Asbru Converts Static Websites to Dynamic CMS

By Chelsi Nakano (@chelkano) Feb 20, 2009

Though we haven’t covered them in quite a while, Asbru has been nothing short of ridiculously active in their endeavors. The company released a grand total of nineteen updated versions of their content management system in 2008 alone. This year they’re already at number two.

The most recent version, Asbru Web Content Management v7.0, keeps with the company’s aim to be simple and easy enough for anyone with web browsing and word processing skills to use.

Asbru Is For The Non-Techies

For starters, this is an out-of-the-box solution. Asbru Web Content Management is reportedly easy to install and immediately ready to use thanks to built-in standard website content templates and graphic design styles. Simply add your own content and you’re ready to go live.

Any standard Web browser will do, whether your aim is something simple or something complex, as will any person equipped with the know how to Web surf. No additional plug-ins necessary.

Also, Asbru's WYSIWYG Web Editor enables users to edit text and graphics in a setup that's visually similar to how it's displayed in website form:

Asbru Content Management Sample

You can play around with each page/element using the graphical text editor shown above. With it, edit all the normal jazz like formatted text, images, web links, tables, lists etc.

Asbru Is For The Techies

For all the experienced designers out there, don’t scoff, you have the option to build your page from the ground up as well.

Although Asbru caters to people who aren’t the best with tech garb, it isn’t a beginner’s game through and through. Their Web content management system includes a full range of advanced functionality to support business needs and large, complex websites. The company’s flexibility has allowed their CMS to come to the rescue of a wide range of organizations in education, the public sector and the product and services industry.

Additionally, developers and designers can enjoy the option of integrating content from external applications and a programming API can be used to access content from external applications.

Drowning In A Sea Of Features

If there’s one thing to be certain of in life, it’s that Asbru wasn’t messing around when they were in the lab with v7.0. The release comes with fourteen major updates that cater to both groups of tech savvy and approximately a zillion little sub-enhancements. Here are a few:

Import Existing Website Functionality

Import an existing Dreamweaver and HTML file-based website into Asbru. Your existing files are automatically analyzed and migrated from a "static" HTML file-based website to an Asbru CMS managed website. Dreamweaver templates and defined “editable regions” are identified and converted to be compatible.

More Custom Website Configuration Settings

Asbru adds functionality to define your own custom website settings and special codes to use these settings on your pages and templates as well as in your website style sheets and scripts. Custom website settings can be managed and updated in one place in the system for immediate website-wide effect.

"Script" Content Class

This was added for the administration and reuse of JavaScript program libraries/functions.
Any number of standard JavaScripts can be added to the content management system and can be selected to be used for the various pages. For example, JavaScripts for menus and tabs and for web form input extensions and validation, etc.