In
my current job, I have to handle various projects run on Ektron CMS.
Just like other content management systems, it too have functions and
features which I love and some I do not like at all. We all now in
every thing or activity there will be pros and cons. The same is for
our own Ektron CMS400.NET. Anyway, I would like to say that I really
enjoy working with this content management system with so many smart
features in it. I would like to say that I really love two features
of this CMS and I wish I could add one to make it unique.
I
love to access entire history of pages and content
Do
you know which feature of Ektron I like the most? HISTORY. It is a
feature which I use quite often. It is helpful for what it is made
for. I can check history of content updates, that is, when the
website content was last updated by whom and check whether any
relevant comments are available with the same click. You can compare
the current and the previous versions and do necessary modifications
if required. Here are two scenarios of how we can use HISTORY:
Scenario
1
- If you edit and publish a content block, but the results are not
what you expected, simply revert back to the previous version and
start again. Also, comparing the two versions might help you figure
out where things went awry.
Scenario
2
- If you update a content block to include a special message or
promo, simply revert to the previous version when the promotional
period is over.
Scenario
3
- If this year’s conference schedule is more similar to the
conference from two years ago than it is to last year’s, go ahead
and revert to the 2013 version to use as your starting template. You
do have the opportunity to edit any version before making it live
again.
I
love the ability to make fresh content live even if I am not there
One
of the most powerful tools in Ektron is scheduling. It allows to set
start or/and end dates for fresh website content and content edits.
Here is how you can use this wonderful feature:
Scenario
1
- If you have a news release that needs to go live to coincide with a
news conference, but you will be off site at the news conference,
simply schedule the release to go live the exact minute you need it
to.
Scenario
2
- If you post a special announcement on your website about a
promotion that expires August 15, schedule the content to expire and
be removed from your website on the expiration date. This will help
keep your site up to date, but you only have to touch the content
once.
Scenario
3
- If your early bird registration is ending at the end of the week,
get ahead of the game by editing your content to reflect the new
registration fees and scheduling the edits to go live on the date
they become effective. This can be an effective time management tool
if you have some days that are busier than others.
Finally,
I wish there was no such undo button for deleted items
I
think one of the most common issues among our clients is accidentally
deleting items or data or even content. Folks delete entire folders
when they intended to delete a single item; they delete entire menus
when they simply wanted to remove one thing. In fact, I often tell my
clients that it’s hard to really mess up something unless you
delete it.
In
Ektron, once you delete something, it is gone forever. At least it
may as well be. The only way to restore the deleted item is to
restore your entire website database, and of course that is assuming
you have a backup.
There
have been feature requests for things like an “undo” button
and/or a recycle bin that works a lot like Windows. That is, nothing
is deleted permanently until you empty the bin. Perhaps this is
something Ektron
will consider and implement in the near future.
