This documentation is structured as a reference to learn how to use the various components of the Content Management Tool (CMT). It is broken down into an introduction and three chapters that highlight the three major components of a CMT-managed Web site — navigation, format, and content. These chapters will guide you through creating your web site and an explanation of the various tools and modules. At the end of this documentation, you will find Tips and Techniques for using the CMT and Frequently Asked Questions. Before you get to work on your Web site, read the introduction. It will explain how the tool works and will give you tips on how to start your work.

 

Moving from chapter to chapter
The essence of the database-driven system is the way the navigation, format, and content work together. We recommend that you start your site with either the content or the navigation -- meaning that if you're just starting this site, you should complete this introduction and then go on to either Chapter 3 or 1, depending on your choice. If you'd rather create all the information site visitors will see first and then put the site together, we recommend choosing content-first. If you'd rather build your site's backbone and fill in the information later, we recommend choosing navigation-first. Either way, you'll eventually work on everything.

If you're building menus, eventually you'll need to create pages to attach to those menus. And then you'll eventually need articles to place on those pages. Likewise, if you're writing articles first, soon you'll need pages to put them on, and soon those pages will need menus to access them. That's why this manual includes a tool called "Chapter Crossroads." If a task described in one chapter requires work from another chapter to be completed beforehand, the Chapter Crossroads will refer you to the specific section to look at.

For example, the section of Chapter 1 that explains how to assign a page to a menu item contains a Chapter Crossroads that directs you to the section of Chapter 2 that teaches you how to create pages -- in case you haven't yet.