UMContent Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Will content managers have capacity to add images and graphics?
  
  Yes. Content contributors will have the capability to add images and graphics to UMContent. Additionally, Site Developers can setup their sites to restrict the size of images and graphics that can be added to websites.


• Can permissions be assigned for adding images and graphics?
  
  Yes. Through UMContent's security model. Site developers and managers can control the rights assigned to their users.


• Does UMContent work for Mac and PC?
  
  UMContent will allow both Mac and PC users to access the Content Server and to contribute content via WebDAV. At the current moment, content contribution via a web based WYSIWYG editor is only availble to Windows Internet Explorer users. UMContent Support is working with Oracle to get a cross platform WYSIWYG editor for both Mac and PC users.


• Will UMContent provide a Digital Asset Management (DAM) enterprise solution?
  
  Yes. As part of the UMContent service, DAM is available to units to utilize. This will allow units the ability to checkin images and graphics and have them automatically transformed into set image sizes.


• If there is no web application support, are there hooks to allow static content to be automaticaly copied up to UMContent?
  
  


• When a web team in one unit develops a new style or way of using UMContent to do something, how will this be shared throughout the enterprise? Will it be? Or do you need to ask that unit directly?
  
  In order to facilitate sharing of work done inside UMContent, OIT has setup a couple of different ways that units can share their work. A UMContent wiki has been setup where units can share their work along with a mailing list where people can post questions or share their work. Information about the wiki and mailing lists can be found at http://1help.umn.edu/umcontent/support. In addition to the mailing lists and the wiki, units can choose to give the general university access to their work or they can submit their work to OIT/UR to be place in the public space of UMContent.


• Is the Site Studio desktop software the only way to put content in the system? Is that software Windows-only?
  
  There are 3 ways to put content on the server. The first method is via WebDAV and is compatible with any WebDAV compliant client. The other 2 methods require the Site Studio Contributor application that is currently Windows only. UMContent Support is working with Oracle on trying to get a cross-platform client.
  


• How rigid is the "workflow" model? Our unit has one web developer and two communication employees serving about 700 people. That is kind of a built-in bottleneck, no?
  
  
  Workflows can be as simple or complex as the site developers would like. Workflows can range from a single approver step to having multiple approvers. How rigid the workflow is depends on the departments internal processes.


• Did I hear you correctly when you said, in effect, that it's easier to build pages in DreamWeaver and upload to UMContent than it is to use Site Studio within UMContet? Please explain.
  
  Site Studio Designer is meant for setting up a web site for Web Content Management. It is not meant for designing the look and feel of your site. While it is possible to design look and feel within Site Studio Designer, it is not as full featured as other products like Dreamweaver.
  


• Do sites in UMContent need to use the University Web templates?
  
  All UMContent sites must follow the University's Web publishing policy by including the University wordmark at the top of their pages, the equal opportunity statement, copyright information, date of last revision, and link to the privacy statement. Use of the template header and footer fragments available in UMContent combines these requirements with color and navigation standards. It is strongly recommended that UMContent sites use the template header and footer 'as is.' Please direct questions related to the templates to University Relations at 624-6868 or webdepot@umn.edu, or see the template standards on Web Depot at http://www.webdepot.umn.edu.
  


• Is UMContent free for units and departments to use?
  
  UMContent is available to units and departments for free as a common good service offered by OIT.
  


• Forms? Is there a method for creating forms and collecting data? If yes, will content providers be able to use it or does it require a web developer?
  
  While UMContent does have the ability to create custom forms, this functionality has not been tested and it is recommended that UMContent is not used for this purpose at the moment.


• How will customer service be organized/prioritized?
  
  UMContent Support is provided by OIT and follows the support model of other services offered by OIT. UMContent Support has support staff assigned to UMContent during the work week with 2nd level staff available to assist as well. Support can be requested by filling out a service request form on the UMContent website. Support requests are prioritized based on the severity of the request.


• What about sites with shopping carts, dynamic applications, forms that also have policies and statics documents? Does UMContent allow these to coexist?
  
  UMContent does allow shopping carts, dynamic applications, and forms to coexist. Since UMContent allows static pages to be deployed to remote servers, these pages can sit on the same server that has shopping carts and other dynamic applications.


• What does this mean for a small department's website? I am marketing, not IT, and I do all web updates on less than 200 pages using DreamWeaver. No bottlenecks. Will I have to change? How/why would this help me i I still make all the changes?
  
  Departments and units are not required to use UMContent. Any departments or units looking at UMContent should evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of both UMContent and their current system and determine which one is best for them. UMContent will not be a solution for every department on campus.