Unrestricted working - from everywhere, anytime
Modern Ajax-technology allows easy and comfortable working always and everywhere even without installing any special client software. To your convenience look and handling of the new interface is similar to familiar Windows applications.
figure 1: efficient and intuitive: the Editor Desktop in the web browser
The unique, browser-based Editor Desktop makes work for editors easier in many ways:
- working from everywhere, anytime
- intuitive, easy to learn interface
- familiar short-keys as well as drag-and-drop allow extremely fast working
- international spell checking
- convenient workgroup features (e. g. instant messenger, file transfer) improve editors' collaboration even across different regional locations
- a powerful image-tool that allows picture manipulation right in the web-browser.
- context-related online help
Technical advantages of the new interface:
- No problems with the firewall and no security risks because port 80 can be used
- No installation of a special CMS-client, Java or .NET necessary. No additional administration efforts.
- The Desktop uses resources of the work station and bandwidth very responsible. This is very important in offices with many editors.
- Changes to the Desktop are made in plain HTML or JavaScript and thus very cost efficient. There are no expensive adjustments of CMS-clients.
- Access via a TCP-port, therefore easy to set up in every firewall
Convenient features make work much easier
Editing tables in text
The built-in WYSIWYG editor has supports the direct editing of tables in texts. Several styles can be defined and used.
figure 2: Tables can be inserted and changed in the text
Copy and paste from Microsoft Word and Excel
Keep using familiar applications like Word or Excel to prepare texts and tables. With a simple copy-and-paste you can transfer content from Office applications to the cmsWorks Editor Desktop. Useful formatting will be preserved.
Direct image editing
The internal image viewer provides a preview as well as features of direct editing. You do not necessarily need external programs like Photoshop.
figure 3: Everyday image editing (resize, cropping, turn/mirror and optimize) can be done within the internal image viewer.
Quick access due to internal search engine
A powerful search module supports the content creation process. Editors easily find all types of content based on different criteria (keyword, full text, ID, document type, parent element, etc...). It's not important whether the content is already published or not.
Preview and Live-Publication
All changes to web content can be previewed right away without influencing the “online version” of the site.
Preview testing with different browsers
By clicking on the preview icon a new window opens showing an actual preview of the current page in the current browser (e. g. Mozilla Firefox). This page can be viewed in any other browser (e.g. Apple Safari) as well, allowing extensive testing. You can even e-mail the preview-URL and give others the chance to preview.
Clear error message and 1-click-change preview
Most pages consist of more than one element. If these elements are combined in an incorrect or incomplete way, cmsWorks will alert the editor immediately in the preview. The modules in question can be edited right away by a clickable link provided by the error messages.
cmsWorks' unique 1-click-technology makes it possible to change even the most complex pages within a few seconds. By pressing a simple key combination little icons become visible that provide producers and editors direct access.
Referring to this cmsWorks is very security-oriented. Errors shown in the preview are never published. In most cases it is better to suppress incorrect or incomplete page elements rather than taking the risk of "destroying" the whole page if published.
Live-Publication without waiting cycles
cmsWorks was optimized for editorial teams that have to publish news without any delay - sometimes multiple times a minute. That is why cmsWorks supports live-publication of content of any kind (there is no waiting for the next publication cycle). For instance, it is possible to keep the medal table at the Olympic Games current all the time. The particular page can be changed and published within a few seconds.
Security - taken one step further
Web bases interfaces have many benefits but carry some risks as well. Instable connections and damaged browser installations may lead to a loss of entered data. That is particular annoying, if you are about to finish a long text. cmsWorks offers automatic counter measures for that purpose such as an update manager, autosave, checksums and hand-shakes. Thus the risk of data loss is reduced.
Permission model and workflow
cmsWorks comes with a powerful permission model and a three step workflow: change, approval, publication (putting it online).
Figure 4: Next step after editing is approving and then publishing
Any number of editors can work with the system at the same time. Simultaneous changing of the same content is not possible in order to avoid inconsistencies. If documents were locked unintentionally the system will eventually revoke the lock after some time.
There is a versioning for all content. It is possible to go back to an earlier version if needed. This way cmsWorks is compliant with statutory provisions. Because of the special way of data storage access to content the system will not slow down even with high version numbers.
Right before the final publication of a document all direct and indirect references are checked. If any included elements are not published yet, cmsWorks offers a convenient dialog in order to publish these first.
In a similar way cmsWorks makes sure that pages and page elements cannot be deleted as long as only a single document still refers to it. Thus "broken links" are avoided in an effective way.
The optional ContentScripting module allows the automation of recurring routine work and definition of complex workflows.
Optional: Plugins and Wizards (ContentScript)
Plugins and Widgets can easily be added to the desktop. Wizard-plugins help developers and editors with routine work (e. g. placement of multipart elements, creation of adequate media).
Optional: Standard web interface
In certain situations it is necessary to offer just a very simple user interface with a minimal function set. For such cases cmsWorks also has an "light-weight" web interface with which particular editorial work can be accomplished. These interfaces can be easily integrated in intra- and extra-nets.