New modular templating functionality gives designers more flexibility

Web content management (WCM) vendor SDL Tridion has launched a new version of its flagship WCM product R5, which has been designed to enable better collaboration at a lower price point.

In particular the product now features a new way of templating which will give web designers and developers more control over their template design and code.

Templating is the system of applying a layout template to a piece of content but is increasingly ineffective in delivering more feature rich and sophisticated sites, according to SDL Tridion's director of business development, Otto de Graf.

Modular templating breaks down the design, code and applications of templates into "template building blocks" which can also be redesigned for different uses, providing greater flexibility for designers.

"New functionality modules can be ‘slotted’ in place without having to change the web site’s framework or architecture," said de Graf. "This gives our customers quicker time to market with a much lower cost and risk, since existing web site code does not need to be modified."

The product also includes native support for Adobe Dreamweaver, Microsoft Visual Studio .NET and other next generation design and development tools.