4.2. Authoring and Editing Content Items

Authoring is the process of adding content to a content item, including assets and text. Editing is the process of modifying existing content. When you author and edit content items, use the Authoring tab and Authoring Steps section to make all changes.

Creating the content item is a separate step from authoring or editing. Refer to Section 4.7 Creating a Content Item. By default, as soon as the item is created, the Basic Properties step on the Authoring tab is displayed.

After a new content item is created, anyone with author privileges can modify it, as long as the person has:

  1. Edit permissions for the item

  2. Either a locked 'author' or 'approval' workflow task for the item

Refer to Section 4.18 Workflows.

On the left side of the pane, you can see your assigned tasks, unlock or lock a specific task, unlock or lock all tasks, or finish a task. You must lock content items to modify them. By default, content items are locked when they are created so that they can immediately be modified.

The specific authoring steps for each content item are also displayed on the left. All content items include a Properties step, which is where you add the content, and an Assign Categories step. Some content items include steps to attach files, modify the body text, and add an image.

On the right side of the Authoring tab, the information for the appropriate authoring step is displayed. If the content item is locked, you can edit these values.

Once a content item has been created, you (or a user assigned to the Authoring task) can add and modify content at any time. However, you cannot create a content item until you have added tasks to the workflow that will be assigned to the content item or added at least one user with Create New Items privileges. Refer to Section 4.18 Workflows.

Refer to Section 4.6 Content Type for the unique properties for each content type.