Content Types: The Building Blocks of Your Content Model

Content Types
The Building Blocks of Your Content Model

Content management integration and consulting
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
http://blendinteractive.com/

@gadgetopia

7 Reasons…
…why content typing is important
4 Evaluation Questions
For those of you shopping for a CMS and comparing options.
3 Implementation Tips
For those of you implementing or managing a CMS-based Web site.

Content Modeling

Definition
Content modeling is the process of converting logical content concepts into content types, attributes, and datatypes.

Logical Content
This is the desired end result of a content management requirement.
It’s often represented as a design comp.

Content Object
An XML document
A database record

Content on most Web sites can be roughly categorized by type.A type shares a common set of attributes and is meant to represent a single, logical boundary around content.

Content Item A is a page of text.
Content Item B is an Executive Profile.
Content Item C is a Press Release

Structuring your content requires you to identify your content types.

Why care about content types?

Reason #1
Because different content types need to be STRUCTURED differently.

Content Structure Between Types

Content types are made up of content attributes.An attribute is a single, logical piece of information that, when combined with other attributes, describes a type of content.

Content attributes have datatypes.
A datatype restricts the type of data the attribute may hold. This enables validation and processing

Content Model
Content Types
Content Attributes (bound by Datatype)

My Web Site
Standard Text Page
Press Release
Executive Profile

My Web Site
Executive Profile
First Name (simple string)
Last Name (simple string)
Hire Date (date)
Image (file reference)
Bio (formatted string)

Reason #2
Because different content types have to be EDITED and VALIDATED differently.

Automatic Form Rendering
Content edit form in eZ publish

Input Form Validation
Canned and custom validation in Ektron.

Reason #3
Because different content types have to be DISPLAYED differently.

Display Template Assignment
Template assignment by Page Type in EPiServer

Reason #4
Because different content types have to be MANAGED differently.

Content types often act as functional boundaries for:
Permissions
Workflow
Navigation
Search

URL Pattern Assignments
URL pattern assignment based on Content Type in Drupal

Workflow Assignment
Automatic workflow initiation in EPiServer.

Reason #5
Because different content types need to be SEARCHED and ORGANIZED differently.

Organization by Content Value

Content Type-specific Search
Parametric search based a content type in eZ publish

Reason #6
Because different content types are markers for integration complexity.

The Ubiquitous “Standard Page”

A new content type often means…
A new editing interface
New validation rules
New permissions rules
New workflow requirements
New display requirements
etc…

Reason #7
Problems due to inefficient and inaccurate content modeling will often not surface until the project is complete.
By that point, it’s often too late….

Futureproofing
Designing your content model so it can be adapted to new situations with a minimum of pain.

Evaluation Question #1
Does your CMS allow content modeling or structuring at all?

How flexible are its content modeling capabilities?
(Bring your own content, and ask for a demonstration of how it would be modeled.)

What datatypes are available to structure your content?

Can you write your own datatypes or customize existing datatypes?

Implementation Tip #1
Think in terms of content types. Consider the ways different content will need to be edited, validated, managed, searched and organized.

Be careful in re-using content types for logically different content.

To futureproof your content, speculate on and list scenarios in which the content might be used now and in the future.

Blend Interactive
http://blendinteractive.com
Gadgetopiahttp://gadgetopia.com
Twitter
@gadgetopia
Email
deane@blendinteractive.com

Content Types: The Building Blocks of Your Content Model

by gadgetopia on Dec 03, 2009

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