Sitekit CMS API Control Panel – Back-end management System
Sitekit CMS application programming interface (API) allows the standard CMS functionality to be extended to include custom functionality.
The control panel API enables the management of third party data via the private, Sitekit CMS Control Panel. The website API enables the presentation of third party data on the public facing site and is covered in the first SDK document of the series.
A typical example of usage is enabling pages to be created that derive their content from externally held third party sites or data sources.
The business benefit using the Sitekit CMS Control Panel API for management of third party data is that all data presented on the public site is managed from a single Control Panel using a single log-in. This provides a consistent, single-point user interface, thereby minimising training and support costs for users.
Typical uses
Sitekit CMS application programming interface (API) allows for pages to be created that derive their content from externally held third party sites or data sources. This can be further extended to enable the processing of site specific business logic from such sites. This guide deals specifically with those users that wish to maintain and administrate such externally held third party databases via the Sitekit CMS Control Panel administration interface. This can be done in conjunction with the display of such information on the public facing site, but is not a requirement for doing so.
The three following systems are examples of how the architecture could be used:
- Online booking system – the creation of a ten stage holiday booking system taking users from their choice of destination and departure date through to insurance choices and upgrades before finally processing secure credit card payment via https. Holiday information is entered via the administration interface. Customers booking details are extracted from the administration system for offline payment processing.
- Insurance quotes – integration with companies own business logic to provide real-time travel insurance quotes based around a three stage questionnaire process. Seasonal insurance premiums, age and cost ranges can be adjusted via the custom built insurance interface.
- Self assessment – A ten stage structured questionnaire. Allowing a web site's users to self assess their business needs against several criteria. Users do not need to complete the questionnaire in a single session but can return to it at any point. But not revise earlier answers. Users progress and results can be monitored via the custom admin interface.
