Content Management¶
Content management systems (CMS) and component content management systems (CCMS) manage documentation at scale. They're essential for large organizations with complex documentation requirements.
When You Need a CMS¶
Consider a CMS when you have:
- Large documentation sets (1000+ pages)
- Multiple output formats needed
- Complex localization requirements
- Strict compliance requirements
- Large writing teams
CMS vs. CCMS¶
CMS (Content Management System)¶
Manages pages and documents.
- WordPress
- Drupal
- Contentful
CCMS (Component Content Management System)¶
Manages content components for reuse.
- Paligo
- MadCap Flare
- Adobe FrameMaker
CCMS Features¶
Content Reuse¶
Write once, use everywhere:
- Single-source topics
- Variables and conditions
- Content variants
Multi-Channel Publishing¶
Publish to multiple formats:
- Web (HTML)
- Mobile
Translation Management¶
Streamline localization:
- Translation memory integration
- Workflow management
- Cost tracking
Popular CCMS Options¶
Paligo¶
Cloud-based CCMS.
Strengths: - Modern interface - Easy adoption - Built-in review
MadCap Flare¶
Feature-rich desktop tool.
Strengths: - Powerful features - Mature product - Strong single-sourcing
Adobe FrameMaker¶
Enterprise structured authoring.
Strengths: - DITA support - Long documents - Enterprise features
Evaluating CCMS¶
| Criterion | Questions |
|---|---|
| Ease of use | Can writers adopt quickly? |
| Publishing | Supports needed outputs? |
| Integration | Works with existing tools? |
| Scalability | Handles growth? |
| Cost | Fits budget? |
Summary¶
CMS and CCMS are valuable for large-scale documentation:
- CMS for page-based content
- CCMS for component-based reuse
- Evaluate based on team needs and scale
- Consider total cost of ownership