"Just Put That In The Zip Code Field..."

“Just put that in the zip code field…”
The Ins and Outs of Content Modeling

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

6 Evaluation Questions
For those of you shopping for a CMS and comparing options.
5 Implementation Tips
For those of you implementing or managing a CMS-based Web site.

Content Modeling Definition #1
The process of converting logical content concepts into editable, storable, manageable, searchable content objects by breaking them down into smaller pieces and describing their data to your CMS.

Logical Content
This is the desired end result of a content management requirement.

Content Object
An XML document
A database record

Content Fidelity
How closely does the content in your CMS resemble the logical content you planned on?

Different systems have vastly different content modeling capabilities.Never assume that system X can accurately model your content.

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

Why model content at all?

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

Content Structure Between Types

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

Permission Assignment
Permission assignments by content type in eZ publish

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

Content modeling has its roots in two disciplines:
Relational database design
Object oriented programming

Relational Database Roots
Content Type = Table
Content Attribute = Field
Attribute Datatype = Field Datatype

OO Programming Roots
Content Type = Class
Content Attribute = Field, Property, Attribute
Attribute Datatype = Programming Datatype
Content Type Inheritance = Class Inheritance

Is content management reinventing the wheel?

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….

Types, Attributes, and Datatypes

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.

Nomenclature
Content Type
Content Class
SmartForm
Page Type

Content Types
Content types in Drupal

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.

Nomenclature
Attribute
Property
Field
Element

Content Attributes
Content attributes in eZ publish.

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

Datatypes provide:
Validation
Editing interfaces
Computation

Attribute Datatypes
Content class attributes in eZ publish.

Attribute Datatypes
Page Type Properties in EPiServer

Generic Custom Fields
Custom fields in WordPress.

Datatypes and Sorting
Datatypes tell the system how to treat values while sorting.

Common Validation Needs
String is required
String is numeric
String matches a "canned pattern" (email address, SSN, etc.)
String matches a regular expression
String falls within a list of valid values drawn from somewhere else
String is unique to other content
Date is in the past/future
Date is in a specific range
File is of a specific type
File is within a specific size range
Value X is conditional on Value Y (if one is filled in, the other can’t be blank, etc.)

Content Modeling Definition #2
Content modeling is the process of converting logical content concepts into content types, attributes, and 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.

Does it allow you to structure content through configuration or does it require you to write code or modules?

Code vs. Configuration
New Content Type in Plone
New Page Type in EPiServer

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

Futureproofing is the process of designing your content model in such a way that it can be adapted to new situations with a minimum of pain.

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

A Really Bad Idea
Things that shouldn’t be there:
Date
Author
Categories
Location
(perhaps) Image

To futureproof your content, do not entrap multiple logical attributes into the same implemented attribute

Find the right balance. Don’t overstructure your content.

Datatypes

What datatypes are available to structure your content?

Datatypes are the building blocks of your content.

Strings
Simple and formatted strings in WordPress

Dates
Date entry interface in Ektron.

Binary Files
Binary file upload in Drupal (top) and eZ publish (bottom)

Repeating Properties
A repeating data table within an Ektron content object.
A one-column Matrix datatype in eZ publish.

Can you write your own datatypes or customize existing datatypes?

Custom Datatypes
Custom datatype in eZ publish

How well does it manage relational content modeling?

DISCRETE content modeling is structuring content within a single content object.

RELATIONAL content modeling is structuring a content object in relation to other content.Requires a linking datatype or a content tree.

Relational Content Modeling
Page Link attribute in EPIServer

Relational Content Modeling
Multiple content selection in EPiServer and Ektron

Articles
Title
Body
Author
[…]
Articles
Title
Body
Author
[…]
Content Composition
Article
Title
Body
Author
[…]
Articles
Title
Body
Author
[…]
is related to
Author
First Name
Last Name
[…]
Bureau
Name
[…]
was written by
works for

How well does it handle hierarchical content?

Hierarchical Content
Publication
Issue
Section
Article
Article

Content Trees
The content folder structure in Ektron
A pure content tree in eZ publish

Does it allow any inheritance of content types or values?

Content Type Inheritance
Movie Review Page
Title
Body
META Keywords
META Description
URL
Studio
Director
Cast
Running Time
Star Rating
Music Review Page
Title
Body
META Keywords
META Description
URL
Number of Tracks
Genre
Star Rating

Content Type Inheritance
Movie Review Page
Studio
Director
Cast
Running Time
Star Rating
Web Page
Title
Body
META Keywords
META Description
URL
Music Review Page
Number of Tracks
Genre
Star Rating

Content Value Inheritance
With a pure content tree, setting a value at a specific point will cause content “below” that point to inherit the value until overridden by a new value.
These content objects will inherit the value applied to “News,” unless they specifically override it.

Evaluation Questions
Does it allow the structuring of content?
Is it via code or configuration?
What datatypes are available?
Can you write or customize your own datatypes?
How well does it handle relational content modeling?
How well does it handle hierarchical content?

Implementation Tips
Think in terms of content types
Avoid reusing content types
Speculate on the future uses of content
Do not combine logical attributes into the same implemented attribute
Don’t overstructure your content

Blend Interactive
http://blendinteractive.com
Gadgetopiahttp://gadgetopia.com
Content Management and IA Writing
http://blendinteractive.com/services/cm/
Twitter
“gadgetopia”
Email
deane@blendinteractive.com

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