MySource Matrix

Functions

As a content management system, MySource Matrix can be utilised in several ways:

1. Creating content
   The product provides content authors with the ability to create and edit webpages without requiring any html coding skills. It also removes the technicality of completing core functions. An example of this is its ability to manage images in appropriate formats, sizes and style for the Website. It can also manage documents and digital material, as well as managing 'news and events' and 'calendar' type information.
2. Content validation and accessibility
   Whilst the standard product already has key accessibility features in-built, there is also the capacity for users to increase the compliance of the website if desired. The product also includes spell checking and code checking functions to improve content output.
3. Web 2.0
   MySource Matrix provides options for incorporating and managing a wide range of Web 2.0 functions, such as RSS, blogs, podcasts, surveys, polls, mashups, wikis, and user feedback interactions.
4. Publishing and workflow
   Workflow management is a significant function of this product. The ability to create and manage editorial processes, as well as the provision of archiving, version control, and audit trails are major features.
5. Users and security
   Enables different access levels for different users. So, for example, a content author may have the ability only to edit one or two specific webpages, but not have authority to make these edits live; a website coordinator may have broader editing and page creation permissions, as well as permission to approve content and make specific pages live; and an administrator may have high level permission across the entire website.
6. Integration
   External databases and application can be integrated into MySource Matrix so that the user receives the benefits of integration. An example of these benefits would be being able to apply design templates stored within the CMS onto external applications. (A simple example of this is Latrobe University's Position Vacancies webpage, in which they've integrated the external 'Seek' Jobs website results into a Latrobe template. They use MySource Matrix as their CMS by the way.)
7. Administration tools
   This product includes a number of admin tools, such as website statistics and CMS activity reports.

Much of the above information is a snapshot of the official MySource Matrix Features Checklist. View their site to read more about key functions of the product. MySource Matrix's Product information webpages also provide much information about key functionality and features.

How to use

Because MySource Matrix is open source, anyone can download the free version and get started on implementation.

Aside from extensive installation information available at MySource Matrix Resources and a series of online user manuals, the company also run face-to-face training sessions.

Improving IA

MySource Matrix can improve information architecture in several ways:

• its capacity to control metadata (different schemas can be applied, thesauri can be created). This metadata is then both indexed by the inbuilt search engine, as well as used by external engines (such as Google). Good metadata, and the ability to manage it well, vastly improves the findability of web content.
• providing 'consistent and logical navigation'. This is achieved through dynamic menu creation, which improves menu consistency across the website. The product also procudes dynamic site map and breadcrumbs. So the web developer is well-supported in creating and managing key navigation features considered integral to good information architecture.
• features such as 'search and replace' assist in controlling language and terminology across the entire website, thereby improving consistency and finadiblity of content.
• link management enables content to be moved around the CMS without breaking links (and, in relation to dot point 1, enabling menus and site maps to change dynamically in the process.)