webCOMAND

Working with Content

It is easy to perform common content management tasks in Content Manager.

  • Create & Edit - Create and edit content of any content type.
  • Locate - Browse and find content through navigation, search, paths and queries.
  • Organize - Arrange content with folders, hierarchies, categories and more.
  • Import - Create and update content from external files and sources.

Create & Edit Content

Create and edit content of any content type, such as a Folder, File, Contact, Note or Image.

Short Video to demonstrate following 3 sections.

Create Content based on Existing Types

To create content from a predefined type:

  1. Click a folder on the left, or remain in current folder.
  2. Click the New Menu (New Menu) on the right.
  3. Select the desired content type, such as Folder or Contact.
  4. Fill in the form and Approve.

Edit Existing Content

To edit existing content:

  1. Open the folder or content type on the left.
  2. Open the existing content on the right.
  3. Make your edits and Approve (or Publish).

Content Structure

All content data and relationships are organized into fields.  Some fields contain different types of sub-content.

Data Fields

Data fields store a simple value like a number, date, time or some text.  Data fields can also store a single image and file.

Embedded Content

When a content field contains embedded content, it is stored with the parent content, so it only has a single parent and whenever embedded content is updated (saved or approved), the parent is also updated.  Content can contain multiple levels of embedded content to manage complex structures.

Referenced Content

When a content field references content, only the relationship is stored with the parent content.  The referenced content is stored and updated independently.  One piece of content can be referenced from any number of other content reference fields.

Content reference fields can reference a single content item (selected from a drop down), or multiple content items (checked in a drop-down).  Referenced content can be opened from any field that (does or can) references it.

If an existing content type does not suite your needs, you can model one or more custom content types.  To learn how, see Content Types.

Organize

Content can be organized in several ways.

Short Video to demonstrate following sections.

Organize content into folders and fields

Cut, copy, paste and link content to organize the content in folders and fields.

  1. Navigate to the desired content.
  2. Click cut or copy in the toolbar.
  3. Navigate to the desired folder or field.
  4. Click paste or link in the toolbar.

Arrange hierarchical content into a hierarchy

Content that displays a parent/child relationship can be arranged in a hierarchy.

  1. Navigate to the desired hierarchical content.
  2. Drag and drop content from one position or parent to another.
  3. Click Approve in the toolbar.

You can also arrange multiple and approve all updates in a batch.

Position content within an orderable collection

Some content can be manually ordered within a folder or field.

  1. Navigate to the desired collection of content.
  2. Drag and drop content from one position to another.
  3. Click Approve in the toolbar.

Associate content with categories and tags

Relate content with a category or tag.

  1. Navigate to the desired content.
  2. Click the category or tag drop-down.
  3. If only a single category or tag is allowed, click the desired category or tag.
  4. If multiple are allowed, check any number and then click drop-down up arrow.
  5. Click Approve in the toolbar.

Relate content through references and attributes

Content can be reference other content the same way categories and tags work.

  1. Navigate to the desired content.
  2. Click the reference field drop-down.
  3. If only a single category or tag is allowed, click the desired content.
  4. If multiple are allowed, check any number and then click drop-down up arrow.
  5. Click Approve in the toolbar.

Locate

There are three primary ways to find content when you know what you're looking for.

Short Video to demonstrate following sections.

Navigate

Similar to finding a file on your desktop computer or mobile device. Navigation typically by drilling down a folder hierarchy until you locate the desired file.

  1. Click a folder on the left.
  2. Open a content record.
  3. Open subcontent through fields.
  4. Click the back button or path breadcrumbs to go back.
Tree view is often the best way to navigate to content in webCOMAND.  It is typically displayed in the left panel of the content manager.  To drill down into the content hierarchy, click or tap the triangle to the left of a folder or other expandable content. To view the contents of a folder or other content, click or tap to the right of the triangle.  When you drill down into a deeply nested hierarchy, it may be useful to set the root of the tree to a node further down. To do that, right-click or tap and hold the node you would like to become the top/root of the tree and select "make root".

Search

Keyword search is available throughout the Content Manager.

Global Search

To perform a keyword search across all content in a repository:

  1. Click the magnifying glass near the lower-left, below the folder tree.
  2. Type the desired keyword(s) and press ENTER or click the magnifying glass icon to the right.
  3. Click a result to open it to the right.

Collection Search

To perform a keyword search limited to a folder or field collection:

  1. Click in the search input at the top of the collection.
  2. Type the desired keyword(s).
  3. Click a result to select or open it.

Beyond Keywords

In addition to keywords, symbols, ID numbers and other metadata can also be searched.  To search for a phrase with spaces or other symbols, wrap the phase in single or double quotes. Although not usually necessary, a backslash can precede quote characters to search for quotes or other symbols with meaning in search.  The following symbols can be used for more advanced searches.

  • + - a plus symbol before a keyword or quoted phrase means that it is required for a match.
  • - - a minus symbol before a keyword or quoted phrase means that it must not appear in the content for a match.
  • AND - The AND keyword (in upper- or lower-case) surrounded by spaces, between two keywords will require both keywords for match. Without AND, either keyword will be matched with a preference for both to match.
  • OR - The OR keyword (in upper- or lower-case) surrounded by spaces, between two keywords will match of either keyword is found, with no preference. Without OR, either keyword will be matched, but with a preference for both to match.
  • Parenthesis - One or more AND or OR clauses can be grouped by surrounded them with parenthesis. Parenthesis can be nested if desired.
  • m// - A regular expression is specified with a preceeding m/ and trailing /. The m/ must be the first part of a search, or follow a space, + or -, outside of any quotes.
  • cPath - A cPath query that starts with a open bracket '[' can be provided without additional keywords.
  • cQL - A cQL query that starts with an open curly bracket '{' can be provided without additional keywords.

Query

Queries are used to find content based on specific criteria, patterns or rules.  Match on specific fields, or find content with field values within a specific range, or even more complex criteria.

For information about how to write a query, see Queries.

Search Queries

As mentioned in the previous section, cPath and cQL queries can be entered directly into search inputs.

Advanced Search

Advanced search is not yet implemented.

If you're not comfortable writing queries from scratch in the search box, or prefer a larger entry box, or point and click approach, click or tap the advanced search icon inside the search box on the right.

Panel Title Bar

The title bar in a panel can be used to enter a query.  Authorized users can click the edit path icon, or select the hamburger menu in the upper-right of the panel in the title bar, and then select "Edit Path".  Enter a cPath or cQL query to display results in the panel.

COMAND Console App

Authorized users can access the COMAND Console app, which can be used to create and manage a number of queries and scripts in various languages including cPath, cQL, SQL, and cScript. There are options to save and recall queries and export their results.

Import Content and Types

To import content and/or content types from an external file or source:

  1. Download or get the URL of a content type package.
  2. Click the System folder (or another folder) on the left.
  3. Click Import (Import Button) on the right.
  4. Drag and drop the downloaded package or enter the URL.  For example:
    http://www.comandmarket.com/com_presidentsdemo_www/content_types.zip
  5. Click Next and then Import.