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GVC.SiteMaker was originally created by the University of Michigan and Apple iServices to solve the web-publishing needs of faculty, students and staff. GVC was brought into the project to provide further development, product maintenance, and marketing . Global Village Consulting, Inc. has released a few versions of GVC.SiteMaker with the most recent being 3.5, which was released January 2005. |
| What sets GVC.SiteMaker apart from other web-publishing tools? |
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Few (if any) universities have implemented web-publishing systems on a significant scale. Existing products are either too rigid to meet the diverse requirements of academic users or too complicated for ordinary people to handle. GVC.SiteMaker was designed by a University of Michigan Professor (Jonathan Maybaum) who understands the needs and capabilities of university faculty and staff. GVC.SiteMaker is extremely flexible yet requires no training or experience with HTML. In addition, GVC.SiteMaker is designed to overcome the practical difficulties that people face when trying to put their pages into production. It transparently handles finding the right directory to deposit files, designing layouts and navigation tools, and making pages and files accessible to selected visitors. GVC.SiteMaker also allows either distributed or central administrative control of websites (such as creating and naming them) depending on the needs of the organization. In addition to universities, small businesses and non-profit organizations would also benefit from GVC.SiteMaker’s ease of use and flexibility. New: Version 3.5 of GVC.SiteMaker became available January 2005. This new version provides an HTML editor enabling even the most novice users to 'spice' up their page display. Complex website menus can be set up easily and quickly with a few clicks. As well, pages under development can be hidden from display until ready for viewing. In order to help users, easily manage and upload files for their website, multiple files can be uploaded at one time. Virtual folders enable easy management when websites contain numerous files. Version 3.0 of GVC.SiteMaker became available March 2003. This version introduced database tables for use in websites. How database records are displayed to users is controlled through the use of templates. Default templates are available for those with little html experience, however experienced html users are able to configure and use their own templates. |
| Important Features |
| Use of templates for entering page contents GVC.SiteMaker templates enable users to create pages by filling in text fields, checking boxes, etc., without knowing HTML code. However, those who are comfortable using HTML editing tools can simply to include HTML code and to completely customize any page. An HTML editor is available enabling all users from novice to advance to easily create and manage HTML content to enhance page display. |
| Consistent website appearance, structure and navigation An institution can create an unlimited number of "styles" (i.e., layouts that include graphics and color schemes) for users to choose from. This relieves them of the burden of designing their own graphics and helps to achieve a sense of consistency among a unit's websites, while preserving the unit's identity within the organization. A self-configuring navigation bar ensures consistent navigational links. |
| Site styles GVC.SiteMaker allows users to determine a site's visual "style" by merely making a selection from a given list. The chosen style will result in color scheme and graphic design elements included on every page of the site. Changes in styles can be made without effecting the content or the organization of the site. As well, each unit within an organization can have its own style, helping to achieve a sense of consistency among an orgainization's websites. |
| Delegation of website management Configuration and maintenance of the website may be shared or delegated to other users merely by granting the necessary permissions to the corresponding user(s) using the GVC.SiteMaker web interface. This does not require an understanding of UNIX permissions, as is often the case in conventional deployment schemes. |
| Ability to restrict access With the exception of the Home page (which is viewable by everyone), access can be restricted to any other part of a GVC.SiteMaker website. Restricted areas will be available only to those users who are members of specified access group(s) created and managed by the site owner. Members of a specific group may include both users within and outside of the organization. |
| Database Tables Site owners are able to incorporate database tables to their sites. Database records can be imported into a GVC.SiteMaker database table from a CSV file, enabling users to incorporate their existing database information. Similarily, users will also be able to export data from their GVC.SiteMaker database tables. How database records are displayed to users is controlled through the use of templates. Default templates are available, however experienced html users are able to create their own templates making how data is displayed constrained only by the limits of the user. Depending upon the permissions set by the site owner, viewers may be able to search from a pre-defined set of records or the entire database table, add records, and even edit specified fields within a record. |
| Sending files to other people Files that are stored in GVC.SiteMaker may be accessed as ordinary web links. Files can be organized into folders to aid in easy file management. Viewing of files is optionally available to everyone or can be restricted using access groups. Files can also be sent to a specific user by clicking a button that sends an email to them directly from GVC.SiteMaker, containing the URL from which they can download the file. |
| Embedded Sites By using the "Embedded Site" feature, websites can combine information from a number of individual websites in a rich, hierarchical structure. However, the owners of the individual website maintain the control, context, and access for their own site. |
| Embedded Section By using the "Embedded Section" feature, sections of one websites can be incorporated into another site. This enables information from one site to be shared with another. However, the information contained within the section remains in control of the originating site owners, while access to a given section is determined by each site embedding the section. |
| Heirarchical Menus Complex website menu structure can be easily developed by merely indenting menu items creating a heirarchical structure. In this manner, indented menu items will not be displayed within the menu until the higher option is first selected. As well, pages under development can be tagged as 'hidden' until ready for publication. |
| For additional information on GVC.SiteMaker see our website at www.gvcsitemaker.com. |
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If you are interested in finding out what GVC.SiteMaker can do for your organization or institution, or if your would like more information please contact: Global Village Consulting Inc., 907 St. Andrews Street New Westminster, BC, V3M 4C7 Tel: (604) 608-1779 licensing@gvcsitemaker.com |
GVC.SiteMaker