Add/edit a topic page

Getting started

Because topic pages are the most commonly used type of page, this documentation will review the material fully.  In other parts of the documentation, we will only talk about the parts that are specific to the page in question (ie. that don't exist on a topic page).

• Field names are usually bolded and sit above the space where information can be entered (see "Title" in the screenshot below)
• Asterisks indicate that a field is mandatory
• Underneath the space for the content, you will find helpful hints and information about what you should provide in this area as well as details like character count maximums etc. 

• The meta description is not displayed anywhere on a published page and is not visible to visitors.  It is strictly used for search results (search engine optimization or SEO) so it should - in 160 characters or less - contain information that would make this page findable during a search.  If you're not sure what to include in a meta description, try looking at other pages in this department/school or talk to your Marketing Specialist.
• You can expand or decrease the space in the field by using the handle at the lower right.  You cannot increase the character limitation from 160.
• If you are working on a school page, click the box next to that question.  You will be asked to choose a feature image for the page.
• If there is a news topic relevant to your page, select the topic from the drop-down list.  If there is none related, leave 'none' selected.

Topic content is the main part of any page.  There are options for how you want to present your information - you choose components to build your page nicely.  

If you are creating a new page, you will see:

About Components

To add a component, you should click on one of the grey buttons.  

Because we're working with a page that already contains components (ie. we're editing an existing page), we'll see all the components in use and under those, the option to add more by clicking on the grey buttons.

You can add any component more than once on any page.

It is unlikely that you will want or need to use ALL the different components offered.  We have done so here for demonstration purposes only.  Please read through all the component types as we'll be pointing out things along the way that apply in other components.

Text and media block component

To add a Text and media block, click the grey button that says Add a text and media block. To edit an existing one, click the Edit button to the right of the block.

For more information about how to add/edit Text and media blocks, refer to these instructions.

Table component 

To add a table to your page, click the Add Table component button. To edit an existing table block, click the Edit button to the right of the block.

For more information about how to add/edit Accordion blocks, refer to these instructions.

Text block component

To add a Text block, click the grey button that says Add a Text block. To edit an existing one, click the Edit button to the right of the block.

For more information about how to add/edit Accordion blocks, refer to these instructions.

Accordion block component

To add an Accordion block, click the grey button that says Add an Accordion block. To edit an existing one, click the Edit button to the right of the block.

For more information about how to add/edit Accordion blocks, refer to these instructions.

Feature profiles component

To add a Feature profiles block, click the grey button that says Add Feature profile. To edit an existing one, click the Edit button to the right of the block.

For more information about how to add/edit the Feature profile block, refer to these instructions.

Feature testimonials component

To add a Feature testimonial component, click the grey button that says Add Feature testimonial. To edit an existing one, click the Edit button to the right of the block.

For more information about how to add/edit the Feature testimonial block, refer to these instructions.

PDF Listing component

To add a PDF listing component, click the grey button that says Add a PDF listing. To edit an existing one, click the Edit button to the right of the block.

For more information about how to add/edit a PDF listing component, refer to these instructions.

Media block component

To add a Media block, click the grey button that says Add a Media block. To edit an existing one, click the Edit button to the right of the block.

For more information about how to add/edit Media blocks, refer to these instructions.

Call to action component

To add a Call to action component, click the grey button that says Add Call to action. To edit an existing one, click the Edit button to the right of the block.

For more information about how to add/edit Call to action components, refer to these instructions.

After one or more components have been added to your page

If you would like a call to action button on the bottom of your page, click on the down arrow to the left of "Bottom Topic content" to open the data entry area.  Fill in the information and include an image if you like.  Use the same process outlined in the Add/edit media block to add and remove images.

The resulting Call to action block will look like this:

You're almost ready to submit this page for review (or to publish it if you have permissions to do so ) BUT there's some important information on the upper right of this screen that will need to be provided.

From the drop-down list, choose the colour scheme that matches your school or department, or choose 'Default' if there isn't one specifically for you.

Click the check box next to 'Create new revision' so that we can keep versions of this page for reference.

Always make a note in the Revision log message area.  This will help the publisher if you are passing this on for someone else to publish, or a colleague if they have to come after you to make additional changes.

Right below those fields:

Click the box next to 'Provide a menu link', enter a description of this page and then choose the area of the website where this page belongs.  If you don't know, you could check another page in your department's content or talk to your Marketing Specialist for assistance.

We're ready to move our content along in the workflow.

At the bottom of the screen, select your publisher from the list under "Notification for publisher review".  

Select Draft, Publisher review, Published or Archived, as appropriate.

More details about this workflow will be coming soon.

That's it!  You've successfully created a Topic page and submitted it to the system!

Fill in the required information using the field descriptions below.  If you are unsure of the content you should use, we suggest reviewing a similar page in your program area or connecting with your Marketing Specialist for advice.

1. Title
   Page title, without any branding (such as your site name).  70 character limit. 
   
   
2. Meta description
   The meta description is not displayed anywhere on the page.  It is not visible to visitors on the page.  It is strictly used for search results (search engine optimization or SEO) so it should - in 160 characters or less - contain information that would make this page findable during a search.  If you're not sure what to include in a meta description, try looking at other pages in this department/school or talk to your Marketing Specialist.
   
   
3. Is this a school page?
   Check this box only if this is a school page.  If you check this box, this is what happens ???
   
   
4. News topic
   There is a lot of news on the site and every news story is a web page of type "News story".  You can pull in news content from the news collection by selecting the topic here. If you are creating a page on the subject of financial aid, for example, you would choose the News topic of "Financial Aid" from the drop-down list. Then, when you save the page and look at it as a customer would, you will see that relevant news articles are displayed automatically.  This is a great way to enhance your page using content that exists elsewhere already.  If there are no news categories relevant to your page's topic, leave "None" selected.
   
   

5. Under the grey heading bar called "Topic content", you will choose which components you want to be included on this page.  If you're not sure which components you want, please refer to the list of component types. You can remove content types if you no longer want them but you cannot change a content type once it's there. 
   
   For example, if you choose 'Add text block', add your text and save but later decide you would prefer an image as well, you cannot change that type to a 'Text and Media block'.  If you no longer want the Text bock, you must delete it and add a Text and media block instead if you wish to corporate a photo.  Hint:  if you need to do this, we suggest that you copy the content from the Text block, add the Text and media block, copy the text in, add a photo and then go back to delete the Text block, to save typing it all again.
   
   This is the body of your webpage and where you will spend most of your time while editing.
   
   Please visit the Types of components page for specific details about adding each component, including specific information about each type.

   
   

6. Faculty by program area
   You can pull in faculty biographies from the collection by choosing a program area from the drop-down list. If you are creating a page for the Leadership and Executive Education area, you would choose "Leadership and Executive Education" from the drop-down list. Then, when you save the page and look at it as a customer would, you will see faculty bios for faculty in this school.  If you do not wish to include bios, leave "None" selected.
   
   

7. Before moving on to the Bottom topic content, let's look at the options on the upper right of the screen, starting with Colour scheme.
   Choose the name of your school or department from the drop-down list, if appropriate.  This will ensure that the new page is colour coordinated with your existing pages.  If your department is not listed, you can leave "Default" selected.
   
   
8. Revision log message
   Leave a comment to explain what changes you made.  This will be helpful if your page needs to go to a publisher to be published or for another editor in your department who may need to work on this page with you.
   
   
9. Menu settings
   Click the option to provide a menu link if you... ???
   
   

10. Moving down to Bottom topic content
    You can add one or more 'call to action' buttons and/or images in the bottom topic content section.  These are meant to inspire the reader to click on them to DO something, such as "Call us" or "Read more". 
    
    
    
    

11. Notification for publisher review

    
    
    Please see publishing options for more information about publishing and saving.
    
    

12. Save as
    
    The options available here are:
    
    

Please see publishing options for more information about publishing and saving.

Once you have published and saved, you're done!

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