Content management system
A content management system (often shortened to CMS) is a system used to organize and facilitate collaborative content creation.
CMSs allow end-users (typically authors of some sort) to provide new content in the form of articles. The articles are typically entered as plain text, perhaps with markup to indicate where other resources (such as pictures) should be placed. The system then uses rules to style the article, which separates the display from the content, which has a number of advantages when trying to get many articles to conform to a consistent "look and feel". The system then adds the articles to a larger collection for publishing.
The systems also often include some sort of concept of the workflow for the target users, which defines how the new content is to be routed around the system.
A good example would be a system for managing a newspaper. In such a system the reporters type articles into the system, which stores them in a database. Along with the article the system stores attributes, including keywords, the date and time of filing, the reporter's name, etc. The system then uses these attributes to find out, given its workflow rules, who should proofread the article, approve it for publication, edit it, etc. Later the editors can choose which articles to include (or ignore) in an edition of the newspaper, which is then laid out and printed automatically.
More recently the term has been associated almost entirely with programs for editing web sites. Such systems span a wide variety of needs, from small systems with almost no workflow for small user-groups and such, to large database-based systems for running large, very active web sites such as those for a newspaper.
Perhaps the best example of such a system is the one you are probably using now, the Wiki. Wiki software includes logic that allows authors (such as yourself) to edit the content of the site online – this is actually not that common, many systems require the articles to be constructed and edited in some other software. When you have completed your changes, the wiki software tracks what changes you have made, and updates the page. Wikis also allows many more than one person to edit the target page at the same time, solving simultaneous write conflicts as they arise.
Types of CMS
Web CMS (WCMS) assists an organization in automating various aspects of web content creation, content management and delivery. Delivery to the web is its primary format, but many WCM systems also deliver to wireless devices.
Transactional CMS or Transactional CMS (TCMS) assists an organization to manage e-commerce transactions.
Integrated DMS (IDMS) assists an organization in managing enterprise documents and content.
Publication CMS (PCMS) assists an organization in managing the publications (manuals, books, help) content life cycle.
Learning CMS (LCMS) or Managed Learning Environment (MLE) assists an organization in managing the web-based learning content life cycle.
Enterprise CMS (ECMS) vary in their functionality. Some support both the web and publications content life cycle, while others support the web content life cycle and either transactional content or customer relationship management content. 1
See also
External links
- CMS Wiki a knowledge base for Content Management Professionals.
- The CMS GLOSSARY is a controlled vocabulary of terms offered to CM Professionals, a content management community of practice.
- TopicWatch "Java Repository Specification" by David Nuescheler and Janus Boye
Categories: Content management systems