Common content management terms
The software may vary, but from the author's point of view, the basic functions of content management vary little between systems.
Publishing
Content management software allows personnel within an organisation to publish content - such as web pages, documents and files - using the browser (software) you use to view web pages.
Workflow
One of the main ideas underpinning content management is that different people within organisations have different roles to play in creating content.
The role you play is linked to permissions that determine what you can do and where you can publish. For example, you may be able to publish a document to your intranet, but not your internet, or you may be able to update some pages but not others.
Each document or page is created using the same workflow. The workflow is a series of steps that must be followed in sequence to create a page or document and allow it to be viewed by others.
Common terms
author / editor / moderator/ administrator / edit mode / html / alt tag / templates / metadata
Author
An author writes or updates pages, documents and files. In most organisations
authors are not IT or web personnel but people who specialise in core
business.
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Editor
Editors can change, decline or approve pages awaiting publishing to
the live site. Usually pages do not appear in the live site unless they
are approved by an editor.
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Moderator
Moderators can also edit, decline or approve pages. Some workflows have
simple author to editor approvals, but others include an additional role
for more complex release approvals.
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Administrator
The administrator is able to set up all the roles, structures and permissions
within the system. This role is usually taken by an IT person, or the
webmaster.
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Edit mode
Allows you to create a new page or document, or add text, images, sound
or documents to an existing page. In some systems edit mode looks like
the published page with a task bar at the top. You can shift your cursor,
add new text, save your work and submit it to an editor for approval from
the edit mode.
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Html
Hyper Text Mark up Language (HTML) is the basic language of web pages.
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Alt tag
If you add pictures to your web pages you may be asked to provide text
for an alt tag. This text describes the image for the user when they point
to it with the mouse. Visually-impaired people use software to read this
text aloud so they know what's on the page.
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Templates
When you create a new page you may have to select a template. The template
governs the layout and design of your page. Some sites use one template
for the whole site, while others use different templates for different
sections of content.
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Metadata
Metadata is data about data. Authors are often required to submit basic
metadata on their page, while web specialists will define site-wide metadata
requirements. Focus on terms that are specific to your page rather than
general terms of your site or organisation.
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