Typical scenarios

Several types of assignments are available in IXIASOFT CCMS Web. The type of feedback that you want to receive determines the type of assignment you create.

The Assignments page is the default page that opens when a user logs in to IXIASOFT CCMS Web. The list of assignments displayed on that page depends on the type of assignment, the status of the objects included in the assignment, and the role given to the user.

You might be creating assignments for:

  • Content contributors
  • Reviewers who are allowed to edit the content directly
  • Reviewers who provide feedback on content, but cannot edit the content

Creating an assignment for a content contributor

A content contributor can be a subject matter expert who is expected to write the first draft of the content. In this case, the technical writers refine the content written by the subject matter experts.

For example, a typical scenario could be (depending on the configuration in your deployment):

  • The information architect or writer uses the IXIASOFT CCMS Desktop to create the topics that require content, assigns these topics to the person with the role of content contributor (however that role is configured in your deployment), and changes their status to the appropriate one for the topics to become active (for example, changes status to Authoring:contribute or the equivalent).
  • The assignee opens IXIASOFT CCMS Web and sees these topics in the Assignments page. The assigned topic will only appear on the Assignments page once the topic is in the appropriate status (for example, Authoring:contribute or the equivalent). The assignee simply needs to click a topic to open it in the Editing page, enter the required content, and check it in. The content is then saved in the Content Store.
  • The topic returns to its workflow in the IXIASOFT CCMS Desktop.

For the SME to be able to see the assignment, the following steps are required:

  1. If the SME is a new user, the administrator creates a user for the SME in IXIASOFT CCMS. This step must be done only once.
  2. The administrator assigns the contributor role (or the equivalent) to the SME. This step must be done only once.
  3. A user (typically the writer or information architect) assigns the topic as a contributor (or the equivalent) to the SME. This step must be done for every topic to which you want them to add content.
  4. A user (typically the writer or information architect) puts the topic in the appropriate state (for example, Authoring:contribute or the equivalent). This step must be done for every topic to which you want them to add content.

Once these steps have been performed, the SME will see his or her assigned topics when logged in to IXIASOFT CCMS Web.

Creating an assignment for a reviewer who can edit the content directly

When you want to ask a subject matter expert, copy editor, peer, or other to make edits in the content, you can assign the topics you want them to review and they can edit them in IXIASOFT CCMS Web.

For example, a typical scenario could be (depending on the configuration in your deployment):

  • Once the topics are written, the writer assigns the topics to the SME and then puts them in the reviewing status (for example, Authoring:review or the equivalent) .
  • The SME starts IXIASOFT CCMS Web and sees these topics in the Assignments page. The SME clicks on a topic to open it in the Editing page and changes some of the content and adds an image. The SME checks in the topic. The content is then saved to the Content Store.
  • The topic returns to its workflow in the IXIASOFT CCMS Desktop.

For the SME to be able to see the assignment, the following steps are required:

  1. If the SME is a new user, the administrator creates a user for the SME in IXIASOFT CCMS. This step must be done only once.
  2. The administrator assigns the reviewer role to the SME. This step must be done only once.
  3. A user (typically the writer or information architect) assigns the topic to review to the SME. This step must be done for every topic to review.
  4. A user (typically the writer or information architect) puts the topic in the reviewable state (for example, Authoring:review). This step must be done for every topic to review.

Once these steps have been performed, the SME will see his or her topics to review when logged in to IXIASOFT CCMS Web.

Creating an assignment which sends content to several reviewers as a Collaborative Review

When you want to ask subject matter experts, peers, or others to check or proofread the content but want them to provide feedback only by annotating the content rather than editing the content directly, you can send them a Collaborative Review assignment in IXIASOFT CCMS Web. A Collaborative Review allows several reviewers to simultaneously review content, add annotations, and view each other's annotations.

For example, a typical scenario could be (depending on the configuration in your deployment):

  • Once the topics in a map are ready to be reviewed, the writer creates a Collaborative Review and assigns it to several reviewers.
  • Each SME starts IXIASOFT CCMS Web and sees their the Collaborative Review assignment in the Assignments page. Each SME clicks on their assignment to open it in the Collaborative Review page and begins adding annotations on the content.
  • Once the writer wants to begin incorporating the feedback from the annotations into the source content, he or she can close the Collaborative Review so the assignments are no longer accessible in IXIASOFT CCMS Web.
  • The writer opens the Collaborative Review in the IXIASOFT CCMS Desktop and begins incorporating the feedback from the annotations.

For the SME to be able to see the assignment, the following steps are required:

  1. If the SME is a new user, the administrator creates a user for the SME in IXIASOFT CCMS. This step must be done only once.
  2. The administrator assigns the reviewer role to the SME. This step must be done only once.
  3. A user (typically the writer or information architect) creates the Collaborative Review.

Once these steps have been performed, the SME will see his or her Collaborative Review assignment when logged in to IXIASOFT CCMS Web.