RedDot CMS 6.1 eases Web site updates and administration RedDot Solutions may be best known for its signature red dots — icons that are embedded in Web pages and that authors click to update content easily. Still, corporate Webmasters may not realize how strong an enterprise content manager RedDot has become. RedDot CMS 6.1 provides strong proof with even easier content editing, more options to publish different site versions, and compliance with accessibility regulations.After using the software for a week on two complex intranet sites, I was impressed with three new features — SmartDrop, DirectEdit, and Permanent Preview — that speed content creation. Instead of opening a separate editing window, SmartDrop let me drag images, text, and spreadsheets directly to a Web page. Images were automatically uploaded to the system, extraneous characters properly stripped from Microsoft Word files, and Excel tables accurately converted to HTML tables. In much the same way, DirectEdit lets content contributors update text in place without launching a separate editor. The Permanent Preview window eliminates a preview step, permitting users to see instantly how changes will appear once published live.Traditionally, RedDot’s publishing has been strong. I often create sites in several languages and formats, including XML. CMS 6.1 gives administrators even more control over a site’s appearance by permitting multiple versions of these templates, so changing the look and feel of sections is a simple publish-time selection. This Microsoft-centric product doesn’t work with Mozilla Firefox. (RedDot says it will do so in the next release.) Still, version 6.1’s new functions, plus major changes in CMS 6.0 for managing assets and workflow, make this content manager a worthy solution for public sites, intranets, and extranets. RedDot CMS 6.1 RedDot Software Cost: Starts at $55,000 Available: Now Software Development