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. Web Content Management (WCM) is also used to refer to these programs. 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.
A WCM-tool normally includes functions for administering users and groups and editing the content. You can, for example, have one group for administrators, one group for content editors and one group for visitors, everyone. Besides editing the content, a WCM tool often has functions for managing versions. Several WCM systems utilize standardized protocols like ICE or WebDAV for managing the site content technically.
As with all software areas, the companies that develop and sell/distribute WCM tools put more and more functions into them to make them as attractive as possible. The functions might include modules that are typically used when building a web site (intranet, extranet or public internet) like search engine, workflow support, discussion forums, etc., etc. Today many of these features are also regarded as part of the WCM area, even if they do not exactly deal with managing content.
| Table of contents |
|
2 See also 3 External links |
Derivatives of Content Management Systems
Weblog
Weblog is an article publishing system that allows user feedback.
Wiki
Perhaps the best example of such a system is the one used by Wikipedia, the wiki. Wiki software includes logic that allows authors to edit the content of the site online. 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.
See also
External links
zh-cn:内容管理系统