1. Academic Services Interactive Media Managing the Web with Java JA-SIG Winter 2002 Robert Sherratt Academic Services, Interactive Media

2. Academic Services Interactive Media Overview Background –The Digital University Project The Content Management System What next?

3. 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

4. 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)

5. Academic Services Interactive Media Integration CIS/MIS Library Systems Staff Intranet Web-based Learning Environments Web Sites Portal: Sign on once, access personalised resources Middleware / Service Layer: flexible and standards-based

6. Academic Services Interactive Media What about the content? Portals are content free Information has to be managed An institutional responsibility and problem

7. Academic Services Interactive Media An institutional problem Support for Web IT infrastructure but No support for Web authors –self-selected or forced… –small part of duties – officially recognised? –often few or no technical skills

8. Academic Services Interactive Media Content Management System Initially to manage web pages Requirements –Self-service authoring –Content re-use –Cost –Workflow management reminders etc.

9. Academic Services Interactive Media Review of solutions ‘Real’ requirements: –Java –Standards conformant XHTML/XML (XSLT) –Integrate with Hull IT infrastructure LDAP + Ingres database

10. 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)

11. 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

12. Academic Services Interactive Media People and tools

13. Academic Services Interactive Media Processes Design Templates Configure Site Staging Server Create/edit Publish

14. Academic Services Interactive Media Architecture - Site Site paths templates text-only index(s) Template source file Server document root

15. Academic Services Interactive Media Admin - Site

16. Academic Services Interactive Media Architecture - Content Content name file type title info manager updated Content Site content id site id path Information Manager post name email

17. Academic Services Interactive Media Admin – Information Managers

18. Academic Services Interactive Media Architecture - People Author user id name Information Manager post name email Approver user id name

19. Academic Services Interactive Media Admin – Author/Approver

20. Academic Services Interactive Media Architecture - Security Security Guard info manager site path allowed Information Manager post name email

21. Academic Services Interactive Media Admin - Security

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. Academic Services Interactive Media Problems Bugs Database connection pool Client-side editor Application running on 2 servers –enable publication to local disks

27. 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

28. 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

29. Academic Services Interactive Media Thank you Questions Links –www.acsweb.hull.ac.uk/imedia –www.digital.hull.ac.ukwww.digital.hull.ac.uk Email –r.sherratt@hull.ac.uk