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Graphical Flexibility
• Finding Pre-Packaged Themes: Hundreds of pre-packaged graphical themes are available. The official CMS
website includes version compatibility, ratings, and download statistics.
• Ease of Updating Themes via HTML/CSS: Accessing the HTML and CSS files can only be done via FTP and
often classes are defined in many different files, such as for add-on modules and content types. For someone with
the HTML/CSS skills required to update the look of a static website, the theming files themselves, however, will
look relatively familiar. The structure of the site is controlled through HTML with additional .NET and system
specific tags. The visual look of the site is controlled via several-to-many pure CSS files.
• In-Page Styling: In-page styling for nontechnical users is limited to standard WYSIWYG options.
• Creating a Custom Theme From Scratch: Creating a custom theme involves creating several different template
files depending on the design, a style sheet, and, if needed, a screenshot of the theme.
• Creating a Theme from an HTML Page: Adapting an existing HTML page and style sheet to create a theme
involves several steps: creating template files from the HTML page; creating a style sheet; including any images;
determining where content and functional elements should go in the templates; and adding any additional
necessary files.
• Design Flexibility: This theming structure provides a huge amount of flexibility in site look and layout. It
supports nearly any web page that can be designed via HTML and CSS.
• Defining multiple templates for one site: Administrators can set up as many page templates for the site as they
like and set a default template for new pages. Content editors can further define which page uses which template
in the editing screen.
• Assigning templates to a page: A site developer can define multiple site-specific CSS styles for a single site.
Nontechnical content editors can select which style to use for a specific page from a drop-down menu.
• Defining the Look of Sidebar Elements: A nontechnical user interface allows you to control the style of sidebar
elements to a granular level.
• Print-Friendly Version: The system provides built-in options for print page functionality and most good themes
include a print-friendly version as part of the theme package. In this case, you would simply need to define what
pages should show a “print-friendly view” icon.
Ease of Mobile Support
• Responsive Design: The default template automatically resizes to the dimensions of the browser window. Pictures will scale if there are smaller versions available.
• HTML5/CSS/Javascript Access: You have access to the level of coding (HTML5/CSS/Javascript) to create any
new template, including one built with responsive design.
• Method of Multi-Device Support: System can support multiple page views or template files so that alternates
can be served according to screen type.
• Multi-Device Support for the Site Administrator: It is not practical to administrate the site on a mobile phone.
Integration with Constituent Data
• Web Forms: Add-ons exist that provide a nontechnical interface for creating web forms that include checkboxes,
radio buttons, and conditional fields.
• Integration with a Constituent Database: The CMS is not natively integrated with any systems, but can
integrate with any software package that provides an open API.
• Integration with Event Management Tools: The system does not currently integrate with any event management tools, but can integrate with any software package that provides an open API.
• Support for Online Donation Forms: An add-on module provides functionality to accept online payments
through your website.
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A Consumers Guide to Content Management Systems for Nonprofits • March 2014