RedDot Web Content Management Software

David Yamamoto

UCLA Library TechTalkMarch 26, 2002

The “Old” Way

• Many content providers/editors with varying levels of HTML skill

• Few Webmasters with server access• New or edited Web pages channeled

through Webmaster, or…• Webmaster creates Web pages from

other formats (e.g., Word docs, email messages, hand-written notes on napkins)

The “Old Way” (Continued)

• Webmaster checks HTML/links and creates appropriate referring links

• Webmaster FTPs pages to staging server

• Pages go live following day• Repeat as needed

Typical Workflow: Current Practice

The Problem

• No HTML standards• No stylistic standards• Content, which is expensive, is

“polluted” with cheap HTML• Only privileged (or cursed) few can

publish Web pages• Webmaster is bottleneck• Global changes very difficult

The Problem (Continued)

• Link rot• No versioning• Site variants (e.g., text only, WML, XML,

equivalents) very difficult to create• Site redesigns very difficult

The Solution…

Web Content ManagementSoftware

Workflow: Current Practice

Workflow: CMS

What Does WCM Software Do?

• Separates content from presentation• Centralizes layout, look and feel• Maintains link consistency and integrity• Enforces publication policies and

workflows, and...

What Does WCM Software Do? (Continued)

• Allows non-HTMLers to create and contribute Web content

• Defines users roles and assigns permissions accordingly

WCM Components

• Templates• Content administration• Site structure• Workflow• Versioning• User levels

RedDot Levels & Power

C o nte n tP ro v id er

L ib ra ria n?U n it H e a d?

C o nte n tP ro v id er

L ib ra ria n?U n it H e a d?

L e ve l 3E d ito r

L ib ra ria n?A A ?

L e ve l 2S ite B u ild er

A rtsW e b m a s ter

C o nte n tP ro v id er

L ib ra ria n?U n it H e a d?

C o nte n tP ro v id er

L ib ra ria n?U n it H e a d?

L e ve l 3E d ito r

L ib ra ria n?A A ?

L e ve l 2S ite B u ild er

B iom edW e b m a s ter

C o nte n tP ro v id er

L ib ra ria n?U n it H e a d?

C o nte n tP ro ivd er

L ib ra ria n?U n it H e a d?

L e ve l 3E d ito r

L ib ra ria n?A A ?

L e ve l 2S ite B u ild er

Y R LW e b m a s ter

L e ve l 1W eb

M a na g er

Pow

er

High

Low

RedDot Levels & Political Power

C o nte n tP ro v id er

L ib ra ria n?U n it H e a d?

C o nte n tP ro v id er

L ib ra ria n?U n it H e a d?

L e ve l 3E d ito r

L ib ra ria n?A A ?

L e ve l 2S ite B u ild er

A rtsW e b m a s ter

C o nte n tP ro v id er

L ib ra ria n?U n it H e a d?

C o nte n tP ro v id er

L ib ra ria n?U n it H e a d?

L e ve l 3E d ito r

L ib ra ria n?A A ?

L e ve l 2S ite B u ild er

B iom edW e b m a s ter

C o nte n tP ro v id er

L ib ra ria n?U n it H e a d?

C o nte n tP ro ivd er

L ib ra ria n?U n it H e a d?

L e ve l 3E d ito r

L ib ra ria n?A A ?

L e ve l 2S ite B u ild er

Y R LW e b m a s ter

L e ve l 1W eb

M a na g er

Pow

er

Low

High

Demonstration

David’s Evaluation So Far

• Good flexibility, scalability, versatility• Fairly intuitive SmartEdit mode• Good response time over 56K modem• DHTML/JavaScript client occasionally

buggy• Rather steep learning curve for level 1

& 2 administrators• Project development can be complex

Road to Implementation*

• Central library site ca. April 2002• System, workflow, and roles analysis• Training for level 2 administrator (or

“site builder”)• RedDot project development for pilot

unit site• Training for level 3 & 4 editors

*Views expressed by the speaker do not necessarily reflect the views of Library Administration.

Development Implementation Maintenance

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Workload Implications:CMS Vs. Current Practice

100% uniformity Artistic anarchy

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Site Design Related to Implementation Workload

Question?

RedDot Web Content Management Software

David Yamamoto

UCLA Library TechTalkMarch 26, 2002