e-Spirit launches new CMS version FirstSpirit™ 4.2

FirstSpirit™ 4.2 optimizes content management processes with innovative functions and user-friendliness

The new version 4.2 of the content management system FirstSpirit™ is now available. The feature release from e-Spirit offers compelling new functionality for simplifying and automating editing processes and managing content, thereby significantly improving the efficiency of CMS for businesses.

With FirstSpirit™ 4.2 the interface concepts of the CMS have been modernized and usability has been optimized with a range of innovative developments. For example, a Live-View feature, which is integrated within the JavaClient for the first time in FirstSpirit 4.2, gives editors WYSIWYG capability for a direct view of the page being worked on. Content updates are displayed in real time, thus allowing editors to look at the preview and see exactly what their changes will look like in the published website. The area that is changed will then have a color border in both the content entry screen and the Live-View – thereby allowing editors to see what paragraph they are working on. The entry screen for the target paragraph automatically displays with just a click of a button – and this simplifies data entry and navigation in projects regardless of complexity.

An additional highlight of version 4.2 is the redesigned browser-based WebClient, which editors can use to make quick and simple changes directly in the site preview. Editable paragraphs are highlighted in color and can be edited, moved, or deleted with just a click in edit mode. Thus no specialized technical knowledge of the CMS is required. The WebClient can be used straight from the browser without needing to install any additional software.

Another new feature is the additional "Drag & Drop" functions, which you can use for example to copy media in a thumbnail view from one work area to an "add picture" component in another work area.

The new Multi-Tabbing function also allows you to open multiple elements side by side and navigate back and forth between different open tabs. Here editors can set up a personalized workspace for their work, which FirstSpirit™ stores when the client program is closed and retrieves when it is restarted.

e-Spirit will be in Frankfurt Nov. 25-26 to introduce FirstSpirit™ 4.2 at the ECM World Summit. The new CMS version will also be presented at a release forum on Dec. 10 in Munich. Registrations for this event can be posted at www.e-Spirit.com/events.

Further information about FirstSpirit 4.2 can be found at www.e-Spirit.com/firstspirit4.2.

FirstSpirit™ 4.2 – Selected features and functional extensions at a glance

Live preview with content highlighting:

• Integrated WYSIWYG preview in the JavaClient for different output formats (e.g. HTML or PDF)
• Content Highlighting: Easily locate the right input component with color-coded highlighting of a selected element in the work area and in the preview
• Simple navigation by clicking on the element in the preview
• Integrated form preview in the template administration feature

Editing in multiple work areas ("Multi-Tabbing"):

• Allows creation and fixing of personalized editing environments
• Visualization of editing status with color labels
• Retrieve most recent configuration (window size, positions, partitions, work areas) after restart - resume work without losing time
• Status display for each object in the work area

Clear navigation structures and user guidance:

• New breadcrumb navigation using complete paths from the administration root to current element
• Color labeling for visualization of change status of an object similar to tab labeling of work areas
• Clear display of project as a whole: Separate tree structures for individual administration areas (content, data sources, media, structure)
• Quick text search (not modal full-text search with filter options)

Extensions in the media gallery:

• Display of graphics available not only in individual galleries but also in gallery summaries
• Add pictures via Drag & Drop
• Edit pictures in rows

Addition of generic link editors:

• Extensive configuration options for creating reference templates: Template developers have access to all FirstSpirit™ input components and can therefore define the insert options for editors on a project specific basis more effectively than before

Data source administration:

• Optimized view and administration using project specific configuration options
• Maximize and minimize the editing area
• Full-text search also in data sources

Drag & Drop FirstSpirit™ content:

• Drag & Drop from local file system to the JavaClient and vice-versa
• Individual and multiple selection
• Drag & Drop between work areas, across administration areas (e.g. to create content page in the structure) or from the search dialog to the JavaClient

Migration assistants:

• For simple migration of existing projects to FirstSpirit™ 4.2

Redesigned WebClient:

• "Easy-Edit": direct editing of content in the preview page without separate popup windows
• Preview inside "add picture" components
• Display elements in the media administration function
• Support for inline tables

Benefits of FirstSpirit™

Lower costs and efforts

• Simple creation and maintenance of content, without programming knowledge
• Structuring of unstructured content
• Automated work processes
• Reuse of objects
• Automatically ensures consistent CI/CD

Safeguarding investments

• The scalable architecture model grows with the company
• Modularity enables simple extension by adding functionalities
• Seamless integration of existing portal solutions from e.g. SAP, IBM, and Microsoft

Optimizing content

• Incorporation of Web 2.0 functionalities
• Multilingual presentation of content
• Standardized delivery via multiple output channels, such as mobile devices, PDF, HTML, XML
• Integrated search function for quick searching of content