Book Image

Building Websites with Microsoft Content Management Server

Book Image

Building Websites with Microsoft Content Management Server

Overview of this book

Microsoft Content Management Server 2002 is a dynamic web publishing system with which you can build websites quickly and cost-efficiently. MCMS provides the administration, authoring, and data management functionality, and you provide the website interface, logic, and workflow. Once your website is up and running, your content contributors can add and edit content on their own, without the need to work with developers or the IT department. First time developers of Microsoft Content Management Server 2002 face a relatively steep learning curve. Not only are they expected to be conversant in the Microsoft .NET Framework, they are also required to be familiar with the concepts of MCMS 2002. Many beginners to MCMS start out by looking at the example site that ships with the product; tweaking it, dissecting it and turning it inside out using the obscure code comments as markers. However, when it comes to starting their own website from scratch, many are baffled ? where do they begin? This book exists to answer that question; teaching the essential concepts of MCMS 2002 in a clear, straightforward and practical manner. Containing answers to some of the most asked questions in developer newsgroups, this book is a treasure trove of tricks and tips for solving the problems faced by MCMS developers. This is a unique resource focused exclusively on the needs of developers using MCMS. It doesn?t waste time and pages on user or administrator level information that is well covered in other documentation. It?s a distillation of practical experience that developers need to get results, fast. The authors carefully structured example project complements and extends the knowledge gained from an initial look at the examples that ship with MCMS.
Table of Contents (28 chapters)
Building Websites with Microsoft Content Management Server
Credits
About the Authors
Introduction

Chapter 19. Customizing the Web Author Console

The Default Web Author Console that is provided by MCMS appears as a green box of links neatly arranged in a single-column table. More often than not, you can complete construction of your website using the Default Console. However, given the demanding nature of today's sites, we can think of a few situations where you may want to customize it:

  • You have been asked to get the Web Author Console to blend in with the rest of the website. The green border and font type clashes with the well-coordinated colors used elsewhere.

  • The Default Console is taking up too much screen space.

  • Authors of your site have sent feedback that the choices presented on the console are confusing. They want a simpler interface with fewer buttons.

  • Authors have complained that there are too many steps involved in the creation of a page. They want the Web Author Console to bypass the selection of template galleries and templates and jump straight to the creation of a posting...