Creating Web Pages with PageBuilder

PageBuilder provides unique Web-page creation capabilities:

PageBuilder streamlines the building of new pages on your Web site using the Ektron Portal Framework. A Web team can efficiently change pages and content without relying on developers. PageBuilder redefines roles within an organization, and maximizes efficiency and productivity.

PageBuilder adds a level of agility to key processes that overlap marketing and IT departments. By using it to streamline the workflow of launching new pages, time and expenses can be minimized. Moreover, your IT infrastructure remains secure because non-IT resources do not need to access mission-critical servers — all needed assets are accessible through the Workarea.

PageBuilder extends the concept of content management beyond single elements of content to whole pages and even entire sites, boosting productivity and giving you the tools to make your Web site do exactly what you want it to do.

When creating Web pages, the initial layout is managed by developers, while final content, design, and placement of functionality are managed by non-technical users.

PageBuilder for everyday users

PageBuilder for Everyday Users

Marketing teams (technical and non-technical) can build entire pages on wireframe templates by dragging-and-dropping widgets. This creates the user experience on the page while maintaining a consistent “look and feel.” With PageBuilder, you can launch campaigns as needed and respond to market conditions rapidly with unique Web pages that have targeted and effective content.

PageBuilder pages have the same business-level controls as content blocks. Like other Ektron content, PageBuilder pages maintain permissions, approval chains, enable SEO (through metadata), taxonomy, Aliasing, and allow users to view histories and restore past versions.

Approvers can preview PageBuilder pages before they go live, and pages can be cloned and then modified to maintain consistency across campaigns or to support A/B split testing.

PageBuilder for developers

PageBuilder for Developers

Although it might seem as though PageBuilder takes the work of building and maintaining a Web site out of the IT department’s hands, this is not the case. Web page developers still create page templates, building wireframes into which content authors place functional widgets that make the page a success. PageBuilder allows the IT department to concentrate on what they do best: develop the back-end of a system and address the technical nuances that today’s Web sites generate. Content and messaging are out of their hands and squarely where it belongs: in Marketing.

Wireframes, dropzones, and widgets

Wireframes, Dropzones, and Widgets

PageBuilder requires developers to create a wireframe template. This wireframe is the basic architecture for a Web page. As developers build wireframes, they add dropzone user controls where non-technical users insert the site's content, design, and messaging. These zones are literally the areas into which someone can “drop” a widget.

Developers can also manage the level of control non-technical users have. For example, a developer can configure hard limits for the width of dropzones.

After a wireframe is created, an administrator assigns it to a folder, creates a page, and selects the widgets that may be placed on the page.

PageBuilder work flow

PageBuilder Work Flow

The PageBuilder workflow has the following parts.

Envisioning the “Big Picture”

Stakeholders define functionality and “look” needed on Web pages. For example, this may include the CIO, the marketing team, Ektron administrators, and Web designers and developers in the IT department. When a consensus is reached, the marketing team defines the page layout and presents it to the whole team for review and approval.

Design and Development

Developers identify page areas and build wireframes based on design specifications. The developers should understand the requirements and use, modify, or build widgets based on them.

Implementation and Maintenance

When complete, a PageBuilder page is active and in use by the marketing team. Members can create pages, drag-and-drop widgets, and edit properties as necessary. Subject matter experts create and maintain content.

Additional PageBuilder resources