Top Page >>A Guide for Archiving Web Pages >> Content Management Systems for Creating and Maintaining Pages to be Archived

A Guide for Archiving Web Pages

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Pages in This Section

- What is web archiving
- How is web archiving done?
- - Web page best practices
- - Assuring accessibility
- - Using style sheets
- - Using meta tags
- - - Dublin Core metadata
- - Using a CMS
- - Assuring content integrity
- - Using a snapshot tool
- - Using web archiving tools
- - Server maintenance
- - Backing up
- Documentation

Content management systems for creating and maintaining pages to be archived

Content management systems offer a relatively easy and effective means for creating and maintaining web site and the pages they contain. Because they foster consistency and adherence to standards, they have especial value where the pages are to be archived.

As web sites grow in extent and complexity, they become more and more difficult to administer. In automating manual tasks and in establishing well-organized structures, web content management software packages help those responsible for web sites to effectively manage page creation and maintenance.

If you are already using a CMS, look for ways to use it so as to improve its ability to help in observing best practices and facilitating web archiving. For example, accessibility should be assured across the whole web site, the site's file structure should be consistent, URIs should be as short and meaningful as can be managed, active pages should link back to ones that have been deleted, automatic backups should be scheduled, there should be complete version control of the site's contents, and templates should be set to insure uniformity of header data -- including both meta tags, and the general appearance of pages.

If you don't currently use a content management system, it is worth some trouble to investigate the many that are available either commercially or free of charge. Quite a few free, open-source, systems are highly regarded, have substantial user base and support, and receive regular maintenance and development. Two of the most highly regarded and popular ones are Drupal and Joomla.

Some resources on content management systems

Some resources on Drupal and Joomla

Other open source CMS having substantial user bases and support

Top Page >>A Guide for Archiving Web Pages >> Content Management Systems for Creating and Maintaining Pages to be Archived