Getting to Know Cascade Server
Cascade Server, aka (ContentXML, the cms system) is a content management system used here at Yavapai College for web authors like ourselves when we want to create, update and manage our web pages.
Although it's a very powerful tool, it's not complicated to use. Once we discover and understand a very few, simple elements of this system we have the ability to easily build attractive pages that communicate our information very well to the intended visitor.
1. Cascade Server & FireFox - The Dynamic Duo of YC Web Authors
Although most of us use the Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser, there is another, which looks and operates the same with one exception -- it is standards compliant. Ultimately, we need to use Firefox.
- Use your web browser and visit Get Firefox
- Click in the big green box that says "Free Download"
- Run and install the new browser
During the installation process you will be asked if you want to "import" bookmarks / favorites. You don't need to do that unless you want to.
2. Cascade Server Login Screen
Login Instructions
- Login at http://yccms.yc.edu
- Enter your YC Network username
- Enter your YC Network password
- Press the "Log In" button
If you do not have access, or if you do not have the level of access you need, please contact Kate Kohl at 928-717-7681 or email Kate Kohl
3. Dashboard Screen
The dashboard is the entry sceen when you successfully log into Cascade Server. You can always return to the screen buy pressing the "Home" button in the blue navigation bar in the top left corner of the screen.
Below the navigation, in the left panel is the primary folder structure.
TIP: You will find your department folder by clicking on the content folder in the top, left corner
4. The Content Folder
The content folder contains the vast majority of the pages that form the YC.edu web site. This is the folder that you will click on first when navigating to your web pages, when uploading documents or images.
5. Specific Department Folders
Your department folder contains all of the pages, images and documents that form your website. This is the folder that you will navigate to in order to create new pages, edit existing web pages and when you upload documents or images
As an organized web author, you'll quickly realize that by creating a couple of folders within your department's master folder, let's say one for images, and another for documents, you will ultimately keep your website content clutter-free and easy to maintain.
Recommended Hierarchy for a Department folder
- at the top level you will store your .htm files
- an image folder (if needed)
- a documents folder (if needed)
TIP: You may find that you will want to have additional folders within your hierarchy such as a folder just for .docs, .pdfs, .xls and so on.
6. Creating a New Page
New Page, Part #1 - Creating
- Use the folder hierarchy in the left pane to navigate to your department folder, click on the folder so that it's contents are visible in the center pane
- Up in the blue bar, click New » Web Page » Version 3 Master
New Page, Part #2 - System Naming
- Click on the "System" link in the blue bar
- Enter the page's name; names need to be lowercase with no spaces
- Click the "Submit" button below
New Page, Part #3 - Metadata Naming
The metadata relates to "Display Name" and "Title" that appears in the school's website navigation boxes at the upper right of your web pages, and the breadcrumbs in the grey bar. This is NOT the same as the page's system name.
- Click on the "Metadata" link up at the top in the blue bar
- Enter the "Display Name" that can be UpperLower Case with Spaces
- Enter the "Title" that can be UpperLower Case with Spaces
- (Optional) Enter the Start Date and Stop Date if the page that you are creating will need to begin running in the future, and has a definite day where the data will no longer be relevant.
- Press the "Submit" button (if you did not do this previously)
TIP: Keep your "Display Name" and "Title" as short as possible
TIP: If you don't want the page to appear in the navigation box with the rest of your department webpages, don't enter a "Display Name" for it
New Page, Part #4 - Entering the Content
Now that you have created a new page, named and saved it, you can begin to add the content.
- Click on the "page's system name" in the left pane
- Click on the "Edit" tab over on the right pane
- The content for the page will be visible and editable below on the right
- Click on the "HTML" icon in the tool bar across the top to open the HTML Editor window for HTML editing
TIP: The WYSIWYG editor is fine for simple text changes, text links, bolding and italicizing of text, but the addition of page content is best done with simple, super easy HTML
7. HTML Editor Interface
The HTML editor is the most powerful tool you have access to as a web author. You'll quickly notice that HTML is incredibility easy and simple to grasp and master.
After editing the html code, click the "Update" button below. If you think you've made a mistake, click the "Cancel" button.
TIP: HTML tags you'll quickly learn and have awesome control over each of your pages:
<h1></h1> (header, size large, with green background)
<h2></h2> (header, size medium, with underline)
<h3></h3> (header, size small, with underline)
<p></p> (paragraph)
<ol></ol> (ordered list, numbered)
<ul></ul> (unordered list, with green bullet)
<li></li> (list item)
Spell Checker
Once you click the "Submit" button at the bottom of the Edit window, the CMS system will do spell checking and other tests on your code. If there are mis-spelled words you will have a couple of options:
- modify the text by typing in a new word
- accept a suggested spelling
- add the word to your dictionary in the CMS system
- ignore the word
Click the "Submit"button when you are finished.
Table Checker
If you are working with a table, although it's not very common, you may receive an error for not having a "table summary"
- add a table summary and the error will cease
Click the "Submit" button when you are finished.
8. Publishing a Page
Once you have completed all of your edits to a web page, you will need to publish the page so that it is visible to the general public.
- Select the web page or folder you want to publish
- Click on the "Publish" tab over of the right pane
- Click the "Submit" button below
- Click the "Cancel" button below if you saw an error in your content
- Depending on how many "publish jobs" are in the queue, it could be moments or minutes before your page is published
TIP: The entire website is published nightly. If your pages don't have a start or stop date, your pages will be published, too.
9. Uploading a File (documents or images)
TIP: The following process is applicable for most file types you would upload for your web pages such as .doc, .txt, .jpg, .gif, .xls, .ppt and so forth.
- Create the file (if you haven't already) and be aware of its location on your computer (desktop, a folder, etc.)
- Navigate to the folder in which you want to store the file
- Click on New » File
- Click on the "Browse" button and locate your file
- Highlight the file, click the "Open" button in the dialogue box that appears, and it will be read for uploading
(check to be sure that you are currently in the folder you want to upload the files into, otherwise, you will need to click the yellow folder icon just above the "Submit" button and will need to navigate to that folder) - Click the "Submit" button
10. Uploading a ZIP archive
The ".zip" file format allows you to store more than one document, image, etc., into a single file. If you have more than one file that you need to upload to the server in order to display on web pages, then creating and uploading a .zip file is the perfect solution
- Create a .zip file and be aware of its location on your computer (desktop, a folder, etc.)
- Navigate to the folder that you want the contents of the .zip archive to be extracted to
- Click on Tools » Import » Zip Archive
- Click on the "Browse" button to locate your file
- Highlight the file, press the "Open" button in the dialogue box that appears, and it will be read for uploading
(Check to be sure that you are currently in the folder you want to upload the files into, otherwise, you will need to click the yellow folder icon just above the "Submit" button and will need to navigate to that folder) - Click the "Submit" button
11. Inserting an Image Into a Page
To insert an image into a page we'll do half of it with the WYSIWYG editor, and the other part with a simple adjustment to the HTML
- Navigate your mouse to the area you want your image to appear
- Click on the "Image" icon
- Navigate to the folder where your image is stored
- Click on the image, then click the "Confirm" button
- Submit the image by clicking the "Insert" button
- Click on the HTML Editor Icon
- Add the HTML code class="left" or class="right" depending on the way you want the text to flow and wrap around the image
- Click the "Update" button
