Frequently Asked Questions

Browse through the topics below to get a better idea of what a Web Content Management System is, how to use it, if it's right for you, and more!

What is a Web Content Management System?

A web Content Management System is a system for the creation, modification, archiving and removal of information resources from an organized repository. Ok, so what does that mean? Basically it allows for users to be experts on providing up-to-date, helpful and purposeful content, rather than having to be web designers.

When will the Web CMS be implemented at CMU?

As of August 13th, 2008, the wCMS has been implemented for www.cmich.edu and several sites that reside on that server, including Admissions, General Counsel and this site! Sites within the College of Health Professions will be coming into the wCMS throughout August and September. The full timeline and list of customers is available here.

Can you show me a site that is using the Web CMS?

You're looking at one of them! Other sites now using the wCMS include: Admissions, Visit, General Counsel, Student OMBUDS office, We Value Diversity and HIPAA just to name a few. For the full listing, see our Implementation Schedule.

What's with the funny .xml page name extensions?

The Ingeniux web Content Management System is xml-based. So, one big difference you may notice from a user-perspective, is that once in awhile in the URL you'll see something like: http://www.cmich.edu/x340.xml. Pages can be referred to as .htm, .html or .xml in the wCMS. So http://www.cmich.edu/x340.xml is equal to http://www.cmich.edu/Admissions.htm are equal. We try to limit the amount of numeric-looking page names and use 'friendly' names wherever possible. The bottom line is that web browsers will accept either. It's all a part of making our web site more compatible with any kind of browser on any type of device.

Can I use the Web CMS on a Mac?

Yes. The wCMS editor is web-based and mac-compatible.

Is the Web CMS difficult to use?

The Web CMS aims to provide the easiest, most efficient method for updating content on CMU's campus. The interface is clean and easy to understand. A standard formatting bar, similar to the interface in Microsoft Word, is used to apply styles to your content.

What different roles exist within the Web CMS?

The Web CMS provides an array of permissions and roles. You can define who has rights to any given content area. Included roles allow users to create, edit, approve, publish, expire, and delete content. A content workflow can simplify your content updates and ensure that the proper people have rights to relevant content.