The University of Nebraska at Kearney website is stored, updated and served by the Ektron CMS400.NET program. The Ektron Content Management System allows UNK page editors (also known as "pagemasters") to access and update the content of the UNK website directly from their Internet Explorer or Firefox browser. No extra software needs to be purchased (such as FrontPage or Dreamweaver), no previous HTML skills are necessary and no FTP access is needed to make changes.
Updates to existing pages can be made more quickly and easily than ever before. The learning curve for Ektron is far shorter than with other website updating methods.
Every page is stored in a central database that is backed up regularly. This allows a "history" of previous versions of a page to be stored and easily accessed at any time by the editor.
Images and files are stored in a central "library" within Ektron allowing them to be easily placed into as many pages as needed. Ektron also has the ability to automatically create thumbnail images that "pop up" the larger version of an image when clicked on.
The primary template design is handled by Ektron and never needs to be copied or edited by pagemasters. This leaves the pagemaster free to concentrate on the formatting and navigation of the content of their site, two of the most important aspects of a good website.
Editing is done by a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor direct from the web browser. If you feel comfortable using Microsoft Word then Ektron's editor will feel comfortable as well.
Pages can be "Checked In" at any time, saving what is essentially a draft of your changes that you can come back to later but which do not appear on the "live" website.
Training on the Ektron CMS400.NET system is offered throughout the year. Online Video Tutorials are also available at all times. Pagemasters are the primary editors of UNK pages, but student workers can also be trained and given limited access to update pages as requested. If you would like to find out about available training sessions please email webmaster@unk.edu.
Download the Ektron CMS400 Beginner's Guide.