Features
On-site editing
In Saurus CMS, most content management tasks are carried out in the same view shown to public visitors. The software attaches small v-shaped buttons to all content objects such as sections, articles, documents, images, links etc to enable you to create, edit and restructure the content. In addition, on top of the page is displayed a toolbar with more general management tools.
Text editor
WYSIWYG text editor is the most commonly used content editing tool that allows to combine rich text with images, tables, documents, hyperlinks and feedback forms. The style selector lists site-specific styles exactly as the will appear to the visitor. Various tools include Microsoft Office code cleaner, on-screen keyboard, search & replace and full-screen view. Data profiles enables extending the available article’s meta-data fields: add keyword list, category selection, archiving date etc.
File manager
Explore and handle folders, files, documents and images in web server folders. User access permissions for folders can be set based on individual user, user group or user role. Files can be mass-uploaded via web browser or using file handling protocols such as FTP, Web DAV or Samba. Data profiles allow extending the file descriptive data fields: e.g. add signature date and parties to contracts or category and author to photos. File manager opens from text editor for inserting images and hyperlinks to files but can also be used as a standalone tool.
Manage structure
Website's hierarchy is a tree-like structure of sections that normally appear as menu items on the site layout. There are no limits to the depth of the site structure or the number of menu items. The structure can be re-organized by various tools.
Users
Administer hierarchical groups, user information and log-in accounts. Data profiles allow add custom fields to describe users: define additional phone numbers, birthday, sales discount etc. Users are managed by site administrator, in addition self-registration form can be used. Users can be imported and exported in various ways.
Access control (ACL)
Permissions to view, create, modify, delete and publish the content can be set either per individual user, user group or user role.
Multi-site management
Each Saurus CMS instance can hold unlimited number of websites having independent structure, layout and content.
Multi-lingual
Both system messages and software user interface can be translated. Additional glossaries to English and Estonian which ship with the installation package, can be downloaded from Saurus CMS website.
Applications
Saurus CMS ships with most common applications such as article list, blog, news with archive, forum and image gallery, packaged as content templates. In addition to the built-in content templates, site-specific custom applications can be developed using Saurus API.
Template-based design
The layout of each page/section is defined by two templates: Page Template defines the general design, layout and styles of the page while Content Template specifies the application to be used in the site content area: article list, blog, image gallery, forum etc.
The product ships with most common content templates, in addition site-specific templates can be developed using Saurus API.
Saurus API
Saurus API (Application Programming Interface) is based on industry-standard Smarty template engine which is extended with Saurus CMS specific functions and methods for applying custom design, extending the functionality and and integrating third party applications.
Comment boards
Comment boards can be added to all types of content objects such as articles, documents, images etc. Site editors can define whether to allow commenting specific content, also whether a user must sign in for posting a comment.
Staging
Newly created content is not visible to public visitors until the editor has published them.
Scheduled publishing
Content can be automatically published or hidden on given date and time.
Feedback forms
Text editor can be used to design various questionnaires and feedback forms. Data filled in by site visitors is then sent to given e-mail address. Automatic error notifications and "thank you" messages can be customized and translated.
News lists
Each website’s section can be defined as a news list. New content is then automatically sent to all subscribers by e-mail.
Recycle bin
Deleted content is preserved in recycle bin which can be emptied manually. Also, a time limit of how long items are kept in recycle bin before permanent deletion can be set.
Site search
Simple and advanced full-text search with logical operators and multiple filtering options.
Sitemap
Automatic sitemap with multiple configuration options.
XML sitemap
XML sitemap for search engines is automatically generated.
Friendly URLs
Human- and search engine friendly web addresses like www.sitename.com/products.
Meta-info
Site title, meta-description and meta-keywords can be defined per each section/page.
Favourites
Users can add content objects to their personal list of favourites. This can be used to personalise site browsing experience, for example form compile a list of news from user's favourite topics.
Site log
System log keeps track of each action made by site editors and administrators. User log-ins and system events such as scheduled publishing, automatic imports and error messages are logged as well.
Page cache
Cache speeds up page displays and reduces radically server load by using snapshots of otherwise complex pages.
Web based installation
Simple browser based step-by-step installation wizard guides you through the setup in just a few minutes.
Data profiles
Profile is a set of custom fields that extend the objects built into Saurus CMS. They can be used to add keyword listing or category to an article or define separate datasets for users who are company employees and partners for example.
When profiles are created by site administrator, Saurus CMS creates appropriate Saurus API calls and user interface for data input.
Custom assets
In addition to existing content object types in the system, you can create new content types by your own. Custom assets, like built-in objects, can be extended by Data profiles.
Extensions
Design templates, custom modules and 3rd party applications can be packaged as extensions for robust handling and installation.
Triggers
Custom triggers can be defined to control system events and data input. For example, “before-load” trigger can be used to fill in initial values, “before-save” to validate data.
Error log
Web based log of PHP and MySQL warnings and errors.
These are just basic features in Saurus CMS Community Edition. You can achieve even more with extensions.
