A common problem for Web CMS vendors is balancing the usability/simplicity of the interface with high-specification, advanced features.

One way to resolve this dilemma is to implement layers of complexity, as famously implemented by Photoshop and other graphical packages that need to guide users from occasional novice use to daily expert.

The five screenshots below demonstrate how we've implemented this when editing the Permissions of User Roles in the Amaxus Web CMS.

In the first stage, the user can see a high-level overview of the various types of permissions they can edit, without getting bogged-down with individual details.

Clicking on one of these options expands the selection to show the next layer down (in this case, the different types of content).

When the role is given access to a type of content (by checking a box), a new button appears that can be used to optionally further specify permissions.

Clicking this button shows the next level of detail; a 'high-level' overview of granular permissions/access.

Finally, the 'Advanced Permissions' can be accessed, if required, to specify extremely granular permissions for the role.