Content Management (CMS)

       The ALS Content Management System (CMS) adds support for content beyond the data normally used by AL-Desk itself. This content can include text as well as links to images. This allows for AL-Desk data to be supplemented in a number of ways including general content as well as content tied specifically to products. Interfaces to the CMS are provided via AL-Desk itself and also via a browser interface to allow for access by your Web Development Team without the requirement of them using an AL-Desk Client.

       Some AL-Desk Web Portal methods are content enabled to allow the CMS to be invoked when required.  Use the content=true parameter to invoke the CMS from CMS enabled methods. This allows you to add and manage data that is not available in AL-Desk itself. Currently the CMS supports general or based content as well as content tied to products. Future versions of the CMS will extend the CMS to include categories, vendors, locations as well as the ability to define any number of additional content categories.

       Content can be added as a single item or as groups of items. In order to manage groups of items, the XML format supports the concept of Namespaces. This would allow for example a Top Ten list to be added as Company wide information and be available as it's own namespace. Content items can be configured to support single item data or multiple item data as Content NameSpaces.

Namespaces and Content

Content Enabled Methods

CMS Browser Interface

CMS AL-Desk Interface

There maybe times when you want to create lists of products using the CMS. This can be done via the concept of Content Product Lists.

The Web Portal CMS API includes the ability for you to add and change content via the API.