Jadu Support

These pages make up almost the entirety of the Dickinson website and Jadu trained employees will spend the most, if not all, of their time in Jadu editing one or both of these types of pages. Here, we’ll describe the differences between each and when best to utilize them within your department websites.

Document Pages

Document pages are the more simple and common page type used on the Dickinson website. Despite the name, document pages have nothing to do with Word documents, PDFs, or any files that can be uploaded to Jadu as a Download. Instead, they are:

• Simple text- and image-based pages;
• Able to organize multiple webpages of varying titles within a single overall “document;”
  • Documents can contain as little as one page or as many as 10+ pages.
• Very easy to update and manage;
• The best way to quickly and easily post information for audiences of all types.

Creating a Document

To create a document page, we first need to start by establishing a document, which is what will hold the page(s) we will eventually create.

1. In your “Publishing” tab, click the “Document Pages” link.
2. Click the blue “New Document” button in the top right corner.
3. On the resulting “Document Header” page:
   1. Provide a title (as specific as you can get is always for the best);
   2. Assign any/all applicable categories using the “Assign Categories” button;
   3. Provide keywords (optional) and a short description of the page using the “Assign Metadata” button;
   4. Choose your page structure (most Dickinson webpages utilize a Two Column layout to account for Page Supplements);
   5. The “Password protected,” “Access Level,” and “Location” sections can be ignored;
   6. Click the blue “Save” button to create your document.

Creating a Page

Once your document is established, pages can be added to it by clicking the blue “New Page” button in the top right corner of the “Document Details” page. This will take you to a new "Page Details" page; here, you’ll simply need to give the new page a title, provide an optional image (this will be placed above the page content), populate the “Content” box with the intended content for this page, and go through the Saving and Publishing process.

The “Content” box is a simple text editor that functions very similarly to word processors, allowing you to add text, edit it’s formatting using the various tools found in the toolbar, as well as add images and tables to your page.

When best to use a Document Page:

• When a webpage’s primary purpose is to hold and relay simple and concise information to it’s audience(s).
  • For example: listing steps to enroll in a program; a description of an annual event; a short FAQ; a simple staff list with contact information.
• When multiple pages should be organized together into a cohesive collection.
  • For example: a collection of reference guides (e.g. this set of pages); a set of pages describing dormitory buildings; multiple employee or special guest biographies.

Helpful Tips:

• Settings added to any Document can be updated by selecting the "Edit Properties" option within the "Actions" dropdown menu on the Document Details page.
• You can view a change log for a Document by selecting the "View History" option in the "Actions" dropdown menu on the Document Details page.
• On the "Document Details" page are two green slider buttons to toggle a page as "Live/Offline" and "Visible/Invisible," in general these two sliders should be set to "Live" and "Visible;"
  • A page needs to be "Live" in order to be viewable on the website, taking a page offline will cause all links to this page to result in a 404 Error, stating that the page doesn't exist. If you wish to take a page offline, it should only be considered a temporary measure and should be sent through to the HelpDesk.
  • Making a page "Visible" will make the page appear in the website's navigation, making the page easier to search for. "Invisible" pages will still be accessible by clicking the URL, but will not appear in the website's navigation making them less likely to appear in search results, but not impossible.
• Previous versions of any Document Page can be viewed and rolled back to using the "Track Changes" tool found in the "Actions" dropdown menu on the "Page Details" page.
• In the "Content" box within text editor's toolbar is a very helpful tool known as the Paste from Word tool (the icon is a clipboard with a W in a square). This tool will aid in making sure to remove any broken characters, extra formatting or additonal markup code from any text copied from another source (Word documents, emails, other websites, etc.).
  • This tool is featured on any and all text editors within Jadu and is recommended to be used when copying and pasting text from anywhere into Jadu.
• If you come across any grey Placeholder boxes, please simply leave them be!

Homepages

Homepages tend to be more complicated in their design and upkeep in comparison to document pages. Most departments will feature at least one homepage that acts as their department “landing page,” or the intended page visitors will land on first when looking for your department. However, departments can implement a homepage whenever or wherever they find one necessary. They are:

• Widget-based pages laid out in grid system;
• Standalone;
  • Homepages cannot host multiple pages, like documents.
• Have a slight learning-curve while learning to update various widgets and homepage layouts;
• The best way to create a visually inviting, interactive webpage.

Creating a Homepage

1. In your “Publishing” tab, click the “Homepages” link.
2. Click the blue “New Homepage” button in the top right corner.
3. In the resulting “Assign Properties” box:
   1. Provide a title (as specific as you can get is always for the best);
   2. Provide an optional description (you will need to write one for the Metadata later);
   3. Choose if your page will or will not be Independent (all pages, save for rare occasions, will not be Independent);
   4. Choose your page structure (most Dickinson webpages utilize a Two Column layout to account for Page Supplements);
   5. Assign any/all applicable categories using the “Assign Categories” button;
   6. Provide keywords (optional) and a short description of the page using the “Assign Metadata” button;
   7.  Choose your stylesheet (all pages will utilize the standard.css stylesheet);
   8.  Click the blue “Assign Properties” button to create your homepage.

Laying out your Homepage

Once your homepage is created, you’ll be taken to the “Homepage Designer” where you can edit the page’s widgets and grid system.

What are widgets?

Homepages are built off of what are known as widgets. Widgets are elements developed by Jadu or by members of Dickinson College that hold a variety of functions. These range from adding simple text boxes or images to a homepage, to setting up interactive photo galleries and adding stylized callouts or links. Our widgets range in complexity and may require trained employees to spend some time familiarizing themselves with our common use widgets in order to edit them properly. To see our common use widgets, please refer to our Widgets reference page.

Grid System

Homepages are organized in a system of rows and columns, also known as a grid system. In this layout, rows are added to your homepage which can then hold widgets which act as columns. To set up this up, a row is created by clicking the “New Row” button on the homepage editor and either dragging and dropping the widget from the left-hand widget menu into the new row, or by selecting the widget by clicking on it and using the dropdown menu to select the row to which you’d like to add this widget.

Managing Widgets

In a row, individual widgets can be managed by clicking the pencil icon on the top right corner of the widget. Doing so will bring up the “Widget Details” box for that specific instance of that widget. Once you’ve made any and all updates to the widget, click the blue “Continue” button at the bottom left corner of the box and your updates will be saved and the widget within the Homepage Designer will show a general idea of how the widget will look on the front-end of the website. After any and all widgets have been added to your layout, you can go through the Saving and Publishing process.

When best to use a Homepage:

• When a webpage's purpose is marketing a department, program or center to a wide audience, such as prospective students/parents or the greater campus community;
  • For example: the main Dickinson website homepage; the landing page for the Center of Career Development; Academic program overview pages.
• When a page's content is complex, lengthy and/or needing the help of widgets (e.g. the Accordion Widget) to condense the content into a reasonable size;
  • For example: long, multi-section FAQ pages; a page with many short descriptions of available scholarships.
• When a page is acting as a central hub for other pages and pieces of information;
  • For example: the main Alumni homepage; the landing page for Integrated Academic Success; the homepage for the CCLA.

Helpful Tips:

• Settings added to any Homepage can be updated by selecting the "Edit Properties" option within the "Actions" dropdown menu on the Homepage Designer.
• Previous versions of any Homepage can be viewed and rolled back to using the "Track Changes" tool found in the "Actions" dropdown menu on the Homepage Designer.
• You can set up Templates for Homepages that can be used to quickly and efficiently make copies of a Homepage layout;
  • To set up a Template, once you're finished laying out your Homepage as you'd like it, select the "Save as Template" option within the "Actions" dropdown menu on the Homepage Designer and give the Template a title and optionally a description and preview image.
  • To apply a Template, select the "Apply Template" option within the "Actions" dropdown menu on the Homepage Designer and select the Template you'd like to use from the resulting list and click the blue "Apply Template" button at the bottom once selected.
  • Templates may be created as you'd like, but please do not delete any existing Templates.
• Widgets can be stacked within a row by opening the Widget Details for an individual widget, clicking on the "Settings" tab and clicking the "Select Widget" button in the "Combine Widget" section.
• All widgets are available for use with the exception of all widgets with "Block_" at the beginning of their titles.
  • These widgets have been specifically designed for use on the main college homepage and will include a warning within the Widget Details relaying that information.
• If a widget isn't saving when you click the blue "Continue" button, this can usually be remedied by closing out of the "Widget Details" box, saving and reloading the page, and attempting the update again.

If you run into any issue with Document Pages or Homepages that isn't covered on this page, please reach out to the HelpDesk.