Content Management Server 2002 Goes .NET

In fall 2002 Microsoft plans to ship its first major upgrade to Content Management Server (CMS) 2001-a product for managing the publication and display of content on large, complex Web sites. Content Management Server 2002 is now in beta and contains important enhancements targeted at developers, administrators, and content creators. Most significantly, the new release is fully integrated with ASP.NET. However, the new release will present some upgrade decisions and does little to clarify areas of overlap with other Microsoft products used to build corporate portals.

What Is CMS?

CMS provides a way for content authors to create and publish Web pages without knowing HTML or underlying site design. With CMS, Web site designers and developers create custom “templates” for Web pages; content owners then enter content into special template areas called “placeholders.” CMS helps manage the process of approving content and integrating it into the site, and takes care of creating actual HTML pages from the templates and content. This reduces the effort required to maintain Web sites, shortens turnaround time, and reduces the chance of errors. (Readers unfamiliar with content management concepts and general benefits should see the sidebar “What Is Content Management?“.)