Frequently Asked Questions

Comparison
Requirements
Interfaces
Functionality
Performance
Content Syndication
Extensibility
Import
Export
Personalisation
Reports
Availability
Workflow
XML
Security
Support and service




Comparison

 So far, at least a basic knowledge of HTML has been necessary for even the smallest changes to a website (e.g. change of telephone number or address).

Thank to a CMS this is now history.

Imagine you have just integrated a new offer into your products range and you would certainly like to inform your customers about it on your homepage.

What can you do?

1. Well,firstly, you inform your webmaster.
2. You then pass on the data about the offer by telephone or fax.
3. The webmaster starts - if has time - to put the information in a suitable format and will then upload it to your homepage.

Then you will probably realise that it does not look the way you wanted or that something important is missing. That means, you have to start all over again.

• Contact the webmaster
• Wait until everything is online in the next few days
• Check it
• Pass corrections on to the webmaster

With a bit of luck your changes will be online after a few days and everything will be in the form that suits you.

You save all this effort by using a CMS:

• You enter the data yourself.
• Changes are online immediately
• and you can see immediately if the changes meet your requirements

As the source of all information and data is your company it is the best place to edit and maintain data.

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Requirements

Which server operating systems are supported?
Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Unix, Linux, Solaris, AIX, Windows XP, Microsoft .Net, HP-UX, MacOS, Novell NetWare from version 6.0, Lotus Domino etc.
EGOTEC is operating system-independent.

Which webservers are supported?
Apache, Microsoft IIS, Lotus Domino from version 6.0, Netscape iPlanet and all other webservers supporting CGI.

Which database systems are supported?
MySQL, Oracle, Microsoft SQL-Server, IBM DB2, Sybase, PostgreSQL, dBase, Informix, InterBase, Ingres II, mSQL, ODBC, ...

Which script languages can be utilised?
All common languages: PHP, Java, JSP, Javascript, Pearl, …

Which condition must be fulfilled for editing (clients)?
EGOTEC is completely browser-based and cross-browser-compatible and runs with standard browser adjustments, i.e., with MS Internet Explorer 5.0x or higher, Netscape 6.0x or higher, Mozilla 1.x, Opera 6.x, Firefox 1.x… It does not matter which operating system is used : Windows, Linux, MacOS (runs also on Apple Macintosh).

Is further software required for normal system operation?
Server: No, no additional software which you have to pay for is necessary, e.g. operation on a free LAMP environment with Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP on the EGOTEC editing server.

What is the price for the product?
The price scale starts from 1,495.00 euros (basic licence) up to 11,995.00 euros (premium licence). Price differences result form the number of editors/administrators and the modules utilised.

What are the target groups of your product or service?
All companies and organisations running a website or an Intranet that is often updated or where several persons work parallel; especially SMEs, the small firm sector, groups of companies, municipalities, universities, administrative bodies etc.

Which technology/architecture is used?
PHP 5.x or higher will be used as server-side script language.

Which models are used to calculate the licence costs?
The basic module is licensed depending on the number of users (editors and administrators) working on the system. The additional modules are licensed one-time, independent of the number of editors. Intranet users and website visitors are free of charge.

Which licence models are offered?
As standard by the aforementioned software licence, ASP offers individually on the basis of the selected licences and period. Complete campus licences for universities on request.

How are updates/upgrades carried out?
Updates of minor and major releases are provided free of charge by conclusion of a maintenance contract. Minor releases are published in a biannual rhythm and major releases annually. The cost is 1.25 % of the monthly licence cost plus legal VAT incl. hotline support.

Which interfaces does the solution have?
Any SQL databases (e.g. Oracle, MS SQL-Server, Informix, MySQL, ODBC, PostgreSQL, DB/2, Sybase, dBase, mSQL etc.) can be connected by PHP. Access to MS Access is realised by ODBC.
XML is supported as import and export format. SAP connection is carried out by XML business connector. Office documents can be imported into EGOTEC by the EgoOfficeImport module.
EGOTEC is designed flexibly and the well-documented API offers a simple opportunity to address any data sources within a company.

Is EGOTEC multi-client-capable (multi-domain-capable)?
EGOTEC is fully client-capable. Any number of sites can be defined in a database. This is also interesting as hosting solution as a single EGOTEC installation is capable to manage any number of Internet presences. The number of layouts is also unlimited and a site may have several layouts or one layout can be allocated to several sites.

Is the creation of barrier-free sites supported?
EGOTEC fulfils the w3c criteria regarding XHTML 1.0 and CSS conformity which are regarded as a fundamental condition for a barrier-free setup. In EGOTEC it can be defined globally for the entire website, if the regulations of accessibility (BITV) shall be observed when populating content, e.g. compulsory input? fields for alternative text of images in the multimedia database, compulsory input fields for table features, forms are previously populated with input. EGOTEC ensures that the editor is only able to populate content barrier-free.

In connection with the creation of barrier-free templates it is ensured that the entire presence is operated barrier-free in all areas.

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Interfaces

Which interfaces does the solution have?

The EGOTEC CMS is set up component-based and can be extended as desired. Therefore, interfaces can be created to any desired system.

The most simple interface version is implemented by FTP uploads and a text file which is then processed by a component that has been developed specifically for this purpose. By using PHP, higher interfaces are also possible, e.g. to databases (MySQL, MSSQL, Oracle, DB2, Sybase, PostgreSQL, dBase, Informix, InterBase, Ingres II, mSQL, ODBC, SESAM, ...) and other systems (Cybercash, XML, XSLT, FTP, PDF, Verisign, Hyperwave, ICAP, IMAP, POP3, NNTP, SMTP, LDAP, Flash, Shockwave, mnoGoSearch, SSL, Corba, YAZ, YP/NIS, ...).

SOAP and XML-RPC interfaces may be addressed. Furthermore, an interface to Java/JavaBeans/JavaServlets is possible. In addition, COM/DCOM/ActiveX can be used as an interface for the Windows system. It is also possible to integrate any number of DLLs via a COM/DLL wrapper which was specifically designed for this purpose.

Interface programming is documented and the complete EGOTEC® is provided to you in source coded form when the licence is purchased.

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Functionality

How are the website components managed?
The components are stored in an SQL database (MySQL, Oracle, MS SQL-Server, DB2, Informix, Sybase, PostgreSQL). Multimedia data (images, documents, flash, videos ...) are managed by the system's own database, it can be filed in the file system. Components may also be stored in other database systems, e.g. in case of external use authentification in LDAP, Active Directory etc.

Is there an integrated media database, e.g. for images?
All media are managed in a media database. It does not matter if they are elements which can be shown directly on a page (e.g. images, videos and flash animation) or documents available for download (e.g. PDF, doc, xls ...). An image is integrated into the media database which enables editing of images (scaling, cutting, converting etc.) in the common image formats. Media are filed in the file system while EGOTEC manages the meta information (catchphrases, version, rights etc.).
EGOTEC only permits access to the individual media where there are positive rights. Circumvention of access limitations, e.g. by direct URL entry in the browser, is prevented.

May images be scaled automatically within the media database?
EGOTEC automatically offers a pre-set conversion of media objects for common image formats.

May content be categorised?
Yes, content may be categorised by the navigation structure or allocated to additional categories by further attributes.

Which attributes can be allocated to the individual components or pages?
Rights, publishing date, expiration date, version, author, active/inactive, any further data depending on the input template. Attributes may be used for sorting, catchphrasing or integration into categories.

To which extend are templates used?
EGOTEC is completely based on templates. Templates determine the design of a page (or of parts of a page) and may be interlaced as desired. Existing HTML pages may serve as a basis for the templates. Therefore, content (headers, texts, images, videos, sounds etc.) are replaced by placeholders. A page can be created parallel in different variations (e.g. several layouts or output formats such as XML, WML, SGML etc.). Different templates resort to the same database. This enables media-neutral publishing.
The administration area is also based on templates so that it can be specifically adjusted to each customer regarding both layout and functionality.

Is content separated from layout?
Yes, EGOTEC completely implements the principle of strict separation between layout and content. Content is filed in the database, layout in so-called templates. Content is then integrated into the templates by placeholders.

How does EGOTEC realise separation of raw content, layout and structure?
The raw content is filed in the system database but can be provided externally by interfaces. EGOTEC connects raw content to the design templates via scripts, while this is strictly separated and designers use only HTML/Javascript functions and developers only perform script programming by PHP functions. Depending on the design template, the output is then published in the output format.

Is there an integrated search function for the website?
Yes, with EgoSearch EGOTEC offers full text search and a search function by categories. Search can be extended to indexing Word, Excel, PDF and other rich text formats with the module EgoSearchPlus. Changes to pages can be searched immediately.

Is there an opportunity to have sitemaps and index pages generated automatically?
Yes, the navigation generates automatically, creating the navigation structure. The EgoSitemap module automatically generates index pages.

Is there a print function for every page?
Yes, every page can be printed via a globally defined print template.

Is there a preview function before releasing new pages?
Yes, before release every page may be viewed in preview mode.

Are links automatically checked and corrected if necessary?
Yes, an automatic link check is carried out. In the case of creating and deleting internal links, the check is carried out immediately. External links can be checked by link checker either time-controlled or manually.
In case of relocating, renaming, deleting or replacing documents and multimedia data, connections are automatically updated by link management.

Is it possible to define dynamic categories on websites showing further relevant links?
Yes, in EGOTEC® catchphrases and categories can be allocated to the pages. Pages can then be connected to the relevant links ("related links") by catchphrases. Catchphrases are managed in a metadata directory.

Is it possible to create a general navigation that adjusts to the context?
Yes. Navigation, structure and sitemaps are automatically generated dynamically by the EGOTEC® navigation generator.

Is there an integrated version backup?
Yes, EgoVersion manages all documents in different versions. The number of saved versions may be configurated. If required, an older version may be restored.

It is possible to realised version backup by additional software?
Yes, all file-based backup systems may be used for this. EGOTEC® provides data backup in the backup directory (XML format).

Is it possible to recover previous versions of the website or of individual components and if yes, to what extent?
Yes, recovery of individual components is always possible via versioning (EgoVersion module). Data backup of the entire website is carried out and returned in XML format.

Is the WYSIWYG editor available for editors?
Yes, EGOTEC® provides an easy-to-handle WYSIWYG editor with extensive formatting opportunities such as justification, insert image, table features, text circulation, videos, flash, enter link, style sheets etc.
Each of the WYSIWYG editor's toolbar icon may be activated or deactivated for particular groups of editors by the rights system.

Do editors also have the opportunity to directly adapt HTML code?
Yes, in case of adequate rights an editor can also carry out changes directly to the HTML code. This only refers to areas within the content but not within the design templates. This may be released for editors experienced in HTML by rights administration.

Is it possible to define a time period for release of content?
Yes, EGOTEC publishes time-controlled, i.e., a start and expiration date may be allocated to each article. Content is automatically activated or deactivated when system date and time are reached.

Is there an integrated template editor?
The EGOTEC-internal WYSIWYG editor may be used for creation of templates, additionally it is possible to switch to source code view. Common HTML editors (e.g. Dreamweaver ...) are used preferably.

It is possible to integrate external editors? If yes, which ones?
Yes, all common HTML editors (e.g. Dreamweaver, Homesite ...). Furthermore, a WYSIWYG editor which is able to carry out extensive formatting itself (links, images, tables, videos etc.) is integrated into EGOTEC® .

Does object-oriented authoring take place?
Yes, by strict separation of layout, content and structure, division of work for one article is possible. In addition, objects may be handled hierarchically within a workflow.

Is it possible to manage multilingual content?
Yes, unlimited multilingual content is possible thanks to the free selection of ISO fonts. Unicode character codes (double-byte charsets) are also supported, e.g. for the Chinese or Japanese language.

Are multilingual clients available in the editor's area?
Yes, due to being browser-based, multilingual clients are possible, presently German and English. Further languages may be integrated as desired by the integrated language module.

Which technologies does an editor use to transmit content to the system?
Input directly into the system by web-browser via WYSIWYG editor, import of MS Office documents (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), copy and paste, larger amounts of data are populated via import functions.Data may be filed in the multimedia or download database, independent of the file format used (e.g. PDF, Word, Excel, audio, video etc.).

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Performance

Which kind of load (access numbers) is the system suitable for?
The multilevel, intelligent cache system will keep the load for the database extremely low. Therefore, limitations are more likely to result from the hardware used. After first access to a site, the site is put in the cache and created from the EGOTEC-internal cache when the second page is requested. Therefore, database access is reduced by more than 95%. For example, with approx. 9 million visitors per month to the University of Jena website, a server load of max. 12 % (Pentium III 1000 Mhz, 512 MB Ram) is created at peak times EGOTEC® is designed for a minimum availability of 99.5 % 365 days per year.

Websites are transmitted zipped by http packing (ZIP format). This is supported by all common browsers and minimises the websites by up to 75%, i.e., the pages are uploaded four times faster and cause a quarter of the usual data transfer.

Is the website generated statically or dynamically and is it possible to choose?
It is possible to choose if the output of sites is carried out statically or dynamically, alternatively both variations may be selected. In case of dynamic generation, performance is optimised by intelligent caching (e.g. 9 million visits per month in the case of the University of Jena) and URL rewriting creates a static HTML page for optimal search engine results.

What is the experience regarding search engine indexing?
EGOTEC® realises optimal results. A legible URL is created by URL rewriting, which ends with .html just like static HTML pages. Therefore, especially meta search engines such as Google for example indicate all pages for a high number of search hits. The URL may be generated automatically from the page's title and navigation structure.

This is what a URL might then look like:

www.testcompany.com/testcompany_products_article.html

What is the minimum hardware requirement?
Server: min. Intel Celeron 600 Mhz, 128 MB Ram, 100 MB memory

Client: no particular hardware necessary, it must be possible to run a web-browser with data connection (Internet, network) to the EGOTEC® editing server.

Are several webservers supported?
Yes, the EgoClient module makes it possible to serve as many virtual web-servers as desired with just one installation of EGOTEC®.

The EGOTEC adjustment mechanisms make it possible to also use several physical editing servers for the generation of a mutual Internet project.

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Content Syndication

Is it possible to integrate external content?
Yes, via different interfaces, e.g. XML, SOAP or direct takeover of HTML of other pages.
Support of RDF/RSS standards for content syndication of content for external users - EGOTEC is able to reuse content and to receive any desired RSS form.

Is the ICE standard supported?
Yes, ICE is supported.

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Extensibility

Is there an open API as a programming interface?
Yes, a documented API exists as a programming interface. EGOTEC is delivered in a documented PHP source code. Developer training is offered optionally enabling quick familiarisation with the creation of additional modules.

How can templates be extended functionally in a script language?
With all script languages supported by the server, such as Javascript, PHP …

For which application areas are finished software extensions available?
Intranet, Extranet, PDF creation, catalogue systems, document management, quality management, personalisation, shop, statistics, form generator, municipalities, forums, indication of MS Office documents in full text search, newsletter, CRM etc.

Is the source code disclosed and provided?
Principally, EGOTEC is delivered in a documented PHP5 source code. This is an integral part of the EGOTEC product philosophy.

 

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Export

Which target media may be used for content export?
Due to the strict separation of layout and content any output format can be driven by templates: HTML, XML, PDF, email, WAP, SMS, fax, CD-Rom etc. In the case of export to CD-ROM, it is possible to choose between static HTML and a dynamic variation. The dynamic variation creates a self-triggering CD that provides all dynamic functions (sorting, searching, create PDF etc.).

How are other web applications integrated?
EGOTEC®'s flexible structure makes integration possible without any problem. Existing applications may be opened in a separate browser window. Furthermore, integration into the EGOTEC® layout is possible via an adequate design template.

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Personalisation

Is it possible to allocate categories to individual content?
Yes, an article may be allocated any number of categories and sub-categories. This is how one article is available in any number of subject areas.

Is it possible to store user data in a profile when accessing the website?
Yes, the user may determine actively which categories and subjects he is interested in and wishes to register for.

Is it possible to realised personalised websites for individual users? If yes, with which technology?
Yes, EGOTEC® enables view personalisation for groups, roles, and users by granting access rights. Personalisation makes it possible to provide particular content for a user.

Is there an integrated profile management for user profiles?
Yes, profile management is carried out within the EGOTEC rights administration where all user data may be defined for one user or for groups.

How is a user recognised on the website (cookie, URL etc.)?
Either by log-on, with user authentification, or by cookies. In the case of deactivated cookies, automatic unnoticeable conversion to URL. Session management by Cookies, via URL or IP address (search engine friendly) .

How flexible is the administration area?
The administration area works with templates and can therefore be adapted to each customer. Such templates also ensure multilingualism of the administration area.

A special desktop in the editing area shows every user the information customised for him on the particular page. This includes a directory of the oldest and most current pages, news, events or task-lists.

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Reports

Which types of analysis of website use are carried out?
EGOTEC® creates standardised log files that can be analysed by common analysis tools (IP address, date, time, page URL, operating system, browser ...).

EgoStatistics enables comprehensive analysis regarding "Where did the users come from" (search engines, external links etc.), duration of stay, search terms used, operating system used, browser used, country of origin, page URL etc.

In the case of registered users, user names may be logged instead of IP addresses.

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Availability

Are special browser adjustments necessary for users of the Internet offer?
No, EGOTEC® does not have any limitations, EGOTEC® creates a clean HTML code. Javascript, Flash etc. may also be used for design templates. However, if those technologies are utilised for the design, this must naturally be activated in the browser adjustments.

Which platforms are clients available on?
Editors can populate content on all platforms (PC, Mac ...) as EGOTEC is operated completely browser-based.

EGOTEC is cross-browser-based (Internet Explorer from version 6.0x, Netscape from version 4.7x, Mozilla from version 1.0x and Opera from version 6.x).

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Workflow

Are there predefined groups within a role concept?
Yes, roles such as administrator, designer, chief editor and editor exist as a standard. They may be used, changed or defined freely.

Is it possible to freely define groups within a role concept?
Yes, groups and roles are freely definable. An employee may be integrated into several groups with any role. It is therefore possible to reproduce the organisation within a company (e.g. Mr Miller is marketing director and member of the works council; group: marketing, role: head of department AND group: works council, role: member).

Which types of notifying individual employees does the system know?
Within the EgoWorkflow module notification is done by email, the notification is additionally shown in the task list on the individual employee's desktop. Thereby it is possible to notify relevant users regarding different actions (page redesigned, changed, checked, translated, released ...).

Does the website have a defined or freely designable release cycle for publications?
Workflows may be defined freely in any number of steps. Any step of the workflow allows particular groups with roles or several users. Tasks are distributed by the rights allocated to the document (adapt, delete, release ...).

Is there protection against accidental access to a document by several persons at the same time?
Yes, during editing, adapted content is blocked for access by other users (check-in/-out).

Which types of system-internal task lists and status indicators are there?
Activation and deactivation of content, release date,
release lists, workflow task lists.

Which release procedures are supported?
Activation and deactivation of content, release date,
release lists.

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XML

To what extent does the system support XML?
XML is supported as import and export format. XML-RPC, SOAP and WDDX are used as interface.
EGOTECs internal data maintenance and data protection is also based on XML. EGOTEC configurations are stored as WDDX. HTML, XHTML, RSS or XML may be used as output format.

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Security

How is the system technically protected against foreign access?
Firewall, SSL-encrypted data transmission, user authentification, encrypted password filing.

How does the backup process work?
Data backup is carried out in XML, encrypted if desired. Backup may be carried out time-controlled or manually by a click on the backup button. Backup may be differentiated by content, archive, multimedia database, download database, design, application. Return backup is carried out by upload of the backup file.

Is it possible that several persons access the same document at the same time during editing?
No, edited documents are blocked for adaptation by the other user (check-in/check-out).

How does EGOTEC® work with firewall systems?
EGOTEC® does not have any limits regarding security aspects. Complete data transfer is carried out by HTTP or HTTPS so that data may also be transmitted via firewalls without problems. Therefore, only one port must be opened in the firewall. This applies to access both to the editing server and the live servers.

Are email addresses encrypted on the website for protection against SPAM?
Yes, the EGOTEC standard adjustment automatically encodes email addresses used in the web presence. Decoding of the mail address is then carried out by Javascript so that there are no function limitations for the normal Internet user. This offers efficient protection against common SPAM programmes.

How is the seizing of email addresses on the website prevented?
The email address is encrypted in HTML code. Display on the web browser is just like a regular email address, i.e., there are no limitations for the normal website visitor. Decoding is carried out by Javascript. If Javascript is switched off (e.g. barrier-free pages) the mail address shows an (at) instead of the @ sign. The seizure of email addresses is therefore prevented effectively.

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Support and service

Which training is available for EGOTEC?
Editor's and administrator's training is available to train in the daily handling of EGOTEC (duration: 1 day).

For technically experienced users we offer a one-day designer training which deals with template creation (duration: 1 day).

For customers wishing to create their own additional modules and to carry out EGOTEC adjustments themselves, we offer developer's training (duration: 2 days).

How is support carried out within the support contract?
Telephone support is offered Mon - Fri from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Reaction time of our support hotline has three categories. Processing is carried out according to the following priorities:

Priority Red: Processing of the query has highest priority. According to the problems stated, system operation is not possible. Immediate processing.

Priority Blue: Processing of the query is very important. System operation is impaired but possible. Co-ordination of further procedure within 4 hours.

Priority Green: Processing of the query has low priority. Problem does not impair system operation. Co-ordination of further procedure within 3 days.

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