academic services interactive media managing the web with java ja-sig winter 2002 robert sherratt...
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Academic Services Interactive Media
Managing the Web with JavaJA-SIG Winter 2002
Robert SherrattAcademic Services, Interactive
Media
Academic Services Interactive Media
Overview
• Background– The Digital University Project
• The Content Management System
• What next?
Academic Services Interactive Media
Background
• Faculty/Staff Intranet since 1998• Student Intranet planned• “Building the Digital University”• Senior management approval – Summer
2001• Portal pilot now
– roll out to all students– incorporate faculty/staff Intranet – all for September 2003
Academic Services Interactive Media
Digital University Project
• Integration of key processes and technology
How?• Coherence for end-user (institutional portal)
• Order from chaos (web content management)
Academic Services Interactive Media
Integration
CIS/MIS Library Systems
StaffIntranet
Web-basedLearning
Environments
WebSites
Portal: Sign on once, access personalised resources
Middleware / Service Layer: flexible and standards-based
Academic Services Interactive Media
What about the content?
• Portals are content free
• Information has to be managed
• An institutional responsibility and problem
Academic Services Interactive Media
An institutional problem
• Support for Web IT infrastructurebut• No support for Web authors
– self-selected or forced…– small part of duties – officially
recognised?– often few or no technical skills
Academic Services Interactive Media
Content Management System
Initially to manage web pages• Requirements
– Self-service authoring– Content re-use– Cost– Workflow management
• reminders etc.
Academic Services Interactive Media
Review of solutions
• ‘Real’ requirements:– Java– Standards conformant
• XHTML/XML (XSLT)
– Integrate with Hull IT infrastructure• LDAP + Ingres database
Academic Services Interactive Media
Decision - Build and buy
• Build most of the CMS with Java
• Hold configuration and content in a database
• Buy the online editing tool– eWebEditPro (www.ektron.com)
Academic Services Interactive Media
CMS design
• Most pages have:– static content– require infrequent updates
• Flat file publishing system– content published when updated
• Distribute tasks – according to skills and knowledge
Academic Services Interactive Media
People and tools
MacromediaDreamweaver
Webdesigners
Online editing tools(Word-like interface)
Contentauthors
Web forms
Contentapprovers
CMS admin
Web forms
Academic Services Interactive Media
Processes
Webdesigners
Contentauthors
CMS admin
Design
Templates
Configure Site
Stag
ing S
erver
Create/edit
Contentapprovers
Publish
End user
Academic Services Interactive Media
Architecture - Site
Sitepaths
templates
text-only
index(s)
Templatesource file
Server
document root
Academic Services Interactive Media
Admin - Site
Academic Services Interactive Media
Architecture - Content
Contentname
file type
title
info manager
updatedContent
Sitecontent id
site id
path
Information
Managerpost
name
Academic Services Interactive Media
Admin – Information Managers
Academic Services Interactive Media
Architecture - People
Authoruser id
name
Information
Managerpost
name
Approveruser id
name
Academic Services Interactive Media
Admin – Author/Approver
Academic Services Interactive Media
Architecture - Security
Security
Guardinfo manager
site
path allowed
Information
Managerpost
name
Academic Services Interactive Media
Admin - Security
Academic Services Interactive Media
Current status of CMS
• Software is beta• Being used for a number of sites
– Academic Services– Student Handbook– Student Support Services– + others….
• Users distributed around campus
Academic Services Interactive Media
What do users think
• Very positive feedback– Start to manage content for the first time!
– Streamlining the information process
– Easy to use
– Not too technical
Academic Services Interactive Media
Additional benefits for users
• Production of XHTML 1.0 sites– Templates– Editing tools
• Multiple versions– edit content once– accessible sites (text-only = WAI level 3)
• Site index
Academic Services Interactive Media
Costs for Academic Services
• Development & maintenance– initial development time consuming– ongoing but minimal
• Training– 30 minutes
• Support– most costly
• still learning about Java and its implementation
Academic Services Interactive Media
Problems
• Bugs
• Database connection pool
• Client-side editor
• Application running on 2 servers– enable publication to local disks
Academic Services Interactive Media
What next?
• Remote Publishing function– one application server
• Versioning• Document management extensions• Alternatives to the client-side editor• Web Services interface to admin and
authoring functions
Academic Services Interactive Media
What next? - 2
• uPortal channels for displaying content
• uPortal 2.1 Groups for workflow• Columbia CMS adaptation?
• roll out as University service in the next 1-2 years
Academic Services Interactive Media
Thank you
• Questions
• Links– www.acsweb.hull.ac.uk/imedia– www.digital.hull.ac.uk
• Email– [email protected]