Text editor: 10 points to check when choosing a CMS

What questions should you ask to your vendor or developer regarding the wysiwyg editor featured in your future CMS?

1 - Is it possible to customize the interface to expand or restrict the use of headers, semantic styles, colours, font styles, etc? In my opinion, users should only be left with a few possibilities: header levels, semantic styles, bold, italic, quote, lists. Other option such as font size or colour should be managed only in the style sheet.

2 - Can the editor validate the text to make sure it is compliant with your choose output format (e. g. HTML or XHTML) and is it possible to update this setting whenever new standards are released?

3 - Can images be inserted using a ‘browse disk’ functionality rather than typing the image URL? Without that facility, you should expect users not to insert any image in their articles…

4 - Is there a facility that allows pasting simple text collected on other pages? As the editor has to output standard code, it can’t accept pasting from unknown source but should allow user to transform random external formatted text to a plain text that can be safely pasted.

5 - Can the interface be amended to make impossible to paste text directly in the editor window? That way, you will prevent users to paste text containing non standard or corrupted format.

6 - What does the editor require regarding users computer? If it takes JRE or so, you should make sure that the applet version is compliant with average users PC configuration (on both hardware and software points of view).

7 - How many actions are undoable? Users are used to the facility to undo several actions when making mistakes, make sure that your editor has the right amount.

8 - Is there a ‘view source’ facility? This is a necessary one for advanced users. Can the ’source view’ facility be hidden for basic users, depending on their profile or group?

9 - Can any basic user create a valid and accessible page using only the wysiwyg facility? For instance one should not have to edit the source code to type in ‘alt’ text for images or headers for table columns. You should also pay attention to the META tags facility: is it easy to get in, can the fields be customised?

10 - Are your ready to fight? If not used to CMSs, users may be frustrated by most featured text editors. A lot of them would like their usual text processor embedded in the CMS interface. If not possible, prepare to explain why.