Adding content
There are several types of information you can add to the website. Generally they all use the same editor. (Find out how to use the editor.)
Different types of "content" appear in different places. I would expect that most people contributing to the website would use articles, comments, images and messages. Administrators and more experienced site contributors may find they need to make announcements, collect pages into a book or modify the static pages and menus.
Commonly used content types
- An article will appear on the home page when you publish it.
- A comment will appear after the item that you commented on.
- An image is a picture which you can add to the site. An image can be in an image gallery, attached or inserted into a page or article, or just stand alone.
- You can also post messages to the forum.
Used by experienced people or administrators
- A page is static content that needs to be linked to a menu or into a book.
- A book is a set of pages linked together (generally having a common theme). This page is part of a book. You can tell because at the bottom of the page are pointers to the previous and next pages.
- We can also have announcements which will appear at the top of the site for up to a month.
Creating new content
STEP 1. To create some new "content" or information to go onto the website select the "Create Content" tab. | STEP 2. Choose a content type (I will be choosing story). | STEP 3. You will now be in the editor. I wrote a short article about the upcoming igc33. |
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Finally I previewed and then submitted my story. By opening the "publishing options" at the end of the page I can choose to have my story put on the front page or not.
Content options
When you have finished editing your content - be it story, page or comment there are many options available below the main editor window. You can ignore most of them until you are an experienced user who needs to do more than simply write/preview/edit/submit.
Here is a brief overview of them, with the ones you need to know about highlighted. Any options preceded by an arrow will open up on the page.
- Input Format - if you want to use lots of formatting you may like to switch to Full HTML which allows more options.
- Attached Images - you can attach images to your article
- Menu Settings
- URL path Settings
- Authoring information
- Publishing options
[Preview ] [Submit]
I'll look at Preview and Submit here, and deal with Publishing options on the next few pages.
Preview
Preview is used to look at your edited article and see what it will look like when it is published. This is a good option to use as it gives you a second chance to review your words and your format and to ensure that you are saying what you want to say as clearly and simply as possible.
If your article is long the preview will show it in two parts: the teaser and the complete article. The teaser is what will show up on the front page, with a link to the complete article. Below the teaser and complete article is the whole editing page again. Continue with the edit/preview cycle until you are ready to submit.
Submit
Once you submit your story, it is available for other website users to see.
Publishing Options
If you open the Publishing Options entry at the bottom of an editing page you will see
Published - this article is available for other users to see. (You might want to unset this if you want to keep a draft of your article for later work.)
Promoted to front page - your article teaser will appear as one of the items on the front page.
Sticky at top of lists - useful for introductory forum articles which everyone should read. Your item won't disappear as newer items are created. Only use this for VERY IMPORTANT articles.
Create new revision - Useful if you are working with other people and need to manage the copies of a document.