An Introduction to PowerBase
Why use PowerBase?
Key features
Functionality Overview
Accessibility and Usability
Summary of functionality
Accessibility
Browser support
Search engines
Web traffic analysis
E-commerce module
Conclusion
PowerBase default configuration
Additional functionality

An Introduction to PowerBase

PowerBase content management system is a powerful, flexible platform that enables multiple, non-technical contributors to manage web content and functionality with ease.

The PowerBase administration suite is browser based and very easy to use. Any user familiar with Microsoft Windows® will be creating and editing content within hours. The administration suite will work with any standard internet browser and no additional, client side software is required. Minimal technical understanding is required to administer PowerBase so there is no input required from IT. This can often mean the acceleration of project implementation.

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Why use PowerBase?

The power of the web is now well known, however keeping a website up to date and current to your business can be time consuming and expensive. Many companies and organisations get bogged down in the process of designing, creating and maintaining websites. PowerBase allows an organisation to create and maintain a dynamic website without spending vast sums of money.

Reduce Time and Costs

Using PowerBase content management system will dramatically change the time and way an organisation will update and change their website. No longer will you require a web developer or designer to make changes to your site.

In the past making changes to a website required significant technical skills and knowledge of HTML programming. PowerBase makes it easy for non-technical staff to create, edit and publish website content, whilst maintaining overall control of the site's look and feel through the use of standard templates.

Business benefits

It is not only big businesses that need to consider how the content of their websites is handled. With PowerBase content management system in place, organisations of all sizes can benefit from an economically viable method of managing and publishing their website and intranet content.

Instant publishing of content from non-technical staff relieves the burden from IT staff and allows rapid deployment of content often creating a competitive advantage.

Maintain full site control

Powerbase web content management system gives site administrators full control over published content from a central management console. Administrators can make changes and track when and who made them, they can even assign content approvers to eliminate administration errors from their site.

Without PowerBase web content management system in place to control web publishing, the results can be often inconsistent and poor. It is essential to maintain the control over site style plus look and feel in order to not compromise accessibility and usability of the site.

Key features

What you see is what you get

PowerBase makes publishing new content easy with an intuitive “What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get” (WYSIWYG) Microsoft Word style editor. The editor functionality has full authoring and editing capabilities (including the ability to bold, italicise, bullet, insert images, documents and hyper-links).

Before submitting content for publication or approval, users can view their content in a live preview mode showing how it will appear on the live site.

Microsoft Office® integration

The PowerBase content editor allows content from Microsoft Word and other HTML based file formats to be directly cut and pasted, or dragged and dropped to create new PowerBase pages for simple, ease of use. An innovative feature is the ability to automatically strip out unwanted Microsoft Word® HTML formatting.

Templates

The PowerBase application is template-driven. Given appropriate security permissions, authors can select different templates to customise the layout of particular areas of their site(s). Ultimately PowerBase templates can create site wide consistency in line with design guidelines.

Site search

Add a site search enabling visitors to perform a keyword search across the site.

Secure area members section.

Easily create secure areas of the site with password protection. Restrict content to groups of users with user group access privileges.

User groups

Create and manage user groups and choose which content types or pages each user group can administer and view.

Multi level admin

Have total control over what web page administrators and users may access. Control administrator’s ability to add, change and delete web content in different areas of the site.

Version control

Larger organisations may require editorial control over content before updates are performed. Two levels of administrative mode can be added allowing a site administrator to choose a content approver to work with. PowerBase will cache the proposed changes by the administrator without making them live, and email the main content approver who can authorise or decline the changes.

This admin and approval system, provides site wide compliance control over critical content changes that must be authorised before been made live.

* Version control - requires Multi level admin to be enabled.

Site tracking

Basic tracking reports basic tracking statistical data input and display it in a clearly defined user report, with the addition of Advanced tracking a graphical utility that turns the basic tracking statistics data, into a more user friendly format, via a colour coded pie chart that can be used to analyse your website statistics in further detail.

Low graphics version

PowerBase automatically creates a text only version of the website where users can personalise the site by selecting alternative fonts and colours. This helps make the site compliant and also allows low bandwidth users to access the content of the site.

Access keys

For people who have difficulty manipulating a mouse, access keys provide an invaluable way of interacting with the website. PowerBase allows the use of access keys across the site.

Micro site functionality

Create and administer multiple micro sites within your main website from one control panel.

Channels

Integrate seamlessly with LiveWire Newsletter and LiveWire Campaign. Create maintain and administer email subscriber lists that can be used to deliver timely messages with the LiveWire system. For further information on LiveWire please visit http://www.livewirecampaign.co.uk

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Functionality Overview

Listed below are the functional modules available for PowerBase v3. The standard version of PowerBase however does not include all of the following functionality, please see PowerBase default configuration for further details.

Site search

A freeform text search, available on every page, that searches through all text and resource descriptions on the site and returns a result set based upon the keyword term

News

Create a news section(s) which will be advertised on the layout of the site, external to the content pane, with a top 5 latest added, linking through to their respective stories, and a news archive hosting all current and past news stories. News can also have go live dates specified and so will only be advertised between a specified date range

Quick vote

Show a quick vote on the layout of the site, external to the content pane. The topic of the vote can be set and all responses to the question are tracked and reported

Managed resources (Downloads)

Add documents to a central repository and group them into categories. Once completed you can add a one off instance of a document on a page, or add a category of resources to a page, or even add a search that will search all resources. Resources can have go live dates specified and so will only be advertised between a specific date range. All documents downloaded are tracked and viewable through the tracking section of administration.

Tables

Create tabular data with no specialist knowledge of HTML. Tables can be placed on one or many pages.

Managed external links

Although you can add links to external websites yourself with the text editor, this gives you the ability to create logical categories of links, which once created can be added to one or many pages. These links are tracked and viewable through the tracking section of administration.

Contact directory

Add to a list of staff / contacts and people with descriptions and images. Centralised to one area this can then be categorise by contact. You can then add a contact, a group of contacts, or a contact search to any page.

Sitemap

A dynamically created sitemap of links to all menu and content on your site

FAQ’s

Create re-useable frequently asked questions which can be placed on one or many pages, with automatic links from the questions at the top of the page, to the answers below

Secure members section

Add a secure login area for members of your website. This feature is a very powerful tool that enhances PowerBase into a member’s website or even an extranet, with unlimited users. Logged in members are tracked so you can check who is using or viewing your content.

Low graphics version

This AAA web compliant format is used with less advantaged users in mind, a low graphics version of the site is available that is screen reader friendly, and comes with a options for contrasting colours for the visually impaired

Dynamic contact forms

Create re-usable contact forms which can be placed on one or many pages, with unlimited form field options. You can specify mandatory fields which include automatic validation to ensure you capture the data you need. Responses can be viewed through the administration section

Basic tracking

Basic tracking reports basic tracking statistical data input and display it in a clearly defined user report

Pop up window

Bespoke functionality to allow you to open a pop up window set to a specific width and height, which you can either set a message within, or open a separate URL with it

Depot finder

Add buildings / depots details within an organisation to a central repository which can be added to a page by category, or via a search

Forums

Add multiple forums (chat rooms) to the site where users can post messages to each other

Live chat

Run interactive chats in real-time between website users and elected specialists

Notice board

The ability to host multiple notice boards on multiple areas of the site, which can be used to leave brief messages / items for sale, quick announcements in a succinct fashion

Countdown clock

Show countdown adverts on the layout of the site with a description and date counting down towards an up and coming event

Breadcrumb navigation

A breadcrumb navigation tool available to view the hierarchy of links from the page you started on to where you are now

Administrable Micro sites

The ability to create a site within a site! A fixed size pop up website with the ability to add, manage and track content and users. With options such as text, images and links these sites are ideal for re-selling web space or running different campaigns or products for other departments

Managed banners

Sell advertising space on each page with standard size web banners, or add your own custom designed banners to promote services and solutions. Banners can be tracked, and in conjunction with page tracking you can determine popular pages, and sell advertising space at a higher rate based on pages with higher hits. Banners are added to a central repository and then can be added as a one off banner on a page, or as a random banner from a pool of banners

Tabbed content

A tabbed pane of content with the ability to add an image, a link and a description, utilising a small window of space to host a selection of adverts for content or promotions

Ticker (Scrolling message)

Add a scrolling message with optional link

User groups

This enhancement to the Members section, allows you to restrict page access of your website to logical groupings of users. You can hide sensitive information that you may want some users not to view within the member section or run promotions targeted at specific groupings of your members.

Multi level admin

Have total control over what web page administrators and users may access. Control administrator’s ability to add, change and delete web content in different areas of the site.

Version control

Larger organisations may require editorial control over content before updates are performed. Two levels of administrative mode can be added allowing a site administrator to choose a content approver to work with. PowerBase will cache the proposed changes by the administrator without making them live, and email the main content approver who can authorise or decline the changes.

This admin and approval system, provides site wide compliance control over critical content changes that must be authorised before been made live.

* Version control - requires Multi level admin to be enabled.

Advanced tracking

Graphical utility that turns the basic tracking statistics data, into a more user friendly format, via a colour coded pie chart that can be used to analyse your website statistics in further detail

Custom elements

Most functionality and aspects of the system can be modified into a bespoke elements with custom functionality designed to meet your needs.

Accessibility and Usability

Accessibility has rapidly become a ‘hot topic’ for many large organisations in both the public and private sectors. Many people find it difficult to access websites because a high proportion have not been built taking into account users varying abilities. This is particularly true for people who have impaired vision or whose physical circumstances make it difficult for them to manipulate a mouse. PowerBase can help ensure that your website is accessible to all, now and in the future, because it complies with current accessibility standards and can be adapted to new standards as they become apparent.

Compliance

The Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 (DDA) states that all services - including web services and internal IT systems - should be made accessible to members of the public. The W3C, the standards governing body of the World Wide Web, has laid down guidelines to ensure website accessibility for the visually impaired and hard of hearing through the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) - currently version 1.0.

By discriminating against visually impaired individuals website owners are exposing themselves to possible lawsuits and legal action. Several large website owners have already settled out of court rather than risk a costly ruling. Although not a UK legal case, the Sydney Olympics website did result in a costly lawsuit.

If your website is not fully accessible it also prevents an important sector of the market from visiting your website and viewing your products and information. 20% of people in the UK have some form of disability according to figures released by the W3C.

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Our approach

The government, in association with the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), has started to put a framework in place that will ensure website accessibility to the contents of the World Wide Web for people with disabilities, as detailed in the Disability Discrimination Act. Therefore, in future, the way that websites are built will need to change. Gencia implements accessibility options and builds accessible websites using PowerBase for companies throughout England and the UK which comply with these guidelines.

The underlying architecture of PowerBase provides the functionality required to fulfil most compliance issues. It is structured in such a way as to reduce non-compliance errors being introduced to the site when administrators edit or add new content. As accessibility standards evolve PowerBase can be upgraded without having to completely rebuild the website.

Summary of functionality

PowerBase 3 is a Web Content Management System offering the following features:

Full control over displayed content, without any requirement for technical expertise
Preview of all pages prior to publication
Multi tier permissions system, enabling the separation of content creators, and content publishers
Automated sitemap generation
Each page will by default appear within the site map
Each page can have an associated site map description
The Site Map Module can be placed on any page within the site

Fully Modular Design:

Removes the need for duplicating content throughout the site – the content can be created, managed, and deleted in a single location, and can be added to multiple pages as required

Allows additional types of functionality to be easily and cheaply integrated into the application in the future.

Accessibility

PowerBase 3:
Is AAA compliant
Meets W3C standards for XHTML 1.0
Contains a fully accessible dynamic menu
Allows access keys to be used to access menu items
Supports the use of user custom style sheets to allow users with special requirements to customise the appearance of the site according to their needs
Generates alt tags for all images
Generates title tags for all links
Automatically generates a graphical, and a Text Only version of all content

Browser support

PowerBase 3:
Fully supports accessibility features of IE and Mozilla Firefox, including:
Custom Style Sheets
Variable Font Sizes
Access Keys
Is engineered to operate correctly in Mozilla Firefox, IE and Netscape

Search engines

PowerBase 3 is engineered to be search engine friendly.

Many search engines, and in particular Google, place a high emphasis on links. For this reason, PowerBase 3 link generation has been greatly enhanced.

All links generated are search engine friendly (a unique URL is generated for each link, rather than variables being appended to the query string, which means the majority of search engines will “deep index” the site, by following all the links, rather than just indexing the content on the home page.

All links are actual links ( tags), rather than being JavaScript based.
All links contain a descriptive title – allowing search engines to contextualise link targets.
Link keywords – text which appears as part of the generated link – can be specified for any page throughout the site.

Keywords and Meta descriptions are still used by a good proportion of search engines. For this reason, PowerBase 3 offers the following features:

Default Keywords and descriptions can be entered, which will appear on every page throughout the site.
Keywords and descriptions can be entered for any page – which overrides the defaults for that page
In addition, the ranking of a site within search engines is predominately dictated by the content of the site.
Header tags are used for all titles – which many search engines place an additional emphasis upon
Keywords are also added in content, menu items, page tiles, sub titles and image alt tags
Sitemap module allows links and descriptions of pages throughout the entire site to be displayed in one page – which search engines can use to automatically index the site.
Gencia can offer consultancy on an ongoing basis to help ensure the high ranking off your web site.

Web traffic analysis

PowerBase 3 contains extensive tracking and reporting functionality:

The following events are tracked through the system:
Page Views (public / text only)
Referrals from external domains
Downloads
Link clicks to external sites
Banner clicks
Contact form submissions
Reporting:
Summarised graphical reports of all activity types
Detailed itemised reports of all activity

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E-commerce module

The PowerBase 3 e-commerce module provides a customisable framework, on which to build the features required for an online shop.

PowerBase 3 offers the following:

Integration with wide range of payment gateways, including:
Protx
WorldPay
SECPay
PayPal
Secure User Authentication:
Automatic rejection of simple passwords
Email verification of user details
Integration with tracking module to associate any activity by a logged in user with that user
Extensive sales tracking facilities:
Reporting by:
Product
Product Category
User
Association of sale with other user activity on system (e.g. track what products the user has searched for / viewed / added to basket in the process of making a purchase
Product recommendations – for cross selling and up selling the system can make recommendations based on:
Other users sales
Links with other products (e.g. promoting accessories when selling a phone)
Possible integration with stock control system
Product Search by:
Category
Feature
Style
Cost
Online management of products – product details can be added and edited using the web interface
Product images – thumbnail and detailed product images can be uploaded for each product

Conclusion

PowerBase 3 offers the ideal platform for a Corporate Web Presence.

PowerBase is a mature and tested platform – it has been extensively developed and enhanced over a 5 year period, and is used extensively throughout the financial, retail, and legal sectors.

Gencia Media Ltd is the developer of PowerBase – and as such we can provide support, and bespoke development to fit the clients requirements, in a way which is not possible with many competing products.

PowerBase 3 is priced very competitively in comparison to similarly specified products.

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PowerBase default configuration

PowerBase V3 comes with the following features that will be enabled by default.

Fully administrable Content Management System
Bespoke graphical template
Pre-set User Admin accounts
Full user administration
Web traffic analysis
Public and Member areas
Modular content and features
Freeform site search
Low graphics version

Default content modules

Dynamic Contact forms
FAQ’s
News
Managed resources (Downloads)
Tables
Managed external Links
Quick Vote
Contact Directory
Default page items
Download
External Link
Image
Internal Link
Site Map
Text

Additional functionality

In addition to our default PowerBase V3 functionality are our additional Modules, Page items and Add-ons.

Modules

Pop up window
Countdown Clock
Depot Finder
Forum
Live Chat
Notice board
Managed banners Page Items
Event
Contact Details
Four Box Layout
Nine Box Layout
Tabs
Ticker / Scroller
Tiled Image
Custom elements

Add-ons

Breadcrumb navigation
User groups
Multi level admin
Version control
Advanced tracking
Ecommerce Add-on
Administrable Micro sites

Bespoke development

Our bespoke configurations are for those content elements that do not fit into our pre-developed content modules and page items. Bespoke items are specified and quoted for separately.

Ongoing development

The Gencia programme of ongoing development means that users are always able to utilise the very latest internet technologies. The modular architecture allows for the seamless introduction of new functionality.

Product Demo

If you would like to find out more information on PowerBase 3.1 functionality or receive a free product demonstration please contact us on 01565 641481 or info@gencia.co.uk

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