What is a CMS?
A content management system (CMS) is a software suite running on a web server, designed to allow content creators (editors) to submit content without requiring technical knowledge of HTML or the uploading of files.
When you use a CMS, all the text of your website is held in a database. Each item is referred to by a simple name code, and when a change is made to the database contents the result appears the next time the page is refreshed. This is far simpler than using an editor like Front Page to create new content then having to upload it by FTP to the server. In the case of Target CMS it also allows several versions of the same text item to be kept, one for each language, so the entire site can be switched to any of the supported languages.
But the biggest benefit is that you make changes to your text independently of the design of the page. The person doing the editing doesn't need to be an HTML expert and doesn't access the website directly, so you don't have to hand out your vital FTP login information and risk inexperienced people damaging your files. All editing is done using a mini word processor, online on the site itself. The only time a technical expert is needed is when the page layout needs to be changed or major new features added.
There are many CMS systems available. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses and attracts its own band of supporters. Our own product grew out of code previously written for specific projects, and our detailed knowledge of it gives us an advantage when building sites for clients.