Adding Content to PowerCMS

The first step in using PowerCMS Builder is to create your first PowerCMS content area by selecting the content that you wish to add to PowerCMS and creating a new content location.

When you add content to PowerCMS from PowerCMS Builder, the content that is currently selected on your page will be moved to your PowerCMS database where it can be managed by anyone who has access to your PowerCMS pages.

Follow these steps to add content from your page to a PowerCMS controlled content location.

  1. Select the content on your page that you wish to add to PowerCMS.
  2. From the WebAssist menu, choose CMS > Add Content to PowerCMS.
  3. Choose the database connection you would like to use for PowerCMS.
    PowerCMS Builder will use this information to create it's own database connection.
  4. Enter a name for the content location or choose an existing location.
    In most cases, your content locations will be named based on the page the content resides on (example: Home Page, Contact Us Page, etc.).
  5. enter a name for the content area.
    Useful, descriptive content area names will make it easier to determine the correct content in PowerCMS (example: News Pod, Main Content, etc.).
  6. Click OK to have the database updated with this new content area.

Some helpful information about Content Locations and Content Areas...

In PowerCMS, your content is organized by Content Location and then by Content Area. Each content area resides within a single content location. A content location can include any number of content areas.

Here is an example of a common set of Content Areas and Locations organized in PowerCMS:

  • Home Page (Content Location)
    • Main Content (Content Area)
    • Right Column (Content Area)
    • Bottom Pod (Content Area)
  • Contact Us Page (Content Location)
    • Main Content (Content Area)
    • Contact Info (Content Area)

You can also use Content Locations to store content areas that are displayed on multiple pages/locations on your site. For example, you may create PowerCMS Content Areas for your footer and side navigations.

In this scenario, you may organize your Content Locations and Areas like this:

  • Navigation (Content Location)
    • Side Navigation (Content Area)
    • Footer Navigation (Content Area)

Alternatively, you may want to organize all content areas that display in multiple locations, in a single content location.

For example, if you have a content area for Side Navigation, Footer Navigation, and Advertisements, your Content Location may look like this:

  • Shared Content (Content Location)
    • Side Navigation (Content Area)
    • Footer Navigation (Content Area)
    • Advertisements (Content Area)