CommonSpot 2.0
PaperThin's browser-based CommonSpot 2.0 lets nontechnical users take control of the Web publishing process. Because it's based on Allaire's ColdFusion and makes strong use of features in Microsoft Internet Explorer and Windows NT, CommonSpot's strengths are well suited to smaller and medium-size corporations.
CommonSpot Standard Edition ($20,000 for ten users) supports Oracle, SQL Server, and Microsoft Access databases. Personalization and integration with Windows NT's directory are add-on modules in this version. The Enterprise Edition ($85,000 for an unlimited number of users) includes all add-on modules. PaperThin claims a typical company can get up and running on the platform in one to three weeks. For tighter budgets, a hosted version is available for about $250 a month for three users.
CommonSpot ships with over 20 default templates, which you can customize. Users need only Internet Explorer 4.0 or later to create and publish Web content. The slickly designed administrative module makes use of Dynamic HTML (DHTML). The interface's control of visual attributes is excellent, and there are wizards to automate common tasks.
Administrators control access rights to whole sections of a site, pages, or even individual elements (such as fields or images). There are 35 out-of-the-box elements to choose from, and there's support for group-based management of users. The NT Authentication module lets people log on to the network and the content management system in one step. Unfortunately, LDAP directory support is lacking in this release.
After IT locks down the basic look, feel, and navigational structure of your site, users can write content and get approval according to an established workflow process. Also significant, managers can define and extend workflow without involving IT. We liked the fact that at log-on, those in the loop see a list of pages needing approval.
Elements are stored in the database and then dynamically rendered by ColdFusion onto pages. Caching, server clustering, and load-balancing capabilities are available via ColdFusion in the Enterprise Edition.
Though CommonSpot lacks a robust reporting module, it's possible to search content in a variety of ways, including viewing pages by author or by approval status. We also liked that you could roll back pages (or even individual elements).
On the server, CommonSpot is powered by ColdFusion, so you will need some in-house expertise with this platform. IT staff can build custom ColdFusion modules and templates. Other options for developer intervention include tailoring content to specific browsers or wireless devices.
CommonSpot lacks strong support for syndication and reporting, but it provides a flexible, modestly priced solution to content management.
Product: CommonSpot 2.0
Rating: 
Price: Standard Edition, $20,000; Enterprise Edition, $85,000
Company:
PaperThin, Inc.
Boston, MA
800-940-3087
781-934-7838
www.paperthin.com