand to get
Each CMS has a unique combination of benefits:
access to services and features such as RSS
How much time will it save me? Content is stored in a database
feeds, SEO-optimised URLs, plug-ins and
The main purpose of a CMS is to save Central storage means that content can be
other tools that can all be integrated easily
you time when updating content – the reused in many places on the website and
into your site.
most important time-saving feature offered formatted for any device (web browser,
Content management is the next step in
by a CMS is a visual text editor. With this mobile phone, PDA, print).
separating structure from design. There
visual text editor it is possible to enter
are now three layers: design, structure and
your content like in the most common
Dynamic content Extensions like forums,
content. The division of these layers allows
word processor.
polls, shopping applications, searching and
many advantages throughout the life cycle
news management are typical modules
Decentralised You can add content
of the website. Each area of the site can be
which can be added.
anywhere, anytime, when based on a
recreated and adjusted independent of the
web browser. Co-operation Encourages faster
other areas.
updates, generates accountability for
Designed for non-technical
The design layer (the layout of the pages,
content authors
authored content (logs) and co-operation
colours, fonts etc) can be completely
People with average knowledge of word
between authors.
reworked for a new user interface without
processing can create the content directly.
the need for any adjustments to structure
Content scheduling Content publication
No html knowledge is needed.
and content. The structure can be adjusted
can often be time-controlled, hidden
for additional functionality with no changes
Configurable access restrictions
for later use or require user login
required to design and content. Content can be
Users are assigned roles and permissions
with password.
changed with no need to adjust the front-end that prevent them from editing content
design or functional structure. The separation they are not authorised to change.
The final goal of any successful CMS
of these three areas creates the flexible
Consistency of design is preserved
implementation is to make the creation
strength of a content management system.
Content is stored separately from design
of web content so easy that more people
CMS come in many shapes: they can be large
so the content from all authors is presented
do it more often: they create more web-
or small, simple or very complex. But they
with the same consistent design.
based projects and find more things to
are all based on the same idea: CMS allows
put out on the web.
designers to focus on design by building
Navigation is automatically
generated and adjusted
For further information on
templates. Subject experts build content in
Menus are typically generated automatically
Headley Brothers’ web design services,
a separate environment. The server takes
based on the database content and links
please contact the web design team:
the content, inserts it into the correct
will not point to non-existing pages.
01233 623131, web-design@headley.co.uk.
template and sends it all, neatly wrapped
up, to end users.
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