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Plone 2.5 User Manual
A User Ma n u a l for Plon e con t en t crea t ors a n d m a n a gers.
1. Introduction
A Con cept u a l Ov erv iew of Plon e
1.1. Conceptual Overview
A n expla n a t ion of Plon e a s a con t en t m a n a gem en t sy st em
What is Plone?
Plon e is a con ten t m a n a g em en t sy stem (CMS) w h ich y ou ca n u se to bu ild a w eb site. With Plon e,
or din a r y people ca n con tr ibu te con ten t to a w eb site w ith ou t th e h elp of a com pu ter g eek. Plon e r u n s
ov er th e Web, too, so y ou don ’t n eed to in sta ll a n y specia l softw a r e on y ou r com pu ter . Th e w or d content
is m ea n t to be g en er a l, beca u se y ou ca n pu blish so m a n y ty pes of in for m a tion , in clu din g :
A Plon e w eb site con ta in s v a r iou s kin ds of con ten t , in clu din g tex t , ph otos, a n d im a g es. Th ese ca n ex ist
in m a n y for m s: docu m en ts, n ew s item s, ev en ts, v ideos, a u dio files, a n y ty pes of file a n d da ta th a t ca n
be u ploa ded or cr ea ted on a w eb site. Con ten t ca n a lso be u ploa ded fr om y ou r loca l com pu ter . You
cr ea te folders on a Plon e w eb site to h old con ten t:
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You Love Butterflies
For ex a m ple, to a dd con ten t a bou t bu tter flies, y ou m ig h t a dd a folder n a m ed "Bu tter flies," th en a dd
som e tex t in to a w eb pa g e in th e folder :
A n d th en y ou m ig h t a dd som e bu tter fly ph otos to th e folder :
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You ca n a dd m a n y ty pes of con ten t to a folder , in clu din g su b-folder s. A fter a ddin g a few r epor ts a n d
v ideos to th e Bu tter flies folder , th e con ten t w ou ld be or g a n ized like th is, w ith tw o su b-folder s w ith in th e
Bu tter flies folder :
Th a t 's a ll y ou n eed to kn ow -- th e r est is ju st deta ils. ;-)
Bu t fir st , for th e cu r iou s:
What Goes on Behind the Scenes
You m a y w on der h ow it a ll w or ks. A ty pica l Plon e w eb site ex ists a s a n in sta lla t ion of Plon e softw a r e on
a w eb ser v er . Th e w eb ser v er m a y be a n y w h er e, often a t a w ebsite ser v er com pa n y w ith in a "r a ck" of
com pu ter s dedica ted to th e ta sk:
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Th e dia g r a m sh ow s th e m a n y ca bles th a t con n ect in div idu a l ser v er com pu ter s to th e In ter n et , a cr oss
fa st n etw or k con n ect ion s. You r Plon e site is ju st softw a r e a n d da ta ba se stor a g e softw a r e in sta lled on on e
of th e in div idu a l ser v er com pu ter s. A s y ou ty pe or click on y ou r com pu ter , da ta is sen t u p a n d dow n
th e n etw or kin g ca bles a n d com m u n ica t ion ch a n n els of th e In ter n et to in ter a ct w ith y ou r Plon e
softw a r e in sta lla t ion on th e ser v er .
Let 's sim plify th e dia g r a m sh ow in g h ow y ou in ter a ct w ith Plon e:
You u se y ou r w eb br ow ser -- Fir efox , Sa fa r i, In ter n et Ex plor er , etc. -- to v iew a n d edit y ou r Plon e w eb
site, a n d th e ch a n g es a r e stor ed by th e Plon e softw a r e in to its da ta ba se stor a g e sy stem .
For ex a m ple, im a g in e y ou r bu tter fly Plon e w eb site is loca ted a t a t m y site.com . You ty pe
w w w .m y site.com in to y ou r w eb br ow ser . A fter y ou pr ess En ter , th e follow in g sequ en ce of ev en ts
h a ppen s a s y ou r br ow ser ta lks to th e w eb ser v er a t m y site.com :
Th e Plon e softw a r e r espon ds, :
Plon e r ea ds its da ta ba se to look for in for m a tion stor ed in m y site.com . It th en sen ds ba ck th e w eb pa g e
to y ou r com pu ter , in a code ca lled HTML. HTML is a com pu ter la n g u a g e th a t descr ibes h ow a w eb pa g e
looks. It in clu des tex t , g r a ph ics, fon ts, th e color of th e ba ckg r ou n d, a n d ju st a bou t ev er y th in g else.
Th er e a r e m a n y on lin e r esou r ces th a t ca n tea ch y ou HTML deta ils, bu t on e of Plon e’s a dv a n ta g es is
th a t y ou don ’t n eed to kn ow (m u ch ) a bou t HTML. Th a t ’s on e r ea son for Plon e a n d oth er sim ila r w eb
softw a r e; to let y ou focu s on y ou r con ten t , e.g . , bu tter fly tex t a n d g r a ph ics, in stea d of lea r n in g a n ew
com pu ter la n g u a g e.
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Bu t ba ck to ou r ov er v iew . You r w eb br ow ser "r en der s" (tr a n sla tes) th is HTML, a n d y ou see th e
r esu lt in g w eb pa g e:
A s y ou v iew y ou r bu tter fly w eb pa g e, y ou ca n ch oose to ch a n g e it or a dd to it . You ca n a lso u ploa d
ph otos, docu m en ts, etc. a t a n y t im e:
A fter y ou m a ke y ou r edits a n d click "sa v e ch a n g es," th e n ew v er sion of th e w eb pa g e w ill be
im m edia tely a v a ila ble to a n y on e su r fin g to y ou r site:
Now , on to th e deta ils. . .
1.2. Visual Design of Plone Web Sites
Plon e a llows web sit e a dm in ist ra t ors a n d design ers t h e a bilit y t o crea t e u n iqu e sit e
design s.
Wh a t does a Plon e w eb site look like? For y ea r s th er e h a s been a con sisten t desig n for th e defa u lt Plon e
a ppea r a n ce. Th e defa u lt desig n looks g en er a lly like th is:
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Th e Plon e w eb site y ou u se cou ld h a v e a desig n r a dica lly differ en t fr om th is, bu t y ou sh ou ld be a ble to
fin d com m on elem en ts, su ch a s th e log in lin k a n d a n a v ig a t ion pa n el or m en u . In th e defa u lt desig n ,
th e n a v ig a t ion m en u is in th e left a r ea , a n d u su a lly a ppea r s a s a n in den ted list of folder s in th e site.
Th er e a lso m a y be a set of ta bs in th e Log In, Location Inform ation str ip n ea r th e top.
We ca n dist in g u ish betw een th e design of a w eb site a n d th e functionality of a w eb site. For g ett in g w or k
don e, focu s on th e fu n ct ion a lity a n d don 't w or r y so m u ch a bou t th e a ppea r a n ce a n d la y ou t of th e w eb
site. A str en g th of th e Plon e con ten t m a n a g em en t sy stem is th a t a w eb site ca n be r a dica lly r edesig n ed
for a n ew look, w ith ou t a ffect in g th e u n der ly in g con ten t a n d fu n ct ion a lity . Th e n a v ig a t ion m en u ca n
be m ov ed fr om th e left to th e r ig h t , bu t it w or ks th e sa m e. Th e r ig h t a r ea ca n be deleted w h er e
fu n ct ion a lity n or m a lly pu t th er e isn 't n eeded. Th e a r ea s for left , m a in , a n d r ig h t , a s depicted a bov e
a n d below , cou ld be ch a n g ed to top, m iddle, a n d bottom , bu t it w ou ld st ill be a Plon e w eb site
u n der n ea th .
We'll u se th e defa u lt Plon e la y ou t desig n a s a n ex a m ple of ty pica l div ision s of th e scr een :
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You m a y n eed to a da pt th ese ter m s a s n eeded for y ou r Plon e w eb site desig n . You m a y en cou n ter
v a r ied ter m s for descr ibin g scr een r ea l esta te, su ch a s r ig h t a n d left "slots," for th e left a n d r ig h t
colu m n a r ea s, "por t let ," or "v iew let ," for discr ete a r ea s or box es, a n d sev er a l oth er ter m s.
For ex a m ple, w e ca n select th r ee w eb sites fr om th e list of Plon e w eb sites to com pa r e:
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Th is is th e w eb site for A ka m a i, a lea din g pr ov ider of on lin e w eb tools a n d a cceler a t ion tech n olog y . Th e
h ea der a r ea h a s sim ple tex t m en u ch oices for fiv e m a in con ten t a r ea s a r r a y ed h or izon ta lly a t th e
bottom of th e h ea der a r ea . A t r ig h t , th e h ea der con ta in s a n oth er h or izon ta l m en u a n d a sea r ch box .
Th e bottom of th e h ea der a r ea w ou ld con ta in log in in for m a tion , for u se by th e m a in ta in er s of th e w eb
site. Th e m a in g r a ph ic a t top left is a focu s a r ea for ey e-ca tch in g g r a ph ics a n d cu r r en t topics. Th er e is
a m a in a r ea a t left cen ter w h er e th e m a in tex t is loca ted. Th e r ig h t colu m n h olds a ser ies of "por t lets."
Th e footer con ta in s a h or izon ta l m en u , r epea t in g th e m en u ch oices in th e h ea der , for con v en ien ce.
Th er e is a r ig h t-m ost colu m n th a t h a s zoom sett in g s.
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Th is is th e w eb site for Discov er Ma g a zin e. Th e h ea der a r ea con ta in s a la r g e h or izon ta l m en u , th e
"m a in m en u ," if y ou w ill, a sm a ller h or izon ta l m en u a t u pper r ig h t , a n d a sea r ch box . Th is site is r ich
w ith tex tu a l "por t lets" th a t cov er so m a n y topic a r ea s, w h ich a r e div ided in to th r ee colu m n a r a r ea s,
left , m iddle, a n d r ig h t . Th e top of th e m iddle colu m n con ta in s a focu s a r ea w ith a v ideo. Th er e a r e
la r g e in ter a ct iv e box es in sev er a l pla ces. Th e footer con ta in s ba sic site iden tifica t ion in for m a tion a n d a
lin k to "a bou t u s." For a la r g e w eb site like Discov er 's, m a in ta in er s of th e site log in to cu stom edit in g
scr een s, a n d th er e is m u ch a u tom a tion of da ta feeds -- Plon e u ses Zope, a soph ist ica ted stor a g e sy stem ,
a n d Py th on , a g r ea t pr og r a m m in g la n g u a g e, w h ich fa cilita tes in tellig en t "w ir in g " of th e flow of tex t
a n d g r a ph ics in to th e w eb site.
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Th e la st of th e th r ee sites to ex a m in e is th e w eb site for Pen n Sta te Un iv er sity 's Sm ea l Colleg e of
Bu sin ess. Th e h ea der con ta in s a log o, a h or izon ta l m en u for m a in topic a r ea s, a n d a sea r ch box a t
r ig h t . Th er e is a m a in m en u for th is site a t left , w h ich is m or e tr a dit ion a l for a Plon e w eb site. A la r g e
g r a ph ica l a r ea con ta in s a r ollin g focu s a n im a tion . Th er e is a n oth er sm a ll g r a ph ica l focu s in th e left
colu m n . Th r ee tex tu a l colu m n s r ou n d ou t th e desig n , a bov e th e ba sic iden tifica t ion footer .
Ma in ta in er s of th is w eb site en ter by m ea n s of a cu stom log in pa g e, w ith th e log in a n d u ser
in for m a tion sh ow in g a lon g th e bottom of th e topm ost h ea der a r ea .
So, w h a t does a Plon e w eb site look like? Tr a dit ion a lly , th e ou t-of-th e-box look is like th a t sh ow n a t th e
top of th is pa g e, w ith h ea der , m en u , colu m n s, a n d a footer . Th ese th r ee sites illu str a te h ow desig n er s
ty pica lly com bin e focu s a r ea s, v er t ica l a n d h or izon ta l m en u s, "por t lets," a n d tex tu a l con ten t , u su a lly
a r r a y ed in sev er a l colu m n s. Th e u n der ly in g m a ch in er y is Plon e a n d Zope a n d Py th on , bu t th e desig n
"th em e" or "skin " ca n be m a de to look a n y w a y th e desig n er ch ooses.
1.3. Plone User Accounts and Roles
T h e ba sics of u sin g a Plon e web sit e a ccou n t , t h e dist in ct ion bet ween a n on y m ou s su rfin g
a n d "logged in " web sit e work, a n d t h e descript ion of u ser roles.
Plon e w eb sites com e in m a n y fla v or s, r a n g in g fr om per son a l w ebsites w ith on e u ser to com m u n ity ,
or g a n iza t ion , or bu sin ess w ebsites th a t cou ld h a v e h u n dr eds of u ser s. User s a r e often a lso ca lled
m em ber s. Ea ch per son w h o a dds con ten t to a Plon e w eb site h a s th eir ow n u ser a ccou n t . A u ser
a ccou n t in clu des a u ser n a m e a n d a pa ssw or d. Som e Plon e sites a llow people to sig n u p by v isit in g th e
site, clickin g a "join " lin k, a n d fillin g ou t ba sic u ser in for m a tion . Oth er sites h a v e u ser a ccou n ts th a t
a r e cr ea ted by w eb site a dm in istr a tor s, in w h ich ca se people n or m a lly r eceiv e em a ils w ith th e u ser
a ccou n t deta ils.
How ev er cr ea ted, a Plon e u ser a ccou n t a llow s a per son to log in by ty pin g th eir u ser n a m e a n d
pa ssw or d. Pa ssw or ds a r e ca se-sen sit iv e, w h ich m ea n s th a t y ou h a v e to pa y a tten t ion to th e u pper ca se
a n d low er ca se let ter s. For ex a m ple, if y ou r pa ssw or d is x cFGt6 v , y ou w ou ld h a v e to ty pe th a t ex a ct ly
for it to w or k. Pa ssw or ds th a t h a v e som e a m ou n t of str a n g en ess to th em a r e pr efer r ed ov er pa ssw or ds
like "r a coon " or "boa r dw a lk," bu t it u su a lly doesn 't m a tter w h a t y ou u se, a s lon g a s y ou follow th e r u les,
su ch a s h a v in g n o bla n ks a n d a v oidin g r ea lly sh or t pa ssw or ds.
Anonymous vs Authenticated Web Surfing
Th e dist in ct ion betw een anonymous w eb surfing a n d authenticated (logged-in) w eb activity is a n
im por ta n t on e:
Anony m ous Web Surfing
Th is is th e n or m a l ex per ien ce for a per son su r fin g th e w eb. You ty pe th e w eb a ddr ess of a w eb site
in to y ou r br ow ser a n d y ou look a t w eb pa g es, w a tch v ideos, v iew im a g es, bu t y ou don 't h a v e to log in .
Th is is w h y th is m ode is ca lled a n on y m ou s: a n y on e ca n do it ju st by su r fin g n or m a lly . Note th e
pr esen ce of th e log in lin k th e scr een im a g e below (top r ig h t). If th er e is a log in lin k sh ow in g , y ou
h a v en 't log g ed in -- a n d y ou a r e su r fin g th e w eb site a n on y m ou sly , a s seen in th e follow in g scr een
ca ptu r e of a n ew Plon e w eb site:
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Authenticated (Logged-in) Web Activ ity
You kn ow th e authenticated m ode of w eb ex per ien ce if y ou h a v e ev er u sed a ba n k or cr edit ca r d
w ebsite, or a n y oth er w ebsite th a t in v olv ed a u ser a ccou n t . A ba n k w eb site w ill let y ou v iew y ou r
a ccou n t in for m a tion , fill ou t in for m a tion for m s, tr a n sfer fu n ds, a n d do oth er a ct ion s, bu t on ly a fter
y ou h a v e log g ed in . A Plon e w eb site is n ot m u ch differ en t , ex cept th a t in a ddit ion to ba sic a ct ion s, y ou
ca n cr ea te n ew w eb pa g es a n d folder s, u ploa d im a g es a n d files, a n d do m or e soph ist ica ted th in g s.
Com pa r e th e scr een im a g e below , ca ptu r ed a fter a u ser ca lled "Joh n Sm ith " h a s log g ed in . Nea r th e top
r ig h t y ou see lin ks for Joh n Sm ith 's n a m e, m y folder , pr efer en ces, u n do, a n d log ou t . Th er e is a n oth er
im por ta n t differ en ce y ou see a fter log g in g in -- th e m a in a r ea in th e m iddle n ow h a s a g r een h ea der
str ip w ith ta bs. Th is sor t of h ea der str ip is pr esen t w h en a u ser h a s r ig h ts to ch a n g e a n a r ea of th e
w ebsite. Joh n Sm ith h a s th e u ser r ig h ts to ch a n g e th is m a in a r ea . Th e ta bs in th e g r een h ea der str ip
for th e m a in a r ea w ill v a r y som ew h a t , bu t y ou ca n cou n t on it lookin g like a ta bbed in ter fa ce w ith th is
pa r t icu la r g r een color . In th e follow in g scr een ca ptu r e, u ser Joh n Sm ith h a s log g ed in to a n ew Plon e
w eb site:
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User Roles
Equ a lly im por ta n t is th e dist in ct ion betw een differ en t u ser r oles on a Plon e w eb site. To illu str a te th e
sim plest ca se, let 's con sider tw o u ser r oles, on e ca lled m em ber a n d th e oth er ca lled m anager. Con sider
th e differ en t r ig h ts or "pow er " of th ese tw o r oles:
Mem ber
h a s a u ser a ccou n t , so ca n log in
ca n a dd con ten t , bu t on ly in th eir ow n "m em ber a r ea ," a n d ca n 't ch a n g e a n y th in g ou tside of th is
a r ea
ca n n ot pu blish con ten t so th a t it is v isible to th e a n on y m ou s w eb su r fer , ev en con ten t w h ich
th ey a dded; a per son w ith m a n a g er r ole m u st a ppr ov e con ten t for pu blish in g
Manager
h a s a u ser a ccou n t , so ca n log in
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ca n a dd con ten t a n y w h er e a n d h a s th e pow er to ch a n g e a n y th in g
ca n pu blish a n y con ten t
You pr oba bly h a v e a n or m a l m em ber a ccou n t , a t lea st w h en y ou fir st u se a Plon e w eb site. You m a y
be g iv en m a n a g er r ig h ts la ter , depen din g on y ou r r ole on th e w eb site. You ca n sta r t a ddin g con ten t
in y ou r ow n "m em ber a r ea ," w h ich is r ea ch ed by clickin g th e m y folder lin k n ex t to y ou r n a m e a fter
y ou h a v e log g ed in :
A fter clickin g th e m y folder lin k, y ou 'll see a h ea der str ip for y ou r m em ber a r ea th a t h a s a g r een color
w ith ta bs for contents , view , edit, properties , a n d sharing:
You 'll be a ble to ex plor e to fin d th e differ en ces betw een th ese ta bs, bu t h er e a r e descr ipt ion s to h elp y ou
sta r t :
contents - sh ow s a list of item s in a folder
view - sh ow s th e v iew a n a n on y m ou s w eb su r fer w ou ld see
edit - sh ow s a pa n el for ch a n g in g a v iew
properties - sh ow s a pa n el for ch a n g in g g en er a l da ta for a n item
sharing - sh ow s a pa n el for sett in g r ig h ts of oth er m em ber s to see or edit con ten t
You a lso see fou r m en u s in th e g r een pa r t of th e h ea der str ip, actions , display, add item , a n d state:
Ex plor e th ese a lso. Her e a r e ba sic descr ipt ion s of th ese m en u s:
actions - sh ow s m en u ch oices for cu t , copy , pa ste, etc.
display - sh ow s m en u ch oices for sett in g th e displa y ty pe (list v iew , su m m a r y v iew , etc.)
add item - sh ow s m en u ch oices for a ddin g con ten t item s (im a g es, pa g es, folder s, etc.)
state - sh ow s m en u ch oices for sett in g pu blica t ion sta te (pr iv a te, pu blic dr a ft , pu blic, etc.)
Th ese m en u s a n d ta bs w ill offer th e m a in w a y s y ou in ter a ct w ith Plon e. You w ill becom e v er y fa m ilia r
w ith th em a s a m a tter of cou r se.
1.4. Logging In
Wh a t t o expect wh en y ou log in t o a Plon e sit e
Wh en y ou v isit a Plon e w eb site a n on y m ou sly , or a r e g iv en th e w eb a ddr ess for site m a in ten a n ce,
y ou 'll see a log in bu tton som eth in g like th is:
A fter clickin g th e log in lin k, y ou 'll see a n in pu t pa n el w h er e y ou ty pe in y ou r u ser n a m e a n d
pa ssw or d:
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A fter log g in g in to a Plon e w eb site y ou w ill see som e in dica t ion of y ou r n a m e, often a lon g th e top in th e
str ip ben ea th th e h ea der . Usu a lly y ou w ill be a ble to click on y ou r n a m e or on a lin k ca lled m y folder to
g o to a n a r ea w h er e y ou h a v e r ig h ts to a dd con ten t .
1.5. Setting Your Preferences
A ft er loggin g in t o a Plon e web sit e, y ou ca n ch a n ge y ou r person a l preferen ces for
in form a t ion a bou t y ou r iden t it y a n d ch oice of web sit e set t in gs.
A fter log g in g in , to set y ou r per son a l pr efer en ces, click th e preferences ch oice to th e r ig h t of y ou r
n a m e:
You w ill see th e personal preferences pa n el:
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Da te en tr y fields in clu de:
full nam e - If y ou r n a m e is com m on , in clu de y ou r m iddle in it ia l or m iddle n a m e.
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email address - REQUIRED - You m a y r eceiv e em a ils fr om th e w eb site sy stem , or fr om a m essa g e
boa r d, if in sta lled, etc.
location tex t box - Th is is th e n a m e of y ou r city , tow n , sta te, pr ov in ce, or w h a tev er y ou w ish to
pr ov ide.
language preference select ion m en u - Plon e ex cels a t offer in g m u lt ilin g u a l su ppor t .
biography tex t box - En ter a sh or t descr ipt ion of y ou r self h er e, a bou t a pa r a g r a ph or so in len g th .
hom e page w eb a ddr ess - If y ou h a v e y ou r ow n w eb site or a n a r ea a t a ph oto-sh a r in g w eb site,
for in sta n ce, en ter th e w eb a ddr ess h er e, if y ou w ish , so people ca n fin d ou t m or e a bou t y ou .
content editor select ion m en u - If y ou cr ea te m a n y w eb pa g es, con sider u se of a n "ex ter n a l" tex t
editor , w h ich w ou ld a llow y ou to edit body tex t w ith it , in stea d of th e v isu a l editor in clu ded in
Plon e. Th is is m a in ly for w eb desig n er s a n d pr og r a m m er s w h o do m or e edit in g of a ctu a l code,
bu t it cou ld be u sefu l for v olu m e pa g e cr ea t ion u sin g specia lized tex t m a r k-u p la n g u a g es.
enable external editing ch eckbox - Th is is for sw itch in g on a n d off th e ex ter n a l editor m en tion ed
a bov e. Of cou r se, it does n oth in g if n o ex ter n a l editor h a s been selected a bov e.
lis ted in searches ch eckbox - Un ch eck th is box if y ou do not w a n t to be listed in sea r ch es.
Nor m a lly y ou w ou ld w a n t to keep th is ch ecked, beca u se h a v in g open com m u n ica t ion s is a n
im por ta n t g oa l of m ost Plon e w eb sites.
portrait ph otog r a ph u ploa d - Th e por tr a it ph otog r a ph w ill a ppea r a s a sm a ll im a g e or
th u m bn a il-size im a g e, so it is best to u se a h ea d sh ot or u pper -tor so sh ot for th is.
You ca n ch a n g e y ou r pr efer en ces w h en ev er y ou w ish .
2. Adding Content
How t o a dd ba sic con t en t t y pes t o Plon e web sit es
2.1. Adding Folders
A ddin g folders t o a Plon e web sit e is t h e ba sic wa y of con t rollin g t h e orga n iza t ion of
con t en t .
You h a v e u n dou btedly cr ea ted folder s (dir ector ies) on y ou r com pu ter . On Win dow s PC sy stem s a
h ier a r ch y of folder s is often cr ea ted on c: or d: h a r d dr iv es, or w ith in a Docu m en ts folder . On th e Ma c
a n d oth er sy stem s, folder s a r e cr ea ted in a sim ila r fa sh ion . Plon e folder s a r e essen tia lly iden t ica l,
ex cept th a t th ey a r e cr ea ted on a Plon e w eb site, for or g a n izin g con ten t in Plon e's bu ilt -in stor a g e
sy stem .
Folder s a r e a dded by clickin g th e add item m en u (You n eed to be log g ed in to see th e a dd item m en u ):
A fter clickin g to a dd a folder , y ou 'll see th e folder edit pa n el, u n der th e edit ta b:
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Fill in th e t it le, w h ich is r equ ir ed, a s in dica ted by th e r ed squ a r e. Th e descr ipt ion is opt ion a l; y ou ca n
a lw a y s com e ba ck to th e edit pa n el if y ou n eed to a dd a descr ipt ion of th e folder .
Wa tch a v ideo on a ddin g a folder .
2.2. What's in a Web Name?
In div idu a l con t en t it em s on a Plon e web sit e h a v e discret e web a ddresses. Plon e crea t es
t h ese a s a m a t t er of cou rse.
What's in a Web Name?
Th e titles of con ten t item s, in clu din g folder s, im a g es, pa g es, etc. , h a v e n o r estr ict ion s -- y ou ca n u se
a n y key boa r d ch a r a cter s, in clu din g bla n ks. Tit les, h ow ev er , becom e pa r t of w eb a ddr esses. Web
a ddr esses, a lso kn ow n a s URLs (Un iv er sa l Resou r ce Loca tor s), a r e w h a t y ou ty pe in a w eb br ow ser to g o
to a specific loca t ion in a w eb site (Or , y ou w ou ld click y ou r w a y th er e), su ch a s:
w w w .m y site.com /a bou t/per son n el/sa lly /bio
w w w .m y site.com /im a g es/bu tter flies/skipper s/lon g -ta iled-skipper s
Su ch w eb a ddr esses do h a v e r estr ict ion s on a llow ed key boa r d ch a r a cter s, a n d bla n ks a r e n ot a llow ed.
Plon e does a g ood job of keepin g w eb a ddr esses cor r ect by u sin g n ea r -equ iv a len ts of th e t it les w e
pr ov ide, by ch a n g in g in to low er ca se a n d by su bst itu t in g da sh es for pu n ctu a t ion . To illu str a te, let 's
ta ke ea ch of th ese tw o w eb a ddr esses a n d split th em ou t in to th eir com pon en t pa r ts:
www.mysite.com/about/personnel/sally/bio
^
website name
^
a folder named About
^
a folder named Personnel
^
a folder named Sally
^
a folder named Bio
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In th is fir st ex a m ple, n ot m u ch w a s n eeded: Plon e ch a n g ed ea ch folder t it le to low er ca se, e.g . , fr om
Per son n el to per son n el. You don 't h a v e to w or r y a bou t th is. Plon e h a n dles th e w eb a ddr essin g ; y ou ju st
ty pe in t it les h ow ev er y ou w a n t .
Th e secon d ex a m ple w eb a ddr ess dem on str a tes h ow Plon e ta kes th e h a ssle ou t of w eb a ddr essin g :
www.mysite.com/images/butterflies/skippers/long-tailed-skippers
^
website name
^
a folder named Images
^
a folder named Butterflies
^
a folder named Skippers
^
a folder named Long-tailed Skippers
A s w ith th e fir st ex a m ple, Plon e sim ply ch a n g ed th e folder t it les in to low er ca se for w eb a ddr essin g ,
ex cept for th e la st on e, w h ich is m or e th a n on e w or d a n d con ta in s a da sh . Th e da sh in "Lon g -ta iled
Skipper s" is fin e for th e w eb a ddr ess, a n d it r em a in s. Th e bla n k, h ow ev er , w a s ch a n g ed to a da sh a lso.
A n d th e L in Lon g a n d th e S in Skipper s w er e ch a n g ed to low er ca se. You n eed to u n der sta n d th a t Plon e
is doin g th is for y ou , bu t y ou don 't h a v e to w or r y a bou t it . You w ou ld h a v e sim ply ty ped "Lon g -ta iled
Skipper s" for th e t it le a n d Plon e w ou ld h a n dle th e w eb a ddr essin g . Th e w eb a ddr ess is r efer r ed to a s th e
short name w ith in Plon e. Wh en y ou r en a m e som eth in g , y ou 'll see th e sh or t n a m e a lon g w ith th e t it le.
Th ese illu str a t ion s a pply to a ll con ten t item s, n ot ju st folder s, so w h en y ou ty pe in t it les, u se n or m a l
t it les th a t h a v e bla n ks a n d pu n ctu a t ion a s y ou w ish , bu t be a w a r e th a t w h en y ou copy a Plon e w eb
a ddr ess for m a kin g a lin k or for sh a r in g w ith som eon e, th e w eb a ddr ess w ill be a lit t le bit differ en t
(w h ich is a g ood th in g -- a n ecessa r y fix for w eb a ddr essin g ).
2.3. Adding Images
A ddin g im a ges t o a Plon e web sit e is a ba sic t a sk t h at m a y in v olv e a l it t le work on y ou r
loca l com pu t er, bu t is essen t ia l, beca u se ph ot ogra ph s, m a ps, a n d cu st om gra ph ics a re so
im port a n t on web sit es.
Im a g es in Plon e a r e u su a lly ph otog r a ph s ta ken w ith a dig ita l ca m er a , bu t th ey ca n a lso be sca n n ed
im a g es, g r a ph ica l illu str a t ion s m a de w ith softw a r e, a n d oth er specia lized im a g es. Let 's ta ke th e m ost
com m on ca se, im a g in in g th a t y ou h a v e ta ken a ph otog r a ph of a bu tter fly .
Dig ita l ph otog r a ph s ta ken w ith m oder n ca m er a s a r e u su a lly too big to post dir ect ly on a w ebsite, so
th ey n eed to be r esized. A ty pica l w eb site desig n m a y h a v e a w idth of a r ou n d 1 000 pix els. Wh en a
ph otog r a ph com es off y ou r ca m er a , it m a y be sev er a l th ou sa n d pix els w ide a n d ta ll, a n d sev er a l
m eg a by tes in file size. You n eed to u se softw a r e on y ou r com pu ter to r esize th e im a g e to som eth in g less
th a n 1 000 x 1 000 pix els, often ju st sev er a l h u n dr ed pix els m a x im u m w idth . Th e softw a r e y ou u se to
v iew or pr in t y ou r dig ita l ph otos w ill often h a v e th is r esizin g fu n ct ion a lity , or y ou m a y h a v e g r a ph ics
softw a r e su ch a s Cor el Dr a w , A dobe Ph otosh op, Ir fa n v iew , or Gim p on y ou r com pu ter . Resizin g a n
im a g e, som etim es ca lled r esa m plin g , is a sta n da r d fu n ct ion y ou sh ou ld be a ble to fin d in y ou r
softw a r e, often u n der th e Im age m en u . How do y ou kn ow w h a t w idth , in pix els, to r esize y ou r im a g e?
It depen ds. For a lit t le "h ea d sh ot" ph otog r a ph to g o in a biog r a ph y , m a y be 2 00 pix els w ide is ju st
r ig h t . For a g r ou p ph otog r a ph , 2 00 pix els w ou ld be too sm a ll to a llow iden tifica t ion of th e people in th e
ph otog r a ph , so it w ou ld n eed to be 4 00 pix els w ide. For a sca n n ed m a p im a g e, per h a ps th e im a g e w idth
w ou ld n eed to be 1 000 pix els for th e m a p deta il to be u sa ble.
A fter sa v in g y ou r r esized im a g e, g iv in g it a n a m e th a t in dica tes th e n ew size (e.g . , bu tter y fly -r esized-
3 00px .jpg ), y ou 'll h a v e a n im a g e file on y ou r com pu ter . Th e file for m a t is m ost com m on ly . jpg (or
.jpeg ). Oth er com m on for m a ts for im a g es in clu de .pn g a n d .g if. Ta ke n ote of w h er e y ou sa v e im a g es on
y ou r com pu ter so th a t y ou ca n fin d th em w h en y ou u ploa d th em to y ou r Plon e w eb site.
In su m m a r y , y ou ta ke y ou r ph otog r a ph , tr a n sfer it to y ou r com pu ter , u se im a g e softw a r e on y ou r
com pu ter to r esize y ou r ph otog r a ph , th en u ploa d it to y ou r Plon e w ebsite:
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Wh en y ou u ploa d a n im a g e to a Plon e w eb site, sev er a l sm a ller , su pplem en ta l copies of th e im a g e w ill
be a u tom a tica lly cr ea ted, in clu din g th e sm a llest , a th u m bn a il v er sion . Th ese sm a ller v er sion s a r e
u sed by Plon e w h en sh ow in g im a g es in lists of item s in a folder . Th e or ig in a l fu ll-size im a g e is a lw a y s
th er e, a n d th is is th e size th a t is sh ow n w h en y ou ch oose th e u ploa ded im a g e to be in clu ded in a w eb
pa g e. Th e r u le to r em em ber is th a t y ou sh ou ld r esize th e im a g e on y ou r com pu ter to th e size y ou w a n t
to u se on a w eb pa g e, a n d ju st u ploa d it . Plon e w ill m a ke oth er size copies u pon u ploa din g , bu t
n or m a lly don 't h a v e to th in k a bou t it ; Plon e w ill u se th e su pplem en ta l v er sion s w h en n eeded for
displa y s.
Wh en y ou g et r ea dy to u ploa d a n im a g e, u se th e add item m en u for a folder (You w ill on ly see th e add
item m en u a fter log g in g in ):
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A fter clickin g to a dd a n im a g e, y ou 'll see th e edit image pa n el:
Th e Tit le a n d Descr ipt ion fields (field, a s in data input field) a r e th er e, a s w ith a ddin g a Folder , a n d
th er e a r e tw o a ddit ion a l th in g s a t th e bottom . Let 's look a t th e fou r in pu t item s in div idu a lly :
Title - Use w h a tev er tex t y ou w a n t , ev en w ith bla n ks a n d pu n ctu a t ion (Plon e h a n dles w eb
a ddr essin g ).
Description - A lw a y s a g ood idea , bu t a lw a y s opt ion a l. Lea v e it bla n k if y ou w a n t .
Im age - Th e Im a g e field is a tex t en tr y box a lon g w ith a Br ow se.. . bu tton . You don 't h a v e to ty pe
a n y th in g h er e; ju st click th e Br ow se bu tton a n d y ou 'll be a ble to br ow se y ou loca l com pu ter for
th e im a g e file to u ploa d (Rem ember: You n eed to rem em ber w h er e y ou keep y ou r im a g es on y ou r
com pu ter ).
Related Item(s) - Th is is a Plon e-specific field th a t a llow s pow er fu l a ssocia t ion of con ten t item s.
Wh en y ou a r e n ew to Plon e, y ou m a y skip th is in pu t field. A s y ou g a in ex per ien ce, y ou m a y fin d
a n eed for m a kin g su ch a ssocia t ion s, w h ich h elp w ith sea r ch in g for con ten t . Th e m er its of th is
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field a r e descr ibed a t th e en d of th is sect ion .
You a lso n ot ice oth er ta bs: view , for lookin g a t th e im a g e, properties , for en ter in g ba sic pr oper t ies, a n d
sharing, for set t in g a ccess to th e im a g e for oth er u ser s. Th e view ta b is self ex pla n a tor y -- click it
w h en ev er y ou n eed to see w h a t a n item w ill look like w h en br ow sed. Th e properties ta b, a n d th e ba sic
da ta it cov er s, is descr ibed a t th e en d of th is sect ion . Th e sharing
ta b is descr ibed in a la ter sect ion dedica ted to m a n a g in g w h o ca n see a n d edit con ten t .
A t a m in im u m , y ou w ill ty pe in a t it le a n d br ow se for th e im a g e file, th en h it save a t th e bottom to
u ploa d th e im a g e to th e Plon e w eb site. You 'll h a v e to w a it a few secon ds for th e u ploa d to com plete (or
a m in u te or so, if y ou h a v e a slow Web con n ect ion ). Plon e w ill sh ow y ou th e u ploa ded im a g e w h en
don e.
2.4. Adding Pages
Pa ges in Plon e v a ry grea t ly , bu t a re sin gle "web pa ges," of on e sort or a n ot h er.
To a dd a pa g e, u se th e add item m en u for a folder :
A fter clickin g to a dd a pa g e, y ou 'll see th e edit page pa n el:
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Th e Tit le a n d Descr ipt ion fields a r e th er e a t th e top. Th e u su a l com m en ts a pply to th em : En ter a t it le
a s y ou w ish ; Skip th e descr ipt ion if y ou w a n t . Th er e is a Rela ted Item (s) field a t th e bottom , a lso a
sta n da r d in pu t y ou n eedn 't w or r y a bou t u n t il y ou fin d a n eed for th is fu n ct ion a lity .
Th e m iddle pa n el, for body tex t , is w h er e th e a ct ion is for pa g es. Th e softw a r e u sed for m a kin g Pa g es in
Plon e, g en er ica lly ca lled visual editor a n d specifica lly a tool ca lled kupu, is a m ost im por ta n t fea tu r e
a llow in g y ou to do WYSIWYG edit in g . WYSIWYG edit in g -- What You See Is What You Get -- is th e
n or m a l w a y w or d pr ocessin g softw a r e w or ks. Wh en y ou m a ke a ch a n g e, su ch a s sett in g a w or d to bold,
y ou see th e bold tex t im m edia tely . Wh en y ou a dd a n im a g e, a fter u ploa din g , it a ppea r s w h er e y ou pu t
it . Wh en y ou r ig h t-a lig n a pa r a g r a ph , it im m edia tely sh ifts to th e r ig h t .
Un der n ea th th e m iddle pa n el y ou see a lin k for Edit w ithout visual editor. Th is sw itch es ou t th e v isu a l
editor (ku pu ) pa n el w ith a sim plified edit pa n el for en ter in g pla in tex t or str u ctu r ed tex t or
r estr u ctu r ed tex t . Pla in tex t is ju st th a t : n o fr ills tex t . Str u ctu r ed tex t a n d r estr u ctu r ed tex t a r e
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"la n g u a g es" th a t a llow y ou to em bed sty lin g codes w ith in tex t , w ith str u ctu r ed tex t bein g th e sim pler
of th e tw o. Th ese a r e w or th lea r n in g for speed of in pu t if y ou do a lot of pa g e cr ea t ion , or if y ou a r e
a dept a t su ch slig h t ly m or e g eeky a ppr oa ch es. We'll con t in u e h er e w ith h ow to ta ke th e ty pica l
a ppr oa ch : to u se th e v isu a l editor (ku pu ) tool.
Wa tch a v ideo on u sin g th e v isu a l editor to edit th e body tex t of a pa g e.
We w ill a ssu m e h er e th a t y ou u n der sta n d h ow to u se ba sic w or d pr ocessin g softw a r e. Th er e a r e a few
w eb-specific th in g s in th e icon m en u , bu t y ou 'll r ecog n ize m ost a s ba sic sta n da r d fea tu r es:
Basic Form atting
For sett in g bold, ita lics, su bscr ipt , a n d su per scr ipt , select a w or d or ph r a se a n d click th e a ppr opr ia te
icon .
Alignm ent (Justification)
For ju st ifica t ion , pla ce th e cu r sor in a pa r a g r a ph (y ou don 't h a v e to a ctu a lly select th e w h ole
pa r a g r a ph ) a n d click th e a ppr opr ia te icon for left , cen ter , or r ig h t ju st ifica t ion . You m a y a lso select
m u lt iple pa r a g r a ph s to a pply th e sa m e ju st ifica t ion a cr oss sev er a l pa r a g r a ph s.
Num bered and Bulleted Lists
Nu m ber ed a n d bu lleted list for m a tt in g a r e a pplied to pa r a g r a ph s by fir st select in g th e pa r a g r a ph s,
th en clickin g on e of th e icon s. You m a y set for m a tt in g su ch a s bold, ita lics, su bscr ipt a n d su per scr ipt
to in div idu a l w or ds or ph r a ses befor e or a fter sett in g th e pa r a g r a ph s to a n u m ber ed or bu lleted list .
Definition Lists
Defin it ion lists a r e idea l for item s in v olv in g a w or d or ph r a se a ssocia ted w ith a pa r a g r a ph , su ch a s a
list of bu tter fly g r ou ps a n d th eir descr ipt ion s.
Her e's w h a t a defin it ion list looks like:
Sw a llow ta ils
Fa m ily Pa pilion ida e - Sw a llow ta ils der iv e th eir n a m e fr om th eir split lon g ta ils. Th ese bu tter flies
a r e a m on g th e la r g est a n d m ost g r a cefu l.
Skipper s
Fa m ily Hesper iida e - Skipper s der iv e th eir n a m e fr om th eir ch a r a cter ist ic r a pid da r t in g flig h t .
Th e steps to cr ea te a defin it ion list a r e a lit t le in v olv ed. Follow th ese steps:
Pu t y ou r cu r sor on a n ew bla n k pa r a g r a ph w h er e y ou w a n t th e defin it ion list to g o.1 .
Click th e defin it ion list icon .2 .
Ty pe th e fir st w or d or ph r a se. Th e w or d or ph r a se w ill be left-a lig n ed a n d w ill be in bold.3 .
Hit th e Retu r n key (En ter key ) to m a ke a n ew lin e.4 .
Ty pe th e defin it ion . You w ill see th a t th e for m a tt in g is n or m a l a n d th a t it is n ow in den ted.5 .
Hit th e Retu r n (En ter key ) to m a ke a n ew lin e.6 .
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Repea t 3 - 6 to a dd n ew w or ds or ph r a ses a n d defin it ion s.7 .
Important: Wh en y ou a r e fin ish ed w ith th e la st defin it ion , y ou h a v e to h it th e Retu r n key tw ice to g o
ba ck to n or m a l for m a tt in g . If y ou don 't , y ou 'll be stu ck a ddin g to th e defin it ion list .
Blockquotes
Blockqu otes a r e a specia l kin d of pa r a g r a ph in den ta t ion th a t h a s a v isu a l sty le clea r ly sett in g it a pa r t
fr om oth er , n or m a l pa r a g r a ph s. Th is for m a tt in g sty le is u sefu l for qu ota t ion s, h en ce th e n a m e, bu t
ca n a lso be u sed for sty lized in den ta t ion like th is:
in den ta t ion lev el on e
in den ta t ion lev el tw o
in den ta t ion lev el tw o
in den ta t ion lev el tw o
in den ta t ion lev el on e
in den ta t ion lev el tw o
in den ta t ion lev el th r ee
in den ta t ion lev el th r ee
in den ta t ion lev el tw o
in den ta t ion lev el on e
To a ccom plish su ch blockqu ote for m a tt in g , h a v e y ou r cu r sor on a pa r a g r a ph a n d click eith er of th e
blockqu ote in den ta t ion lev el icon s. You m a y a lso select m u lt iple pa r a g r a ph s to ch a n g e in den ta t ion
lev el for a block.
Im ages
Im a g es m a y be u ploa ded dir ect ly to a folder [LINK] a n d th en in ser ted in to a Pa g e. Bu t Plon e's Pa g e
editor a llow s y ou to in ser t im a g es a s y ou w r ite, a s a m or e n a tu r a l cr ea t iv e pr ocess. To a dd a n im a g e,
pu t th e cu r sor w h er e y ou w a n t th e im a g e to a ppea r a n d click th e im a g e icon (tr ee icon ). You 'll see th e
follow in g im a g e in ser t pa n el:
Th e insert im age pa n el sh ow s clicka ble lin ks in th e left colu m n th a t w ill sh ow differ en t sets of im a g es
a lr ea dy u ploa ded to th e Plon e w eb site. Hom e is th e "r oot" of th e en t ir e w ebsite (a kin to clickin g th e "c:
dr iv e" on a Win dow s PC or "Ma cIn tosh HD" on a Ma c). Current folder is ju st th a t , th e folder w h er e y ou
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a r e a ddin g th e n ew Pa g e. My recent items a n d Recent item s sh ow list of im a g es th a t h a v e been a dded to
th e Plon e w eb site a lr ea dy , n o m a tter w h er e th ey a r e loca ted.
Nor m a lly y ou w ill ju st click Cu r r en t folder so y ou ca n u ploa d th e im a g e to be in ser ted. We w ill a ssu m e
th is is th e ca se, a n d y ou w ill see th e follow in g pa n el:
Th er e's th e Upload lin k y ou n eed to in ser t y ou r im a g e. Click it a n d y ou 'll see a fa m ilia r file select ion
dia log box on y ou r loca l com pu ter , like th is on e on th e Ma c:
Her e, th e file select ion dia log h a s been u sed to select a folder n a m ed "fa m ily " on th e loca l com pu ter .
A n y of th e im a g es cou ld be selected for u ploa d, a n d th en th e im a g e w ou ld be tr a n sfer r ed u p to th e
Plon e w eb site a n d -- h er e's th e n ice pa r t -- it w ou ld a lso a ppea r w ith in th e Pa g e bein g cr ea ted, a lr ea dy
lin ked in pr oper ly . Th is is th e sor t of th in g y ou h a v e to tr y to a ppr ecia te, bu t it is on e of th e m ost
im por ta n t oper a t ion s y ou ca n lea r n for cr ea t in g pa g es on a Plon e w eb site.
Wa tch a v ideo on a ddin g im a g es to a pa g e.
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Internal Links
Select a w or d or ph r a se, click th e internal link icon , a n d th e insert link pa n el w ill a ppea r :
You u se th is pa n el by clickin g on Hom e or Cu r r en t folder to beg in n a v ig a t in g th e Plon e w eb site to fin d
a folder , pa g e, or im a g e to w h ich y ou w ish to m a ke a lin k. In th e ex a m ple a bov e, a pa g e n a m ed "Lon g -
ta iled Skipper s" h a s been ch osen for th e lin k. A fter th is pa n el is closed, a lin k to th e "Lon g -ta iled
Skipper s" pa g e w ill be set for th e w or d or ph r a se selected for th e lin k.
External Links
Select a w or d or ph r a se, click th e external link icon , a n d th e Ex ter n a l lin k pa n el w ill a ppea r :
Ty pe th e w eb a ddr ess of th e ex ter n a l w ebsite in th e box sta r t in g w ith h ttp://. You ca n click preview if
y ou n eed to ch eck th e a ddr ess. If y ou pa ste in th e w eb a ddr ess, m a ke su r e y ou don 't h a v e du plica te
h ttp:// a t th e beg in n in g of th e a ddr ess. Th en click ok . Th e ex ter n a l lin k w ill be set to th e w or d or
ph r a se y ou selected.
T ables
Ta bles a r e h a n dy for ta bu la r da ta a n d lists. To a dd a ta ble, pu t y ou r cu r sor w h er e y ou w a n t it a n d
click th e add table icon . You 'll see th e add table pa n el:
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Sett in g r ow s a n d colu m n s is str a ig h tfor w a r d. If y ou ch eck th e Create Headings box y ou 'll h a v e a pla ce
to ty pe colu m n h ea din g s for th e ta ble. Ta ble cla ss r efer s to h ow y ou w a n t th e ta ble to be sty led. You
h a v e ch oices su ch a s th ese:
Her e a r e ex a m ples of th ese ta ble sty les:
pla in :
T h orou gh bred Ch a m pion s Qu a rt er Horse Ch a m pion s
Ma n O' Wa r Fir st Dow n Da sh
Secr eta r ia t Da sh in g Folly
Cita t ion Specia l Lea der
Kelso Gold Coa st Ex pr ess
Cou n t Fleet Ea sy Jet
l ist in g:
T h orou gh bred Ch a m pion s Qu a rt er Horse Ch a m pion s
Ma n O' Wa r Fir st Dow n Da sh
Secr eta r ia t Da sh in g Folly
Cita t ion Specia l Lea der
Kelso Gold Coa st Ex pr ess
Cou n t Fleet Ea sy Jet
A fter th e ta ble h a s been cr ea ted y ou ca n click in a cell to sh ow ta ble r esizin g h a n dles a n d r ow a n d
colu m n a dd/delete icon s:
In th e ta ble a bov e, th e cu r sor h a s been pla ced in th e "Specia l Lea der " cell, w h ich a ct iv a tes lit t le squ a r e
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h a n dles a r ou n d th e edg es for r esizin g th e en t ir e ta ble. It a lso a ct iv a tes a dd/delete icon s for th e cu r r en t
cell, th e "Specia l Lea der " cell. Clickin g th e lit t le x in th e cir cle w ill delete th e en t ir e r ow or colu m n th a t
con ta in s th e cu r r en t cell. Clickin g th e lit t le a r r ow h ea d icon s w ill a dd a r ow a bov e or below , or a
colu m n to th e left or r ig h t of th e cu r r en t cell.
HT ML Editor
Th e HTML Editor is a v a ila ble to people w h o w a n t to edit th e a ctu a l Hy per Tex t Ma r ku p La n g u a g e code,
w h ich w eb br ow ser s u se to descr ibe w eb pa g es a n d w eb site. Lea r n in g HTML ba sics lets y ou do specia l
th in g s, bu t it isn 't n ecessa r y for ty pica l u se. If y ou click th e HTML icon y ou 'll see a pa n el w ith th e
a ctu a l code, w h ich y ou ca n edit , a n d th en close th e pa n el to g et ba ck to th e WYSIWYG v iew .
Sty les
Th e Styles pu ll-dow n m en u lets y ou set th e sty le for a selected block of tex t . Her e a r e ty pica l ch oices:
Nor m a l is for n or m a l tex t . Hea din g is u su a lly bold, a slig h t ly la r g er fon t , left -a lig n ed, a n d w ith a
sin g le h or izon ta l lin e ex ten din g a cr oss th e pa g e. Su bh ea din g is u su a lly bold, a n in ter m edia te size fon t ,
a n d left-a lig n ed. Liter a l is u sefu l for qu otes a n d for lin in g u p tex t pr ecisely , a s w ith pr og r a m m in g
la n g u a g e code. Liter a l tex t is m on ospa ced tex t set off by a box :
pr og r a m m in g la n g u a g e code:
class SortAdvectionVelocities
___init__(self, advectionVelocities):
this.advectionVelocities = advectionVelocities
sortVelocities():
this.advectionVelocities.sort()
or colu m n s of n u m ber s:
location velocity
-------- --------
vector a 21.7
vector b 15.4
vector c 48.3
vector d 38.2
You cou ld a lso u se a ta ble for su ch da ta .
Zoom
Th e zoom icon ex pa n ds th e edit pa n el to ta ke u p th e fu ll br ow ser w in dow . Click th e icon a g a in a n d it
w ill tog g le ba ck to th e n or m a l edit pa n el size.
2.5. Adding Files
Files of v a riou s t y pes ca n be u ploa ded t o Plon e web sit es.
Ch oose file in th e add item m en u for a folder to u ploa d a file:
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You w ill see th e edit file pa n el:
Click th e Brow se bu tton to n a v ig a te to th e file y ou w a n t to u ploa d fr om y ou r loca l com pu ter . Pr ov ide a
t it le (y ou ca n u se th e sa m e file n a m e u sed on y ou r loca l com pu ter if y ou w a n t). Pr ov ide a description,
or select Related Item(s) if y ou w a n t . Wh en y ou click th e sa v e bu tton th e file w ill be u ploa ded to th e
folder .
Wa tch a v ideo on a ddin g a file.
Ex a m ple file ty pes in clu de PDF files, Wor d docu m en ts, da ta ba se files, zip files. . . -- w ell, pr a ct ica lly
a n y th in g . Files on a Plon e w eb site a r e tr ea ted a s ju st files a n d w ill sh ow u p in con ten ts lists for folder s,
bu t th er e w on 't be a n y specia l displa y of th em . Th ey w ill a ppea r by n a m e in lists a n d w ill be a v a ila ble
for dow n loa d if clicked.
Th er e a r e specia lized a dd-on tools for Plon e w eb sites th a t sea r ch con ten ts of files. If y ou a r e in ter ested
in th is fu n ct ion a lity , a sk y ou r Plon e w eb site a dm in istr a tor .
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2.6. Adding Links
Lin ks t o web pa ges wit h in a Plon e web sit e a n d t o web pa ges a t ot h er web sit es a re ea sily
crea t ed.
A dd a lin k by clickin g th e m en u ch oice in th e add item m en u for a folder :
You w ill see th e edit link pa n el:
Good t it les for lin ks a r e im por ta n t , beca u se th e t it les w ill sh ow u p in lists of lin ks, a n d beca u se th er e
ten d to be qu ite a n u m ber of lin ks h eld in a folder a s a set . Pa ste th e w eb a ddr ess in th e URL field or
ty pe it in . Th er e is n o pr ev iew fea tu r e h er e, so it is best to pa ste th e w eb a ddr ess fr om a br ow ser
w in dow w h er e y ou a r e v iew in g th e ta r g et for th e lin k.
Lin ks cr ea ted in th is w a y w ill r esu lt in discr ete con ten t item s, a s com pa r ed to lin ks em bedded w ith in
w eb pa g es. Ha v in g lin ks a s discr ete item s lets y ou do th in g s like or g a n izin g th em in folder s or sett in g
key w or ds on th em to fa cilita te g r ou pin g in lists a n d sea r ch r esu lts.
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Wa tch v ideos a bou t a ddin g a lin k for a n em a il a ddr ess a n d a ddin g lin ks to ex ter n a l a n d
in ter n a l docu m en ts.
2.7. Adding Events
Plon e web sit es h a v e a bu ilt -in sy st em for m a n a gin g a n d sh owin g ca len da r ev en t s.
Use th e add item m en u for a folder to a dd a n ev en t:
You w ill see r a th er la r g e edit event pa n el:
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Fr om th e top, w e h a v e th e follow in g fields:
Title - REQUIRED
Description
Start date and time - REQUIRED
End date and tim e - REQUIRED
Event location
Event body text (v isu a l editor pa n el)
Attendees
Event type(s)
Event URL
Contact Name
Contact Em ail
Contact Phone
Related Item(s)
Note th a t on ly th r ee fields, t it le a n d sta r t a n d en d da te a n d t im e, a r e r equ ir ed. So, a lth ou g h th is is a
la r g e in pu t pa n el, if y ou a r e in a h u r r y , ju st ty pe in th e t it le a n d th e sta r t a n d en d t im es a n d sa v e. Of
cou r se, if y ou h a v e th e in for m a tion , y ou sh ou ld ty pe it in .
On e pa r t of th e pa n el n eeds a bit m or e ex pla n a t ion : th e ev en t sta r t a n d en d t im es. Th e y ea r , m on th ,
da y , a n d oth er fields a r e sim ple pu ll-dow n m en u s. Bu t for th e da y , often y ou ca n 't r em em ber ex a ct ly
a n d y ou n eed to con su lt a ca len da r . Th er e is a h a n dy pop-u p ca len da r th a t offer s a n a lter n a te w a y to
select th e da y . If y ou click on e of th e lit t le ca len da r icon s a dja cen t to th e da y pu ll-dow n , :
y ou 'll see th is pop-u p ca len da r :
Ju st click th e da y a n d it w ill be set . Fill in th e fields for w h ich y ou h a v e in for m a tion a n d sa v e th e
ev en t , bu t r em em ber :
It w ill not show on the m ain w eb s ite calendar until it has been published. <-- REA D T HIS!
Wa tch a v ideo on a ddin g a n ev en t .
2.8. Adding News Items
Plon e web sit es h a v e a bu ilt -in sy st em for pu blish ing n ews it em s.
Use th e add item m en u for a folder to a dd a n ew s item :
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You w ill see th e edit new s item pa n el:
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Th e sta n da r d fields for t it le, descr ipt ion , a n d r ela ted item (s) a r e in th e pa n el, a lon g w ith a v isu a l
editor a r ea for body tex t a n d im a g e a n d im a g e ca pt ion fields. You ca n be a s cr ea t iv e a s y ou w a n t in th e
body tex t a r ea , a n d y ou ca n u se th e in ser t im a g e (u ploa d im a g e) fu n ct ion to a dd a s m u ch illu str a t ion
a s n eeded. Th e im a g es y ou u ploa d for th e n ew s item w ill be a dded to th e folder in w h ich y ou a r e a ddin g
th e n ew s item .
Th e Im age a n d Im age Caption fields, pr oper , a r e for a ddin g a n im a g e to be u sed a s a r epr esen ta t iv e
g r a ph ic for th e n ew s item , for post in g in n ew s item list in g s.
A s w ith ev en ts sh ow in g u p in th e ca len da r : New s item s w ill not appear in the m ain w eb s ite new s lis ting
until they are published.
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Wa tch a v ideo on a ddin g a n ew s item .
2.9. Establishing Relationships
Plon e h a s a bu ilt -in sy st em for iden t ify in g con n ect ion s bet ween con t en t it em s.
On sev er a l of th ose scr een ca ptu r es illu str a t in g a ddin g con ten t , y ou m a y h a v e n ot iced a Related Items
a r ea a t th e bottom of edit pa n els. Th is is w h er e y ou ca n pick r ela ted item s to esta blish con n ect ion s
betw een con ten t item s. On ce item s h a v e been r ela ted to on e a n oth er , lin ks w ill a u tom a tica lly sh ow for
r ela ted item s w h en a n item is v iew ed. You ca n 't do th is for folder s, bu t y ou ca n for r eg u la r con ten t ,
su ch a s pa g es a n d im a g es.
For ex a m ple, in a folder con ta in in g sev er a l ph otog r a ph s, y ou m a y w ish to r ela te tw o of th em so th a t
w h en on e is v iew ed, a lin k to th e oth er w ill sh ow . Fir st , click th e im a g e (th is im a g e is ca lled
Ph otog r a ph On e.jpg ) a n d ch oose th e edit ta b. A t th e bottom w ill be th e sim ple Rela ted Item (s) in pu t
a r ea :
Clickin g th e brow se. . . bu tton w ill br in g u p a sea r ch pa n el to fin d item s y ou m a y r ela te to
Ph otog r a ph On e.jpg :
Ph otog r a ph On e.jpg is sh ow n g r ey ed ou t (y ou ca n 't r ela te a n item to itself), a n d oth er im a g es in th e
cu r r en t folder a r e sh ow n . If th er e w er e pa g es or oth er con ten t item s in th e folder , th ey w ou ld sh ow too.
Th er e is a sea r ch box if y ou w ou ld like to fin d item s ou tside of th e cu r r en t folder . Th e list of item s a t
th e bottom h a s insert | view ch oices a t fa r r ig h t . In th is ex a m ple, th e insert ch oice is a bou t to be m a de to
select Ph otog r a ph Tw o.jpg , w h ich w ill be a dded to th e list of item s r ela t in g to Ph otog r a ph On e.jpg :
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Now , w h en Ph otog r a ph On e.jpg is v iew ed, a lin k to Ph otog r a ph Tw o.jpg w ill be sh ow n a t th e bottom of
th e displa y :
Th is is a n ea sy w a y to g iv e life to y ou r w ebsite, so th a t con ten t , h ow ev er n icely or g a n ized it m a y be
w ith in folder s, w ill h a v e a dy n a m ic a spect . Use y ou r im a g in a t ion , bu t con cen tr a te on m a kin g sen sible
ch oices for esta blish in g r ela t ion sh ips. Th er e a r e oth er w a y s of m a kin g con n ect ion s in Plon e, th r ou g h
u se of Sm a r tFolder s, bu t th e ea se of set t in g r ela ted item s a t th e t im e of con ten t cr ea t ion , or u pon item
edit in g , is a fea tu r e th a t sh ou ld n ot be ov er looked.
2.10. Setting Basic Properties
T h e propert ies t a b pa n el h a s sev era l fields for ba sic in form a t ion a bou t con t en t it em s.
Th e pr oper t ies ta b pa n el h a s in pu t fields for ba sic descr ipt iv e in for m a tion ca lled m eta da ta . Meta da ta
is som etim es ca lled "da ta a bou t da ta ." Th e pa n el con ta in s sett in g s a n d fields for :
w h eth er th e item sh ow s u p in th e n a v ig a t ion m en u
key w or ds y ou w ish to a dd or set
a list of con tr ibu tor s for th e item
pr in ciple a n d secon da r y cr ea tor s
effect iv e da te
ex pir a t ion da te
la n g u a g e sett in g for th e item
copy r ig h ts th a t m a y per ta in
a n d w h eth er discu ssion is a llow ed on th e item
Th e pr oper t ies ta b pa n el:
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Th er e is n o r equ ir em en t to specify th is in for m a tion , bu t it is a g ood idea to do so w h en th er e a r e sev er a l
people in v olv ed in con ten t cr ea t ion , especia lly if th er e a r e m u lt iple cr ea tor s a n d con tr ibu tor s w or kin g
in g r ou ps. You don 't a lw a y s n eed fields su ch a s effect iv e a n d ex pir a t ion da tes, la n g u a g e, a n d
copy r ig h ts, bu t th ese da ta sh ou ld be specified w h en a ppr opr ia te. A con ten t m a n a g em en t sy stem ca n
on ly be a s g ood a s th e da ta com pleten ess a llow s. Specify in g key w or ds r equ ir es a tten t ion , bu t if y ou a r e
a ble to g et in to th e h a bit , a n d a r e th ou g h tfu l to cr ea te a m ea n in g fu l set of key w or ds, th er e is a r etu r n
on th e in v estm en t th r ou g h sea r ch in g a n d oth er fa cilit ies in Plon e. You 'll be a ble to pu t y ou r fin g er on
w h a t y ou n eed, a n d ca n discov er a n d u se r ela t ion sh ips w ith in th e con ten t .
3. Managing Content
T h e con t en t s t a b is t h e pla ce wh ere con t en t it em s ca n be copied, cu t , pa st ed, m ov ed,
ren a m ed, et c.
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3.1. Editing Content
Edit in g Plon e con t en t works t h e sa m e a s a ddin g con t en t -- u su a lly t h e da t a en t ry a n d
con figu ra t ion pa n els for t h e con t en t a re t h e sa m e for edit in g a s for a ddin g.
Of cou r se, w h en w e edit a n item of con ten t , th e item a lr ea dy ex ists. Click th e edit ta b for a n item a n d
y ou w ill see th e da ta en tr y pa n el for th e item , a lon g w ith th e ex ist in g v a lu es of th e item 's da ta .
For a n ex a m ple of som eth in g r ea lly sim ple, w h er e edit in g looks th e sa m e a s a ddin g , w e ca n r ev iew h ow
to edit a folder .
Th e edit pa n el for a folder sim ply sh ow s th e t it le a n d descr ipt ion in pu t a r ea s. Often a descr ipt ion is n ot
pr ov ided for a folder , so th e on ly th in g to ch a n g e is th e t it le. If y ou do w ish to g iv e a descr ipt ion , w h ich
is a g ood idea for dist in g u ish in g folder s in a list , th e descr ipt ion ca n be tex t on ly -- th er e is n o
oppor tu n ity for sett in g sty lin g of tex t , su ch a s bold, ita lics, or oth er for m a tt in g . Th is keeps th e
descr ipt ion s of Plon e con ten t item s a s sim ple a s possible.
Her e is th e edit pa n el for a folder , in th is ca se, on e ca lled "Bu tter flies":
Th a t 's it . Ch a n g e w h a t y ou w a n t a n d sa v e, a n d th e con ten t item w ill be u pda ted in Plon e's stor a g e
sy stem . You ca n r epea tedly edit con ten t item s, ju st a s y ou ca n r epea tedly edit files on y ou r loca l
com pu ter . By n ow y ou h a v e a ppr ecia ted th a t Plon e stor es discr ete con ten t item s a s sepa r a te en t it ies,
a kin to "files" on a loca l com pu ter , bu t y ou r ea lly don 't h a v e to th in k a bou t it th a t w a y . Plon e is a
con ten t m a n a g em en t sy stem , w h er e th e con ten t com es in th e for m of n u m er ou s discr ete con ten t item s
th a t m a y be in div idu a lly edited. Edit a w a y a t y ou r h ea r t 's con ten t .
For a n ex a m ple of edit in g a con ten t item th a t is a bit differ en t th a n a ddin g in th e fir st pla ce, w e ca n
ex a m in e edit in g a n im a g e. Edit in g a n Im a g e ca n be don e by n a v ig a t in g to a n in div idu a l im a g e a n d
clickin g th e edit ta b. Clickin g th e edit ta b for th e im a g e, y ou w ill see th e follow in g edit pa n el:
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Her e, a n im a g e ca lled Bu tter fly -sm a ll. jpg is bein g edited. You ca n ch a n g e th e t it le a n d descr ipt ion , a s
u su a l, in w h ich ca se y ou w ou ld u su a lly keep th e set t in g to "Keep ex ist in g im a g e." You ca n a lso ch a n g e
th e im a g e itself by ch eckin g th e "Repla ce w ith n ew im a g e" ch oice. Or , clickin g th e "Delete cu r r en t
im a g e" ch oice w ill sim ply delete th e im a g e en t ir ely . Th e "Rela ted Item (s)" sett in g a t th e bottom is th e
sa m e on e a lw a y s pr esen t for Plon e con ten t .
So, edit in g a n im a g e is a bit differ en t th a n a ddin g on e in th e fir st pla ce, bu t n ot by m u ch .
Edit in g pa n els for oth er con ten t item s a r e str a ig h t for w a r d.
3.2. Folder View
T h e folder v iew pa n el sh ows on e of sev era l wa y s of l ist in g folder con t en t s.
For m ost con ten t item s, if y ou w a n t to ch a n g e h ow it looks, y ou edit th e con ten t dir ect ly . Bu t folder s
a r e a differ en t a n im a l. A s con ta in er s of oth er item s, folder s a r e "w h er e th e a ct ion is" in Plon e, so w e w ill
tr ea t folder m a n a g em en t in th is a n d th e follow in g sect ion .
Con sider a scen a r io w h er e a bu tter fly en th u sia st , Joh n Sm ith , h a s log g ed in to h is w eb site to w or k on
th e pa r t dev oted to Skipper bu tter flies. He n a v ig a tes to th e "Skipper s" folder by clickin g th e n a v ig a t ion
m en u , w h ich is on th e left in h is defa u lt Plon e w eb site desig n . Wh en h e clicks th e "Skipper s" folder in
th e n a v ig a t ion m en u , th e v iew ta b pa n el, or ju st "th e v iew ," for th e folder is sh ow n :
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Th e view tab panel w ill sh ow th e view of a n y con ten t item . Th e view is a lw a y s h ow a con ten t item
w ou ld sh ow for a n on y m ou s w eb site v isitor s. Click th e view tab w h en y ou w a n t to see w h a t som eth in g
looks like a fter y ou h a v e ch a n g ed som eth in g . For folder s, y ou w ill see a list in g of con ta in ed con ten t
item s, in on e of sev er a l list pr esen ta t ion s, selected v ia th e display pu ll-dow n m en u . Th e defa u lt v iew is
ca lled standard view :
A n d, h er e is sum m ary view :
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A n d, tabular view :
A n d, thumbnail view , w h ich is m a in ly u sefu l for ph otog r a ph s, bu t st ill w or ks for n or m a l con ten t:
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Ma kin g a ph oto a lbu m is ea sy . Ju st a dd th e ph otog r a ph s (im a g es, or im a g e files, th e m ost com m on
bein g . jpg files) to a folder a n d set th e displa y v iew for th e folder a s th u m bn a il v iew . Th u m bn a il v iew
w ill a u tom a tica lly h a n dle th e displa y a s im a g es a r e a dded to th e folder , pr esen tin g a m u lt i-pa g e
div ision in to sets of im a g es, a s n eeded, a s th e n u m ber of im a g es g r ow s. If y ou a r e u ploa din g
ph otog r a ph ic im a g es fr om a dig ita l ca m er a or sca n n er , y ou w ill m ost likely w a n t to r esize th em on
y ou r loca l com pu ter befor e u ploa din g th em , beca u se th ey a r e too la r g e. Th is is descr ibed in a la ter
sect ion of th is m a n u a l.
Setting an Individual Content Item as the View for a Folder
Th e ba sic list v iew fu n ct ion a lity descr ibed a bov e for folder s fits th e n or m a l w a y w e th in k of folder s -- a s
con ta in er s of item s -- bu t Plon e a dds a n ice fa cility to set th e v iew of a folder to be th a t of a n y sin g le
item con ta in ed w ith in th e folder . Th is ta kes a dv a n ta g e of th e w a y th e n a v ig a t ion sy stem g ets
a u tom a tica lly w ir ed u p in a Plon e w eb site a s folder s a r e cr ea ted (A s folder s a r e cr ea ted a n d pu blish ed,
th ey a u tom a tica lly sh ow u p in th e n a v ig a t ion m en u ). Con sider sev er a l scen a r ios w h er e th e cu stom
displa y sett in g fea tu r e for a folder is v er y u sefu l:
Let 's sa y y ou a r e sett in g u p a h ier a r ch y of w eb pa g es, w ith cu stom ized tex t on th e pa g es a n d
lin ks to oth er pa g es. Th is is a ca se w h er e y ou a s th e w eb pa g e desig n er w ou ld like to con tr ol w h a t
th e pa g es look like, h ow th e lin ks to oth er pa g es a ppea r , per h a ps a s lin ks in a ta ble or a s icon s in a
g r a ph ic desig n . For a cu stom w eb pa g e th a t w ill con ta in lin ks to "su b w eb pa g es," y ou w ou ld a dd
th e pa g e to a folder a n d th en set th e defa u lt displa y v iew for th e folder to be th e con ta in ed pa g e.
Th e displa y m en u is on e of th e ba sic m en u s a v a ila ble for a folder (Look a t a n y of th e scr een
ca ptu r e im a g es a bov e). Th e ba sic folder v iew s descr ibed a bov e w ill be ov er r idden , a n d w h en th e
folder is clicked in th e n a v ig a t ion m en u , th e w eb pa g e w ith th e cu stom ized lin ks to "su b w eb
pa g es" w ill sh ow . Th is m a y seem a bit da u n tin g , bu t people w h o h a v e cr ea ted fa ir ly com plica ted
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w eb pa g e h ier a r ch ies a n d m en u sy stem s a ppr ecia te th is fu n ct ion a lity , beca u se of th e in t im a te
w a y folder s for m th e n a v ig a t ion sy stem of Plon e w eb sites. A cu stom w eb pa g e for a folder ca n be
a n ela bor a te g r a ph ica l desig n , or it ca n be a sim ple tex tu a l descr ipt ion w ith in str u ct ion s to u se
th e n a v ig a t ion m en u , a s th e follow in g v ideo illu str a tes:
Wa tch a v ideo a bou t sett in g th e pa g e displa y v iew .
For a n oth er situ a t ion w h er e th is fu n ct ion a lity is u sefu l, con sider a folder a s a con ta in er of a
docu m en t th a t g ets u pda ted per iodica lly . Th er e cou ld be tw en ty v er sion s of th e docu m en t in th e
folder , bu t on ly on e is cu r r en t . Th e displa y of th e folder w ou ld h a v e been set to sh ow th e v iew of
th e fir st v er sion of th e docu m en t, w h en it w a s fir st cr ea ted. A s n ew docu m en ts w er e u ploa ded,
th e displa y of th e folder w a s r eset ea ch t im e to sh ow th e cu r r en t docu m en t, a n d th e defu n ct
docu m en ts w er e kept a r ou n d for poster ity , bu t set a s pr iv a te, so th ey w on 't a ppea r .
Th is du a l n a tu r e of Plon e folder s, a ct in g a s g en er ic con ta in er s or a s n a v ig a t ion -w ir ed "n odes" in a
h ier a r ch y , a llow s a kin d of pu t-stu ff-w h er e-y ou -n eed-it a ppr oa ch . A s th e site is dev eloped, folder s
g et n a tu r a lly cr ea ted a s w or k pr og r esses. Pr e-ex ist in g files, im a g es, w eb pa g es g et u ploa ded or
n ew ly cr ea ted in folder s th r ou g h ou t th e w eb site. By "n a tu r a lly " h er e, w e m ea n th a t stor a g e of
con ten t ju st fa lls ou t in th e n or m a l cou r se of doin g th e w or k, ju st a s y ou w ou ld a dd a n d or g a n ize
files on y ou r per son a l com pu ter w ith ou t th in kin g a bou t it too h a r d. Befor e y ou kn ow it , y ou
h a v e a la r g e sy stem of folder s in a h ier a r ch y , w ith som e folder s con ta in in g a ll sor ts of files.
Plon e w eb sites g et like th a t too, bu t th is is a g ood th in g -- it is a con ten t m a n a g em en t sy stem ,
a fter a ll. A n in div idu a l folder m ig h t con ta in a ll sor ts of old pa g es, su ppor t in g da ta files a n d
docu m en ts, or ig in a l g r a ph ics files, etc. , bu t if th e displa y v iew for th e folder is set to a sin g le
pa g e a m on g st th e cr ow d, th e oth er docu m en ts w ill n ot be seen w h en th e w eb site is su r fed. Bu t
th ey w ill be th er e n ex t y ea r w h en y ou a sk, "Now w h er e did I pu t th e or ig in a l A dobe Illu str a tor
v er sion of th a t g r a ph ic?," a n d a n sw er "Oh , y es, it is in th e folder a lon g w ith a ll th e oth er stu ff on
th a t pr oject ." Th is w a y of doin g th in g s -- ta kin g a dv a n ta g e of th e stor a g e sy stem a spect of Plon e
-- is v er y im por ta n t w h en sev er a l people sh a r e w eb site folder a ccess a n d w or k colla bor a t iv ely ,
bu t it h a ppen s ev en for w eb sites m a n a g ed by a sin g le per son .
Th ese ex a m ples illu str a te th a t th e flex ibility of Plon e folder s is a cen tr a l fea tu r e in th e con ten t
m a n a g em en t sy stem .
Nex t , w e m ov e to th e contents ta b to see im por ta n t fu n ct ion s for m a n a g in g con ten t .
3.3. Folder Contents
T h e con t en t s t a b sh ows a l ist of it em s in a folder. It is t h e pla ce for sim ple it em -by -it em
a ct ion s a n d for t h e m a n ipu la t iv e a ct ion s of copy , cu t , pa st e, m ov e, reorder, et c.
Th e con ten ts ta b for folder s is like "File Ma n a g er " or "My Com pu ter " sy stem u t ilit ies in Win dow s a n d
Lin u x desktops a n d th e "Fin der " in Ma c OS X, w ith sim ila r fu n ct ion a lity .
Clickin g th e contents ta b for a folder , su ch a s th e "Skipper s" folder below , sh ow s th e contents ta b pa n el:
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Th e contents ta b pa n el is im m edia tely r ecog n ized by obser v in g th e ch eck box es beside th e item s in th e
con ten ts list . Click th ese ch eck box es to select m u lt iple item s for per for m in g copy, cut, renam e, delete,
or change s tate oper a t ion s.
Plon e h a s a clipboa r d for copy a n d cut oper a t ion s. If y ou ch eck on e or m or e item s, a n d click cu t or copy ,
a pa ste bu tton w ill be a dded to th e r ow of bu tton s a lon g th e bottom of th e pa n el. If y ou th en click
a n oth er folder , y ou 'll be a ble to pa ste th e item s th er e. For a cu t oper a t ion , th e item s w ill r em a in in th e
sou r ce folder -- th ey w on 't disa ppea r -- u n t il th ey a r e pa sted som ew h er e.
Renaming item s w ill sh ow a pa n el for en ter in g a n ew n a m e for th e short name (or id) of th e item , a s
w ell a s th e title. Th e dist in ct ion betw een short name a n d title is on e th a t becom es a ppa r en t on ly w h en
y ou r en a m e, beca u se Plon e a u tom a tica lly cr ea tes th e short name fr om th e title in m ost Plon e w eb sites.
Bu t th e r en a m in g oper a t ion m u st sh ow y ou th e short name a s w ell a s th e title, beca u se u su a lly w ou ld
w a n t to ch a n g e both , if ch a n g in g eith er . Con sider th e follow in g ex a m ple:
If y ou w er e to ch a n g e th e t it le to "Lon g -ta iled Skipper s," y ou w ou ld a lso ch a n g e th e sh or t n a m e to "lon g -
ta iled-skipper s." Th is keeps th in g s t idy -- it keeps th em cor r ect , so th a t th e URL for th e item , th e w eb
a ddr ess, is kept u p-to-da te w ith th e a ctu a l con ten t item . Note th a t th e sh or t n a m e sh ou ld con ta in n o
bla n ks. Use da sh es for a n y bla n ks in th e t it le, a n d oth er w ise m a ke it a ca r bon copy of th e t it le. A lso, u se
low er ca se for th e sh or t n a m e. See a lso th e pa g e "Wh a t 's in a Web Na m e?" for a descr ipt ion of h ow Plon e
h a n dles w eb a ddr essin g a n d th e sh or t n a m e. Th e follow in g v ideo a lso in clu des in illu str a t ion of
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r en a m in g :
Wa tch a v ideo th a t in clu des r en a m in g a n item .
Th e delete oper a t ion is str a ig h tfor w a r d. Click to select on e or m or e item s, a n d th en th e delete bu tton ,
a n d th e item s w ill be deleted.
Th e change s tate oper a t ion offer s a g r ea t w a y to ch a n g e th e pu blica t ion sta te of a select ion of folder s,
a n d th eir su bfolder s if y ou select th is opt ion . In th e follow in g ex a m ple, th e pu blica t ion sta te for a folder
ca lled "Lon g -ta iled Skipper s" is bein g m odified. Ch eckin g th e "In clu de Folder Item s" w ill m a ke th e sta te
ch a n g e a ffect a ll con ta in ed con ten t . Don 't for g et th a t y ou ca n do th is to, sa y , th r ee folder s a t a t im e,
a n d a ll of th eir su bfolder s a n d con ta in ed con ten t , so th a t in on e fell sw oop y ou ca n qu ickly pu blish ,
u n pu blish , etc.
In a ddit ion to th ese in div idu a l a ct ion oper a t ion s, r eor der in g is a n a tu r a l m ou se-dr iv en m a n ipu la t ion ,
a s descr ibed in th e n ex t sect ion .
3.4. Reordering Items
T h e con t en t s t a b pa n el con t a in s fu n ct ion a lit y for qu ick a n d precise reorderin g of it em s in a
folder.
Con sider th e follow in g folder , ca lled "Skipper s," for h oldin g in for m a tion a bou t th is ty pe of bu tter fly .
Often , w h en w e a dd con ten t item s, w e don 't in it ia lly g et th em in th e or der w e w a n t . Th e desir ed
or der in g is n ot a lw a y s a lph a bet ica l, bu t in th is ex a m ple w e ca n a ssu m e so. Below y ou see th e Skipper
bu tter fly su bfolder s a r e n ot in a lph a bet ica l or der :
On e w a y to m ov e th e top item , "Spr ea d-w in g ed Skipper s," to th e bottom of th e list w ou ld be to click th e
sm a ll dow n a r r ow icon on th e r ig h t , a n d keep w or kin g it dow n to th e bottom . Th is is u sefu l for sm a ll
ch a n g es, bu t for su ch a m u lt i-r ow m ov e, it is better to click th e top r ow a n d dr a g it to th e bottom a n d
dr op it th er e (a so-ca lled "dr a g a n d dr op" a ct ion ). Ta ke ca r e to click in a n a r ea of th e r ow to be m ov ed
w h er e th e cu r sor is n ot ov er a n y tex t (click in th e open spa ce betw een th e w or ds), a n d sim ply dr a g a n d
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dr op (h old th e m ou se bu tton dow n a s y ou m ov e th e item ), a s th e follow in g lit t le a n im a tion illu str a tes:
Th e item th a t is bein g m ov ed tu r n s y ellow a s it is bein g m ov ed. Wh en th e m ou se bu tton is r elea sed,
th e item sta y s w h er e it w a s dr a g g ed. Click th e v iew ta b to see th e r eor der ed list in g .
3.5. Cutting, Copying and Pasting Items
Cu t , copy , a n d pa st e opera t ion s in v olv e m ov in g on e or m ore it em s from on e folder t o
a n ot h er.
Cut/Paste
Mov in g item s fr om on e a r ea to a n oth er on a w ebsite is a com m on ta sk. Often th is n eed a r ises w ith
pla cem en t of con ten t in th e w r on g folder . For ex a m ple, if th e a u th or of th e follow in g con ten t a bou t
Skipper bu tter flies r ea lizes th a t a Sw a llow ta il bu t ter fly w a s m ista ken ly in clu ded -- th e Ea ster n Tig er
Sw a llow ta il folder sh ow n below -- th e folder ca n sim ply be m ov ed w ith a cut/paste oper a t ion :
Note th a t th e Ea ster n Tig er Sw a llow ta il folder h a s been ch ecked, a n d th a t th e cut bu tton is a bou t to be
clicked. A fter clickin g th e cut bu tton , th e scr een w ill sh ow a n ew paste bu tton . Th e Ea ster n Tig er
Sw a llow ta il folder a n d a ll of its con ten ts a r e n ow in th e w eb site's "m em or y ." Th e Ea ster n Tig er
Sw a llow ta il folder does n ot im m edia tely disa ppea r , h ow ev er , a w a it in g th e a ctu a l paste oper a t ion :
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Th e paste bu tton is n ow a ct iv e. Th e n ex t step is to n a v ig a te to th e dest in a t ion folder , in th is ca se th e
Sw a llow ta ils folder :
A fter clickin g th e Sw a llow ta ils folder , th e paste bu tton w ill con tin u e to sh ow , beca u se th e pa ste
oper a t ion h a s n ot y et been com pleted:
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A n d la st , clickin g th e paste bu tton for th e dest in a t ion folder a dds th e Ea ster n Tig er Sw a llow ta il folder
to its pr oper pla ce in th e Sw a llow ta ils folder , a n d cu ts it fr om th e or ig in a l loca t ion , th e Skipper s folder ,
a n d th e cut/paste oper a t ion is com plete.
Copy /Paste
A copy/paste oper a t ion is iden tica l to th e cut/paste oper a t ion , ex cept th a t th er e is n o r em ov a l of
con ten t fr om th e or ig in a l folder . It w or ks a s y ou w ou ld ex pect it to w or k.
Wa tch a v ideo a bou t per for m in g th ese oper a t ion s.
.
3.6. Deleting Items
It em s m a y be delet ed from a folder wit h ea se.
Som etim es it is n ecessa r y to delete a con ten t item , often to r epla ce it w ith a n u pda ted v er sion . For
ex a m ple, per h a ps y ou u ploa ded a ph otog r a ph , on ly to r ea lize th a t y ou picked th e w r on g on e to u ploa d
fr om y ou r loca l com pu ter . Sim ply g o to th e con ten ts ta b a n d fin d th e u ploa ded ph otog r a ph , click to
ch eck it , th en click th e delete bu tton :
In th e ex a m ple sh ow n a bov e, Ph otog r a ph Th r ee.jpg is a bou t to be deleted.
En tir e folder s m a y be deleted, so ca r e m u st be ta ken w ith th e delete oper a t ion , bu t th is is tr u e for
com pu ter u se in g en er a l, a n d w e a ll h a v e lea r n ed to do a la st m in u te self-ch eck to m a ke su r e th e delete
oper a t ion is in ten ded.
A s y ou w ill see in th e n ex t sect ion , a n undo oper a t ion is a v a ila ble, w h ich offer s som e m ea su r e of
pr otect ion a g a in st in a dv er ten t delet ion a n d m a jor edit in g oper a t ion s.
3.7. Undo!
Plon e offers t h e ch a n ce t o u n do t h e la st opera t ion perform ed.
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Th e undo oper a t ion is a v a ila ble for u n doin g on e or sev er a l r ecen t ch a n g es. To u n do, click th e u n do lin k
to th e r ig h t of y ou r n a m e a t th e top of th e edit a r ea :
A fter clickin g u n do, y ou w ill see a list of r ecen t ch a n g es to th e w eb site, in th e or der of m ost r ecen t on
top of th e list . Click to ch eck th e a ct ion s y ou w ou ld like to u n do, a n d th en click th e undo button a t th e
bottom of th e list :
Usin g u n do on a Plon e w eb site, a s w ith u sin g u n do on com pu ter s in g en er a l, sh ou ld be con sider ed a s a
lu x u r y n ot to be a bu sed by ov er u se, a s it a dds a lev el of com plex ity to beh in d-th e-scen es da ta ba se
stor a g e. How ev er , u se it w h en y ou n eed it .
4. Using Smart Folders
Sm a rt Folders t a ke a dv a n t a ge of t h e in t elligen ce of Plon e.
4.1. Organization of Content
A Plon e web sit e, u sin g t h e u n derly in g st ora ge m a ch inery of Zope, is a collect ion of con t en t
it em s dist ribu t ed wit h in a h iera rch y of folders.
Befor e y ou kn ow it , folder s a n d su bfolder s h a v e been cr ea ted on a Plon e w eb site a n d con ten t a dded.
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Con ten t m a y be or g a n ized n a tu r a lly by th e h ier a r ch y of folder s.
Con sider th e bu tter flies w eb site, w h ich w ou ld h a v e a n or g a n iza t ion som eth in g like th is, w ith th e
m a in a r ea s of th e w eb site ea ch a few la y er s deep, a n d th e bu tter fly pa g es a r r a y ed in a h ier a r ch y :
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About
History
Keeping a Journal as a Kid
Natural History Mentors
The Present Treatment
Family
John
Bio
Other Interests
Tennis
Conservation
Local Politics
Sally
Bio
Other Interests
Karate
Cooking
Edward
Bio
Other InterestsFootball
Painting
Elizabeth
Bio
Other Interests
Clarinet
Snowboarding
Photography
Equipment
Techniques
Favorite Photographers
Butterflies
Overview
Biology
Life Cycle
Egg
Caterpillar
Pupa
Adult
Distribution
Migration
Field Work
Projects
Organizations
North American Butterfly Association
Lepidopterists’ Society
Xerces Society
Nature Conservancy
Bibliography
Species Treatments
Swallowtails
13 species pages
Pierids (Whites and Yellows)
30 species pages
Hairstreaks
5 species pages
Satyrium Hairstreaks
18 species pages
Scrub Hairstreaks
9 species pages
Blues
9 species pages
Azures
9 species pages
Metalmarks
3 species pages
Brushfoots
4 species pages
Greater Fritillaries
7 species pages
Lesser Fritillaries
16 species pages
Angelwings and Tortoiseshells
18 species pages
Red-Spotted Admiral
10 species pages
Satyrs (Browns)
13 species pages
Alpines and Arctics
10 species pages
Monarchs (Milkweed Butterflies)
3 species pages
Skippers
Spread-Wing Skippers
8 species pages
Cloudy Wings8 species pages
Duskywings
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Ea ch of th e bu tter fly tr ea tm en t pa g es h a s sect ion s on iden tifica t ion t ips, a descr ipt ion , a n d key w or ds.
Ph otog r a ph s a r e sca tter ed th r ou g h th e bu tter fly sect ion for bu tter flies Joh n a s seen per son a lly . He
w r ites a n obser v a t ion a ccou n t for ea ch n ew species h e ph otog r a ph s, pr ov idin g loca t ion , h a bita t , a n d
a n y specific beh a v ior a l obser v a t ion s m a de.
Th is w eb site h a s a r a n g e of con ten t , fr om per son a l biog r a ph ies a n d in ter ests of Joh n a n d h is fa m ily , to
ex pa n ded pa g es on ph otog r a ph y a n d oth er topics, to th e m a n y bu tter fly pa g es a n d ph otog r a ph s. Click-
n a v ig a t ion is effect iv e for fin din g m ost in for m a tion , a n d for th e bu tter fly con ten t th e or g a n iza t ion by
ta x on om y is u sefu l a n d fit t in g for th e m ost com m on n eeds, bu t th is is n ot th e on ly w a y it cou ld be
or g a n ized. For in sta n ce, th e bu tter fly pa g es cou ld h a v e been or g a n ized by h a bita t , by beh a v ior , by
size, by color , by w h eth er or n ot Joh n h a s obser v ed th e species, etc. Joh n w a s tor n betw een th ese w a y s
of or g a n izin g th e bu tter fly pa g es, bu t ch ose th e ta x on om ic str u ctu r e, beca u se g r ou pin g a n d r ela t in g
species by ev olu t ion a r y r ela t ion sh ip is th e m ost u sefu l w a y to do it . Bu t Joh n discov er ed h ow Plon e lets
h im h a v e h is ca ke a n d ea t it too:
Sm a r t folder s offer a w a y to cr ea te sepa r a te or g a n iza t ion a l tr ea tm en ts for con ten t .
4.2. Adding Smart Folders
Sm a rt Folders a re v irt u a l con t a in ers of l ist s of it em s fou n d by doin g a specia lized sea rch .
A sm a r t folder is u sed for bu ildin g a kin d of v ir tu a l con ta in er for con ten t -- th e con ten t a ctu a lly ex ists
w h er ev er th e item s a r e stor ed th r ou g h ou t th e w eb site, bu t th e sm a r t folder fin ds con ten t a lon g th e
g u idelin es set by a sea r ch cr iter ion a n d m a kes it a ppea r a s if th e item s w er e stor ed in a n a lter n a te
a r r a n g em en t. For th e bu tter fly pa g es descr ibed in th e in tr odu ct ion to th is sect ion , th e a ctu a l stor a g e
a r r a n g em en t is by ta x on om ic g r ou pin g (Skipper s, Mon a r ch s, Du sty w in g s, etc.), bu t w ith sm a r t folder s
th er e ca n be v ir tu a l g r ou pin g s by v a r iou s cr iter ia , su ch a s by color . Th e bu tter fly pa g es m a tch in g th e
sea r ch cr iter ia w ill be sh ow n a s if th ey "liv e" in th e sm a r t folder h oldin g bu tter fly pa g es or g a n ized by
color . Of cou r se, th er e m u st be key w or ds for color in th e bu tter fly pa g es for th is to w or k. Sea r ch
cr iter ia m a de for sea r ch in g g en er a l tex t ca n a ssem ble v er y m ea n in g fu l a r r a n g em en ts a lso.
Lea r n in g to th in k a bou t con ten t bein g stor ed w h er ev er it is stor ed, a n d a bou t u sin g cu stom sm a r t
folder s to g a th er u p differ en t "v iew s" of th e con ten t , is a n im por ta n t step to u sin g Plon e m ost
effect iv ely . It is a n in tellig en t sy stem .
To a dd a sm a r t folder , u se th e add item m en u , a s for a ddin g oth er con ten t ty pes:
You w ill see th e edit smart folder pa n el:
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Below th e t it le a n d descr ipt ion fields is a set of fields for specify in g th e for m a t of sea r ch r esu lts r etu r n ed
by th e sea r ch cr iter ion for th e n ew sm a r t folder . Th e fou r fields in th e pa n el a bov e a r e in pa ir s. Th e top
tw o fields let y ou lim it th e sea r ch r esu lts to a n u m ber of item s th a t w ill be displa y ed. Th e bottom tw o
fields let y ou con tr ol w h ich pieces of in for m a tion a bou t th e sea r ch r esu lt item s w ill be sh ow n in th e
ta ble list in g of th e r esu lts.
Setting the search criterion
A fter sett in g th e displa y con fig u r a t ion in th e edit pa n el sh ow n a bov e, click th e cr iter ia ta b to sh ow th e
pa n el for sett in g sea r ch cr iter ia :
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Th e top a r ea of th e pa n el, Add New Search Criteria, lets y ou set a field a n d a m a tch in g cr iter ion . Th e
bottom a r ea , Set Sort Order, is a sim ple select ion for a field to sor t on .
For sett in g th e sea r ch cr iter ion , y ou h a v e th e ch oice of th ese fields:
Th e cr iter ia ty pes for m a tch in g da ta in con ten t item s depen d on w h ich field is selected.
A fter sa v in g th e sm a r t folder , th e sea r ch cr iter ia w ill be a pplied a n d th e r esu lts sh ow n w h en th e sm a r t
folder is clicked. You ca n cr ea te a n y n u m ber of sm a r t folder s for su ch cu stom v iew s. For th e bu tter fly
ex a m ple descr ibed a bov e, th e key w or ds field cou ld be u sed to m a tch color to h a v e a ser ies of sm a r t
folder s for "Blu e Bu tter flies," "Wh ite Bu tter fles," etc.
Mu lt iple cr iter ia ca n be u sed for a sm a r t folder . For ex a m ple, a sm a r t folder ca lled "Bu tter flies
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Ph otog r a ph ed in th e La st Mon th ," cou ld be m a de by sett in g a cr iter ion on Cr ea t ion Da te a n d on Item
Ty pe a s Im a g e. Su ch da te-ba sed sm a r t folder s a r e r ea lly effect iv e to sh ow u p-to-da te v iew s of con ten t
th a t don 't r equ ir e a n y a dm in istr a t iv e h a n d-w or k -- on ce su ch a sm a r t folder h a s been cr ea ted, it w ill
a u tom a tica lly sta y u p to da te.
Note: A sm a r t folder doesn 't beh a v e like a n or m a l folder -- y ou ca n 't a dd con ten t item s v ia th e a dd item
m en u , a s y ou ca n for a n or m a l folder .
Wa tch a v ideo a bou t a ddin g a sm a r t folder .
4.3. Smart Folder Intelligence
Sm a rt Folder t ech n ology , wh en u sed properly , em bodies on e of t h e m a in a dv a n t a ges of a
con t en t m a n a gem en t sy st em .
You 'v e seen h ow collect ion s pr ov ide a w a y to a u g m en t a n or g a n iza t ion of con ten t , w ith ov er la ppin g or
ov er a r ch in g a ddit ion a l sm a r t folder s th a t key on da te, or specific fields, or tex t sea r ch es. Th er e is a
deeper m ea n in g to th is, w h ich g ets to som eth in g ca lled m eta da ta , or "da ta a bou t da ta ," in tr odu ced in
th e sect ion on Sett in g Ba sic Pr oper t ies. Con ten t m a n a g em en t sy stem s h a v e th is m eta da ta , a kin d of
low -lev el in tellig en ce, bu ilt in to th em . Plon e in cor por a tes th e Du blin Cor e m eta da ta elem en t set ,
w h ich w a s dev ised in Du blin , Oh io in 1 9 9 5 a t a libr a r y con fer en ce (Libr a r ia n s a r e on th e on es r ea lly
on top of in for m a tion , y ou kn ow ). A s th e n a m e in dica tes, th er e is a cor e set of th in g s on e cou ld descr ibe
for differ en t bits of con ten t , be th ey im a g es or fu ll docu m en ts, or w h a tev er . Th e Du blin Cor e, pr oper ly ,
th e Sim ple Du blin Cor e, in clu des th e follow in g 1 5 item s:
Tit le1 .
Cr ea tor2 .
Su bject3 .
Descr ipt ion4 .
Pu blish er5 .
Con tr ibu tor6 .
Da te7 .
Ty pe8 .
For m a t9 .
Iden tifier1 0.
Sou r ce1 1 .
La n g u a g e1 2 .
Rela t ion1 3 .
Cov er a g e1 4 .
Rig h ts1 5 .
Th er e a r e a dded-on w r in kles to th is cor e y ou m a y r ea d a bou t h er e, bu t for th is in tr odu ct ion to th e
con cept , th e Sim ple Du blin Cor e w ill su ffice. You 'll fin d som e of th ese u n der th e Properties ta b of a n y
item in Plon e, a n d sev er a l oth er s a r e im plied by th e n a tu r e of th e con ten t itself, su ch a s for Ty pe a n d
For m a t, or by ba sic r ecor d-keepin g w ir ed in to Plon e, a s for Pu blish er .
We a r e a ll la zy by n a tu r e, som eon e sa id. If on ly w e filled in th is opt ion a l in for m a tion for a n y con ten t
item w e cr ea te -- Th in k of th e v a st in for m a tion a n d pow er a t ou r fin g er t ips! A n ex a g g er a t ion ?
Per h a ps, bu t a s w e ex plor e h er e, th e fu n ct ion a lity is th er e w a it in g for y ou r da ta -descr ibin g im pu lse to
discov er h idden poten tia l (n ot so h idden -- in fa ct , r ig h t in fr on t of y ou r fa ce).
Im a g in e a w om a n w h o stu ffs a ll h er con ten t in to a sin g le big folder h oldin g th ou sa n ds of con ten t item s
-- im a g es, pa g es, ev en ts, n ew s item s, lin ks -- th e w or ks. If y ou looked ov er h er sh ou lder a t th is sw ir lin g
m a ss, y ou m ig h t fir st th in k h er to be a la zy per son , or ju st on e m issin g th e or g a n iza t ion g en e. Bu t y ou
n otice th a t sh e ca n a lw a y s fin d stu ff, a n d h a s qu ick sea r ch lin ks stor ed a w a y , a n d, w h en sh e n eeds to
fin d som eth in g specia l, or to bu ild a cu stom r epor t , sh e is a dept a t fa st a ssem bly . How does sh e do it?
Sh e does it by dedica t ion to fillin g ou t th ose m eta da ta fields a n d by ta kin g a dv a n ta g e of th ose clev er
sm a r t folder s.
Th e on e-folder w om a n is u sin g Plon e a s a con ten t m a n a g em en t sy stem de rigueur. (Of cou r se, it is so
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ea sy to a lso or g a n ize by folder s, ev en in som e cr u de sen se, if y ou r ea lly a r e m issin g th e or g a n iza t ion
g en e). You m ig h t th in k su ch dedica t ion sh ou ld be lim ited to v er y la r g e or g a n iza t ion s, or especia lly to
th ose ca ses w h er e fin din g con n ect ion s w ith in in for m a tion ca n br in g sig n ifica n t ly g r ea ter
u n der sta n din g -- or , poten t ia lly , w ea lth . Bu t th in k of a ll th ose ph otos y ou 'v e been ta kin g w ith y ou r
dig ita l ca m er a . You h a v e h a d th e pr esen ce of m in d to fill in a t lea st th e descr ipt ion field, h a v en 't y ou ?
You kn ow h ow qu ickly m on th s becom e y ea r s, a n d 1 00s of ph otos becom e 1 000s. You g et th e idea .
Th e pa y off to u sin g a n in tellig en t sy stem pr oper ly is efficien cy a n d th e discov er y of r ela t ion sh ips,
per h a ps su bt le.
5. Collaboration, Publication, And Workflow
T h e st a t e m en u a n d rela t ed pa n els h a v e set t in gs for con t rollin g t h e a ccess a n d a v a ila bilit y
of con t en t .
5.1. Basic Publication States
T h e pu blica t ion con t rol sy st em for Plon e is v ery flexible, st a rt in g wit h ba sic set t in gs for
m a kin g a n it em priv a t e or pu blic.
In th e u pper r ig h t cor n er of th e edit pa n el for a n y con ten t ty pe -- folder s, im a g es, pa g es, etc. , a n d a n y
specia lized con ten t ty pes -- th er e is a m en u on th e r ig h t for pu blica t ion sta te. Th is state m en u h a s
sett in g s for con tr ollin g pu blica t ion sta te:
Th e h ea der for th e m en u w ill sh ow th e cu r r en t pu blica t ion sta te for th e con ten t item , su ch a s state:
public draft, a s sh ow n a bov e. Pu blic dr a ft is th e in it ia l sta te w h en y ou cr ea te a con ten t item -- a n
u ploa ded im a g e, a pa g e, a n ew s item -- a n d in th e pu blic dr a ft sta te, a s th e n a m e in dica tes, th e con ten t
item w ill g en er a lly be a v a ila ble to v isitor s to th e w eb site. Th er e a r e sev er a l su bt let ies a bou t th is,
h ow ev er . Con ten t item s in pu blic dr a ft sta te m a y or m a y n ot be sh ow n in m en u s, bu t th ey cou ld be
seen by sea r ch en g in es a n d by dir ect a ccess by w eb a ddr ess. So, if th e item is defin itely m ea n t to be
h idden fr om v iew , beca u se it is v er y r ou g h dr a ft per h a ps, th e m ake private m en u ch oice is th e
a ppr opr ia te step a fter th e con ten t item h a s been cr ea ted.
A lso, a n d th is w ill be v er y im por ta n t , cer ta in con ten t ty pes, su ch a s n ew s item s a n d ev en ts, w ill n ot
a ppea r on th e w ebsite a s y ou ex pect , u n t il th ey a r e ex plicit ly published.
Stor e th is in y ou r m em or y : Pu blica t ion st a t e is im port a n t !
Pu blica t ion sta te ca n be ch a n g ed on ly by u ser s w h ose a ccou n ts h a v e th e n ecessa r y per m ission s. Th e
m en u ch oices in th e sta te m en u w ill r eflect ex ist in g per m ission s sett in g s. For ex a m ple, in a big
n ew spa per w eb site, a r epor ter cou ld a dd pa g es for n ew s a r t icles, bu t th e sta te m en u w ill n ot sh ow a
publish m en u ch oice, on ly a subm it m en u ch oice. Th is is beca u se a r epor ter m u st su bm it a r t icles u p th e
lin e to th e editor ia l sta ff for a ppr ov a l befor e pu blica t ion . If y ou r a ccou n t h a s th e per m ission s,
h ow ev er , th e publish m en u ch oice w ill a ppea r a n d y ou ca n sim ply pu blish in on e step.
For a n editor , a con ten t item th a t h a s been su bm itted m a y be published or rejected, eith er ou tr ig h t ,
beca u se it is a n in a ppr opr ia te su bm ission for th e situ a t ion , or for th e m or e ty pica l r ea son th a t th e
con ten t item n eeds r ev ision .
A fter a con ten t item h a s been published, it m a y be retracted, to ch a n g e th e sta te ba ck to public draft
sta te, a n d fr om th er e set to pr iv a te, if desir ed. Th e m en u ch oices in th e sta te m en u w ill ch a n g e
a ccor din g ly .
Con sider a t ion sh ou ld be g iv en to r etr a ct in g ("u n pu blish in g "), or sett in g to private, a n y con ten t th a t
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h a s becom e obsolete or u n desir ed for som e r ea son . Sett in g to private w ill ta ke th e item fr om pu blic
v iew a n d fr om sh ow in g u p in sea r ch r esu lts, bu t w ill keep it a r ou n d in ca se th e for m a t or th e a ctu a l
m a ter ia l (tex t , im a g es, etc.) is n eeded la ter . Th is is especia lly tr u e for con ten t r ela t in g to ev en ts th a t
m a y r ecu r or to on e-of-a -kin d cr ea t ion s. Th e decision to delete or to set to private m a y depen d on
w h eth er or n ot th e con ten t ex ists elsew h er e, on a loca l com pu ter . If th e con ten t is la r g e in size, in th e
sen se of disk spa ce ta ken , per h a ps sa v in g to a loca l com pu ter is w a r r a n ted befor e delet ion , if spa ce on
th e w ebsite ser v er com pu ter is a n issu e.
5.2. Advanced Control
T h e pu blica t ion con t rol sy st em , u n der t h e a dv a n ced m enu , h a s soph ist ica t ed fea t u res for
set t in g a v a ila bilit y by da t e a n d by con t ext .
Th e state m en u h a s a n advanced. . . item :
w h ich br in g s u p th e advanced sta te pa n el:
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Below a n ex pla n a t ion sect ion a t th e beg in n in g of th e pa n el, th er e is a ch eck box sh ow in g th e con ten t
th a t w ill be a ffected by th is ch a n g e of pu blica t ion sta te. It sh ow s th a t th e folder "Lon g -ta iled Skipper "
w ill be a ffected by th is sta te ch a n g e.
Th e n ex t field, Include folder items , is a ch eck box for con tr ollin g w h eth er th e sta te ch a n g e a ffects th is
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item on ly (th e "Lon g -ta iled Skipper " folder ) or th e item s it con ta in s a n d a ll of a n y su bfolder s a n d oth er
con ta in ed item s. Th is is a n im por ta n t ch eck box . It lets y ou ea sily ch a n g e th e a v a ila bility of a n en t ir e
sect ion of a w ebsite. For ex a m ple, th e "Lon g -ta iled Skipper " folder cou ld con ta in fou r su bfolder s, for
ph otog r a ph s, species occu r r en ce descr ipt ion s, ta x on om ic h istor y , a n d beh a v ior descr ipt ion s, a ll of
w h ich h a s been kept private du r in g th e in it ia l w or k to bu ild u p th is con ten t . A ll of it cou ld be
im m edia tely m a de pu blic -- it cou ld be published -- by ch eckin g th is box a n d ch eckin g publish a t th e
bottom befor e sa v in g .
Likew ise, a n en t ir e sect ion cou ld be im m edia tely m a de private. For ex a m ple, if a n a u tom obile r en ta l
a g en cy decided to r em ov e a ca r m odel fr om its fleet , a n en t ir e sect ion of th eir w ebsite dev oted to th is
ca r m odel, w ith sev er a l su bfolder s fu ll of pa g es, im a g es, a n d files, cou ld be set to private.
Th e n ex t tw o da te fields a r e for effective date a n d expiration date. Th eir m ea n in g s a r e str a ig h tfor w a r d.
If th er e is a w in dow of t im e, for w h ich a con ten t item or a set of con ten t item s is v a lid for pu blica t ion , it
m a y be set w ith th ese fields.
A com m en t lets y ou a tta ch a n ex pla n a t ion to a ll con ten t a ffected by th e sta te ch a n g e. Th is is especia lly
u sefu l w h en sev er a l people a r e w or kin g on a w ebsite, a n d a per son less fa m ilia r w ith a n a r ea of th e w eb
site looks a t con ten t a n d w on der s w h y it isn 't pu blish ed. Th ey w on der , "Th is in for m a tion looks g ood.
Wh y isn 't it pu blish ed a lr ea dy ?" Th en th ey r ea d a com m en t th a t sa y s som eth in g like, "Don 't pu blish
u n til Rich a r d ch ecks on copy r ig h t issu es r eg a r din g th e item s descr ibed h er e." Usin g com m en ts is a
g ood idea for sen sit iv e in for m a tion , ev en if y ou a r e th e on ly per son w or kin g on th e w eb site, beca u se
y ou m ig h t for g et w h y y ou m a de a decision a bou t pu blica t ion sta te.
Fin a lly , a t th e bottom th er e is a ch oice of sev er a l a v a ila ble sta tes for th is a ct ion . It w ill v a r y ,
depen din g on th e pr esen t sta te of th e item . For ex a m ple, if th e item is cu r r en t ly in a pu blish ed sta te,
th er e w on 't be a ch oice for publish, if th e item is pr esen t ly in a private sta te, th er e w on 't be a ch oice for
m ake private, etc. If a n item is pu blish ed a lr ea dy , th er e w ill be ch oices in th is bottom pa r t of th e pa n el
for reject a n d retract, for "u n pu blish in g " a t item , sett in g it ba ck to public draft or th en to private sta te.
Wa tch a v ideo a bou t con tr ollin g pu blica t ion sta te.
5.3. Workflow Policies
Workflow policies a llow a sit e a dm in ist ra t or t o crea t e a form a lized sy st em for con t rollin g
pu blica t ion a n d con t en t m a n a gem en t a s a st ep-by -st ep flow in v olv in g differen t u sers in set
roles.
Th e state m en u h a s a ch oice for policy:
Wor kflow is a n a dv a n ced su bject . It in v olv es cr ea t ion of a m or e r eg im en ted con tr ol of con ten t cr ea t ion ,
r ev iew , a n d pu blica t ion . If y ou h a v e a u ser a ccou n t on a ty pica l sm a ll Plon e site, y ou w ill pr oba bly n ot
en cou n ter cu stom w or kflow policies, beca u se th er e isn 't a n eed for th is m or e soph ist ica ted con tr ol. Bu t ,
th e poten t ia l is th er e for u sin g th is fu n ct ion a lity , a s it is bu ilt in to Plon e.
For a n in tr odu ct ion to th e w or kflow con cept , con sider a n ex a m ple in v olv in g a w eb site for a n ew spa per
bu sin ess, for w h ich th ese differ en t g r ou ps of people a r e a t w or k:
Repor ter s
Ca n cr ea te stor ies, bu t ca n on ly su bm it th em for r ev iew .
Editor s
Ca n r ev iew stor ies, bu t ca n 't pu blish com pletely . Th ey sen d posit iv ely r ev iew ed a n d edited
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stor ies u p th e lin e for fu r th er a ppr ov a l.
Copy Editor s
Do fin a l fa ct ch eckin g , fix es, a n d r ev iew , a n d m a y pu blish stor ies.
A w orkflow policy, som etim es a bbr ev ia ted to w orkflow , descr ibes th e con str a in ts on sta te-ch a n g in g
a ct ion s for differ en t g r ou ps of people. On ce th e w or kflow policy h a s been cr ea ted, it n eeds to be a pplied
to a n a r ea of th e w ebsite for th e r u les to ta ke a ffect . In th e ex a m ple of th e n ew spa per w eb site, a
w or kflow policy w ou ld be set u p a n d th en a pplied to th e folder s w h er e r epor ter s do th e w or k of a ddin g
n ew s a r t icles. Th en , r epor ter s cr ea te stor ies a n d sen d th em u p th e lin e for r ev iew a n d a ppr ov a l:
Repor ter s w ou ld a dd n ew s a r t icles a n d w ou ld subm it th em (th e publish m en u ch oice is n ot a v a ila ble to
th em ). Likew ise, editor s m a y reject th e a r t icle for r ev ision or th ey m a y , in tu r n , subm it th e a r t icle u p
th e lin e to a copy editor for fin a l pr oofr ea din g a n d pu blica t ion .
Con fig u r in g a w or kflow policy is a m a tter of a pply in g it to a n a r ea of th e w ebsite. Th e policy m en u
ch oice br in g s u p th e w orkflow policy pa n el:
Th is sm a ll pa n el con ta in s a lin k w ith th e ex plicit t it le, "A dd a w or kflow policy 's loca l con fig u r a t ion in
th e Folder ," w h ich offer s a n in ter m edia te ch eck to m a ke su r e th e in ten t ion is clea r . Clickin g th e lin k
br in g s u p a w or kflow scope select ion pa n el:
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In th is ex a m ple, th er e is on ly on e w or kflow policy a v a ila ble, "Defa u lt Policy ," w h ich is th e sta n da r d
w or kflow policy for Plon e w eb sites. In th e n ew spa per bu sin ess ex a m ple, th er e w ou ld be a policy h er e
ca lled som eth in g like "Editor ia l Rev iew Policy ." Th e ch oice h er e is betw een sett in g For this Folder, to
a pply th e policy th e con ten ts of th e folder itself, a n d th e Below this folder ch oice, to a pply th e policy to
a n y su bfolder s, a s w ell. A fter sa v in g , th e w or kflow policy w ou ld be in effect for th is a r ea of th e w eb site.
5.4. Collaboration Through Sharing
T h e sh a rin g t a b pa n el con t a in s in pu t con t rols for set t in g t h e a ccess a v a ila ble t o u sers of
t h e web sit e.
Th e sharing ta b pa n el is a la r g e pa n el w ith m a n y in pu t fields:
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Th e top box , ca lled "A ssig n ed Roles," sh ow s ex ist in g sett in g s for sh a r in g of th is item . It lists Joh n Sm ith
a s th e Ow ner of th e item . Th a t m ea n s th a t Joh n Sm ith h a s th e r ig h t to ch a n g e th e item , ev en delete
it . Th is is sim ila r to pr iv ileg es of th e Manager r ole. Bu tton s a t th e bottom a llow y ou to ch a n g e th e
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a ssig n ed r oles or delete th em .
Th e n ex t box , ca lled "A dd Sh a r in g Per m ission s to User s," h a s a sea r ch fu n ct ion for fin din g specific
u ser s. On ce fou n d, sh a r in g pr iv ileg es a r e set v ia th e bu tton s a t th e bottom of th e box .
Th e n ex t box , ca lled "A dd Sh a r in g Per m ission s to Gr ou ps," w or ks th e sa m e w a y , ex cept it is ta r g eted a t
w h ole g r ou ps of u ser s. For in sta n ce, on a w eb site for a com m u n ity g r ou p, th er e cou ld be fiv e g r ou ps,
on e for ea ch m a in com m ittee of th e or g a n iza t ion . Per h a ps th is item is a folder to con ta in docu m en ts
m a in ta in ed by th e "Recr u itm en t" com m ittee. Sh a r in g per m ission s cou ld be set for th e "Recr u itm en t
Com m ittee" g r ou p, a n d a ll u ser s w ith in it w ou ld h a v e th e sa m e pr iv ileg es. V er y ea sy , a n d v er y
pow er fu l.
Th e "A dv a n ced Sett in g s" box is for con tr ollin g sh a r in g a ccess w ith in a h ier a r ch y of folder s. Th er e ca n
be soph ist ica ted a r r a n g em en ts for sh a r in g , to m a n a g e "g r ou ps w ith in g r ou ps."
Fin a lly , th e "Ch a n g e Ow n er sh ip" box a t th e bottom h a s a lin k to ch a n g e ow n er sh ip -- a kin to
"r ea ssig n in g " -- to a n oth er u ser .
6. Next Steps
T h is m a n u a l h a s focu sed on t h e perspect iv e of t h e u ser. Sit e a dm in ist ra t ors will fin d
v a riou s ot h er h elp docu m en t a t ion on plon e.org. T o con clu de t h is u ser-focu sed m a n u a l, we
exa m in e a few scen a rios for t a kin g on t h e sit e a dm in ist ra t ion role, lea din g t o a ccessin g t h e
m ore a dv a n ced docu m en t a t ion .
6.1. Other Useful Basic Documentation
Plon e.org h a s in div idu a l docu m en t a t ion pa ges t h a t a re dedica t ed for specific t a sks.
Th e docu m en ta t ion a r ea h a s a sect ion dedica ted to ba sic u se for con ten t editor s. You w ill fin d
a ddit ion a l h elp docu m en ta t ion , som e r epea t in g som e of th e cov er a g e tr ea ted in th is m a n u a l a n d som e
focu sin g on solv in g m or e specific pr oblem s.
You m a y w ish to n a v ig a te th r ou g h th e oth er h elp docu m en ts for site a dm in istr a t ion , ch a n g in g th e
v isu a l desig n , a n d pr og r a m m in g , bu t keep in m in d th a t m a n y of th ese h elp docu m en ts a r e
ta sk-specific a n d g et g et v er y tech n ica l.
6.2. From User to Site Administrator and Beyond
A ssu m in g y ou h a v e m a st ered t h e ba sic u ser-lev el fu n ct ion a lit y of Plon e, t a kin g on sit e
a dm in ist ra t ion t a sks for a person a l Plon e web sit e ca n be a rela t iv ely ea sy n ext st ep.
Exa m ples giv en h ere a re prov ided t o gu ide a n y on e in t erest ed in lea rn in g bey on d t h is
m a n u a l.
Th e tr ea tm en t pr esen ted in th is pa g e sh ou ld be u sefu l to y ou , ev en if y ou w ish to do a s lit t le site
a dm in istr a t ion a s possible, beca u se som ebody h a s to per for m th ese ta sks. For y ou , site a dm in istr a t ion
a n d pr og r a m m in g ta sks m ig h t be h a n dled by som eon e else, bu t lea r n in g a bou t th e r a n g e of
possibilit ies w ill open y ou r ey es to th e poten t ia l of Plon e w eb sites, a n d y ou m ig h t th in k a bou t th in g s to
a sk y ou r w eb site a dm in istr a tor a bou t .
A w eb site a dm in istr a tor is th e g o-to per son for tech n ica l h elp, softw a r e u pda tes, a n d tech n ica l
g u ida n ce. For la r g e w eb sites, m u lt iple people ser v e in a site a dm in istr a t ion tea m , w ith specia liza t ion
in th e h a n dlin g of su ch th in g s a s u ser a ccou n ts, site desig n , da ta ba se m a in ten a n ce, a n d
pr og r a m m in g . We ca n keep it sim pler h er e, th ou g h , a n d th in k a bou t h ow a sole site a dm in istr a tor ,
th e ow n er of a per son a l w eb site, w ou ld u se Plon e.
Ty pica l u ses of Plon e for per son a l w eb sites in clu de sh a r in g fa m ily ph otog r a ph s, keepin g a blog ,
follow in g a specific a r ea of in ter est , m a in ta in in g a fa n site, pr esen tin g tea ch in g m a ter ia ls, a n d
sh ow ca sin g ph otog r a ph s, a r tw or k, son g s, or oth er cr ea t iv e w or k. Th e ba sic fu n ct ion s descr ibed in th is
m a n u a l a r e u sed, in a ddit ion to site a dm in istr a t ion tools a n d som e lev el of w eb site pr og r a m m in g .
We ca n u se th e bu tter fly en th u sia st (lepidopter ist) a s a n ex a m ple of a per son w h o steps bey on d ba sic
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u ser ta sks to bu ild a per son a l w eb site. Th e lepidopter ist is v er y kn ow ledg ea ble a bou t bu tter flies a n d
w ish es to sh a r e w ith th e w or ld, bu t a lso w a n ts to colla bor a te w ith oth er bu tter fly people, in ter ested
in div idu a ls a n d scien t ists a like. Plon e is a g r ea t tool for th is job. Th e lepidopter ist lea r n s th a t people
u se Plon e for sm a ll w eb sites a n d div es in .
Im a g in e th r ee lepidopter ist per son a s of differ in g ilks, in r eg a r d to ex per ien ce a n d con fiden ce in
com pu ter u se:
Joh n -th e-n or m a l-per son
Eliza beth -th e-w eb-pa g e-bu ilder
Sa lly -th e-pr og r a m m er
Th ese per son a s spa n th e r a n g e of Plon e w eb site ow n er s, th e fir st w ea r in g on ly th e h a t of plon e-u ser ,
th e secon d w ea r in g tw o h a ts, th e plon e-u ser h a t a n d plon e-site-a dm in istr a tor h a t , a n d th e th ir d,
a ppr opr ia tely , w ea r in g th r ee h a ts, th e h a ts for plon e-u ser , plon e-site-a dm in istr a tor , a n d plon e-
site-pr og r a m m er . Let 's com pa r e th ese per son a s.
John-the-normal-person
Joh n -th e-n or m a l-per son is in lu ck. He h a s a fr ien d w h o m a kes w eb sites w ith Plon e. He a sks th e fr ien d
to set h im u p a w eb site a n d to tell h im w h a t to do. Th e fr ien d in sta lls Plon e on h is ow n w eb ser v er ,
r eg ister s a dom a in n a m e for th e w eb site, a n d w ir es a n d plu m bs it a ll u p. He ev en desig n s a n ice
bu tter fly log o a n d sets cu stom color s a n d a ba ckg r ou n d im a g e for th e site. A ll Joh n -th e-n or m a l-per son
h a s to do is lea r n a bou t Plon e fr om a u ser 's per spect iv e (u sin g th is m a n u a l a n d oth er u ser -or ien ted
docu m en ta t ion on plon e.or g ). Th a t 's it . Joh n -th e-n or m a l per son is on th e In ter n et m a p.
Joh n -th e-n or m a l-per son a sks h is fr ien d, w h o a cts a s site a dm in istr a tor for h is w eb site, to set h im u p a
r eg u la r u ser a ccou n t , joh n sm ith . His fr ien d cr ea tes th e joh n sm ith a ccou n t , a n d g iv es it fu ll a ccess
r ig h ts to th e w eb site by sett in g Ma n a g er r ole for th e a ccou n t . Joh n -th e-n or m a l-per son log s in a s
joh n sm ith a n d sees th e g r een ta bbed in ter fa ce, w ith th e ta bs a v a ila ble a n y w h er e on th e site. He lea r n s
h ow to cr ea te folder s fir st , a n d g oes a bou t cr ea t in g a h ier a r ch a l str u ctu r e of folder s a n d su bfolder s for
h is bio a n d con ta ct in for m a tion , a n a r ea for fa m ily ph otos, a n d folder s for th e bu tter fly in for m a tion .
He lea r n s th e pr ocedu r es for pr epa r in g im a g es fr om dig ita l ph otog r a ph s of h is fa m ily m em ber s a n d of
a ll th ose bu tter flies, a n d spen ds m u ch t im e w or kin g th r ou g h ex ist in g da ta a n d ph otog r a ph s, a n d
u ploa ds files a n d im a g es. He w r ites w eb pa g es for bu tter fly g r ou ps a n d species follow in g a sim ple
tem pla te of h is ow n desig n . A fter a few m on th s of th is ba sic, bu t in ten siv e w or k, h e is a ble to dev elop a
m on th ly r ou t in e of u pda tin g th e w ebsite w ith n ew bu tter fly im a g es a n d descr ipt ion s.
Wh en ev er Joh n -th e-n or m a l-per son h a s a qu est ion , h e en joy s th e lu x u r y of a skin g for h elp fr om h is
fr ien d, w h o is a ble to log in u sin g th e a ll-pow er fu l admin a ccou n t . Th er e a r e som e site a dm in istr a tor
ta sks for w h ich Joh n a sks for g u ida n ce fr om h is fr ien d, bu t , for th e m ost pa r t , h e m a in ta in s th e w ebsite
on h is ow n . Site a dm in istr a t ion ta sks h e does for h im self in clu de:
A ddin g n ew u ser a ccou n ts for m em ber s of h is fa m ily a n d for fellow bu tter fly en th u sia sts w h o
h elp h im w r ite bu tter fly species descr ipt ion s.
Ma n a g in g u ser a ccou n ts a n d a ccessibility to differ en t pa r ts of th e w eb site. For ex a m ple, w h en h e
n eeds h elp on w r it in g or edit in g a bu tter fly species descr ipt ion fr om a n ex per t , h e u ses th e
sh a r in g ta b to g iv e edit a ccess to th e pa r t icu la r bu tter fly ex per t 's a ccou n t on th e sy stem .
Upda tin g sev er a l "por t lets" in th e left colu m n a r ea of h is w ebsite, on e sh ow in g a focu s "bu tter fly
of th e m on th ," a n d th e oth er sh ow in g a r ecen t ph otog r a ph . For th is, Joh n -th e-n or m a l-per son
follow s a dv ice fr om h is fr ien d a n d by u sin g sev er a l docu m en ts on plon e.or g a s h elp.
For com m u n ica t ion s, Joh n -th e-n or m a l-per son in ter a cts w ith oth er bu tter fly en th u sia sts v er y
effect iv ely u sin g E-m a il. Wh en th er e is a n eed to com m u n ica te a bou t a specific bu tter fly , th e n a tu r a l
h ier a r ch ica l or g a n iza t ion of folder s m a kes it ea sy en ou g h to r efer to specific pa g es.
Elizabeth-the-web-page-builder
Eliza beth -th e-w eb-pa g e-bu ilder h a s ex per ien ce m a kin g w eb pa g es, a n d took a sh or t-cou r se in w eb pa g e
desig n u sin g HTML codin g . With th is su bsta n tia l ba ckg r ou n d, sh e h a s th e con fiden ce to dow n loa d Plon e
to h er loca l com pu ter a n d in sta ll it . Th is en a bles h er to lea r n th e bells a n d w h ist les of Plon e w ith ou t
h a v in g to h a ssle w ith a n d lea r n a bou t in sta llin g Plon e on a w eb ser v er -- y et . A fter follow in g th e
dir ect ion s to in sta ll Plon e on h er com pu ter , sh e r ea ds docu m en ta t ion a bou t pla y in g th e r ole of w eb site
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a dm in istr a tor .
Eliza beth -th e-w eb-pa g e-bu ilder u ses th e admin u ser a ccou n t a n d th e specia l pa ssw or d for admin
pr ov ided by th e in sta lla t ion softw a r e u pon its con clu sion . Eliza beth log s in a s admin, a fter r ea din g
m or e docu m en ta t ion . Sh e doesn 't both er sett in g u p a r eg u la r u ser a ccou n t for h er self, beca u se sh e
kn ow s sh e ca n ju st u se th e admin a ccou n t for site a dm in istr a t ion a s w ell a s for r eg u la r u ser ta sks, a s
sh e w ill be th e on ly u ser . A s admin, sh e follow s r ecipes on plon e.or g to ch a n g e th e log o a n d la y ou t , th e
th em e of th e w eb site. Sh e lea r n s a bou t th e pow er of u sin g ca sca din g sty le sh eet (CSS) defin it ion s to
ea sily a lter th e look of th e w eb site, a n d h ow to m a ke w h ole-sca le ch a n g es to th e site by in sta llin g n ew
cu stom th em es. Sh e w or ks on th e th em e for h er n ew w eb site on h er loca l Plon e in sta lla t ion , u n t il sh e is
sa t isfied w ith th e desig n .
Eliza beth -th e-w eb-pa g e-bu ilder in v est ig a tes opt ion s for h ost in g h er w eb site on a w eb ser v er , a n d
ex plor es differ en t h ost in g pr ov ider s th a t specia lize in Zope w eb ser v er softw a r e, th e r obu st sy stem th a t
pr ov ides th e u n der str u ctu r e of Plon e. Sh e ch ooses a h ost in g pr ov ider a n d con tr a cts w eb h ost in g
ser v ices for a y ea r . Eliza beth -th e-w eb-pa g e-bu ilder sees th e pow er fu l fea tu r es of Zope, bu t defer s to th e
h ost in g pr ov ider for site setu p ta sks a n d in sta lla t ion of Zope a n d Plon e on th e ser v er . Th e h ost in g
pr ov ider a lso h elps h er w ith in sta lla t ion of h er cu stom th em e, a lr ea dy dev eloped on h er loca l Plon e
in sta lla t ion . Her n ew liv e w eb site h a s h er cu stom log o, color sch em e, a n d la y ou t .
In th e ea r ly sta g es of cr ea t in g h er w eb site, Eliza beth -th e-w eb-pa g e-bu ilder per for m s th e n or m a l u ser
ta sks of cr ea t in g folder s, u ploa din g files, a ddin g ph otog r a ph s a n d g r a ph ics, a n d w eb pa g es to bu ild th e
a ctu a l con ten t of th e site. Like Joh n -th e-n or m a l-per son , Eliza beth -th e-w eb-pa g e-bu ilder per for m s ba sic
site a dm in istr a t ion ta sks u sin g th e specia l pa n els a v a ila ble to th e admin u ser , bu t steps bey on d site
a dm in istr a t ion to th e lev el of Plon e w eb pa g e bu ildin g , a n d lea r n s h ow to a dd cu stom pa g e tem pla tes
th a t a ccess da ta objects stor ed in Plon e's (a n d Zope's) stor a g e sy stem . With pa g e tem pla tes, cu stom
for m s softw a r e dow n loa ded fr om Plon e.or g , a n d a lit t le bit of pa g e tem pla te scr ipt in g , sh e lea r n s to
bu ild a m a p sy stem th a t sh ow s distr ibu t ion m a ps for a n y select ion of bu tter flies on h er w ebsite.
For com m u n ica t ion s, Eliza beth -th e-w eb-pa g e-bu ilder in sta lls a m essa g e boa r d sy stem in h er Plon e w eb
site, a lon g w ith en a blin g v isitor com m en tin g th r ou g h ou t th e site. Th er e is n oth in g ter r ibly fa n cy
a bou t th ese com m u n ica t ion fu n ct ion s, w h ich a u g m en t sta n da r d E-m a ilin g , bu t th ey g et th e job don e
effect iv ely .
Sally-the-programmer
Sa lly -th e-pr og r a m m er kn ow s m u ch a bou t w eb ser v er s, w eb pa g e bu ildin g , a n d pr og r a m m in g for th e
Web, h a v in g w or ked a s a Ja v a pr og r a m m er in sev er a l st in ts, befor e ta kin g a job a s a h istor y tea ch er
a n d IT specia list a t a h ig h sch ool. Her in ter est in bu tter flies is a pa ssion , bu t sh e h a s su bsta n tia l
in ter est in w eb pr og r a m m in g a n d w eb site da ta ba ses. Sa lly -th e-pr og r a m m er a lr ea dy a dm in ister s w eb
ser v er s, on e a lea sed ser v er sh e u ses for h er ow n w ebsite, for sev er a l fr ien ds, a n d for sev er a l loca l
or g a n iza t ion s, a n d sev er a l oth er sch ool ser v er s. Like Eliza beth -th e-w eb-pa g e-bu ilder , Sa lly -
th e-pr og r a m m er in sta lls Plon e a n d Zope on a loca l PC a n d u ses th e admin a ccou n t to kick th e t ir es, a n d
th en sh e ta kes th e m or e tech n ica l step to ex a m in e th e in n a r ds of th e sy stem by cr u isin g th e filesy stem
a n d br ow sin g code. Lea r n in g Py th on by ex a m ple a n d by r ea din g sev er a l books a n d w eb sites, sh e
bu ilds on h er Ja v a pr og r a m m in g ex per ien ce, a n d em br a ces Py th on for its clea n sy n ta x . Sh e div es in to
lea r n in g fr om th e m a n y ex a m ples of Plon e/Zope softw a r e a pplica t ion s th a t sh e dow n loa ds fr om th e
Web. Sh e lea r n s th a t Plon e/Zope a pplica t ion s a r e bu ilt w ith A r ch ety pes, a kin d of h ig h -lev el A PI
(A pplica t ion Pr og r a m m in g In ter fa ce) u sed to w r ite cu stom softw a r e for th e sy stem . Sh e u ses h er loca l
in sta lla t ion of Plon e a n d Zope for softw a r e dev elopm en t a n d test in g of cu stom A r ch ety pes-ba sed
con ten t ty pes, a n d m a in ta in s a pr odu ct ion in sta lla t ion on h er w eb ser v er .
Dev elopm en t of cu stom con ten t ty pes for h er bu tter fly w eb site con su m es h er for som e t im e, a s sh e
v ig or ou sly ex a m in es ex ist in g softw a r e a pplica t ion s a n d r ea ds th r ou g h tu tor ia ls on Plon e.or g . Sh e
dev elops sev er a l cu stom ty pes, on e ca lled Bu tter fly Species, for con ta in in g g en er ic sta t ic in for m a tion
a bou t a bu tter fly species, a n oth er ca lled Bu tter fly Ta x on , a so-ca lled "folder ish " con ten t ty pe for stor in g
th e species descr ipt ion s, a n d a n oth er ca lled Bu tter fly Obser v a t ion , for descr ibin g field da ta . In sta llin g
th ese ty pes on h er ser v er sy stem , sh e w r ites a Py th on pr og r a m to "popu la te" th e bu tter fly w eb objects
fr om a tex t file con ta in in g ex ist in g for m a tted descr ipt ion s a n d da ta . On ce com plete, Sa lly 's w eb site
fu n ct ion s w ell a s a str ea m lin ed sy stem , r equ ir in g a m in im u m of effor t to a dd n ew bu tter fly cov er a g e.
Sa lly -th e-pr og r a m m er ta kes a dv a n ta g e of th e bu ilt -in in tellig en ce of th e sy stem , a n d a dds to it w ith
cu stom sea r ch r esu lt box es, a focu s fea tu r e, a n d a ca len da r -ba sed v iew of th e bu tter fly da ta . Th ese
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elem en ts a r e pla ced a lon g th e side of h er w ebsite a n d a s por t lets pla ced in tellig en t ly th r ou g h th e pa g es
of th e w eb site, a n d a r e dr iv en by a set of cu stom pa g e tem pla tes a n d Py th on scr ipts th a t pr ov ide a n
in ter fa ce to th e u n der ly in g cu stom bu tter fly ty pes. For com m u n ica t in g w ith oth er bu tter fly
en th u sia sts, a m essa g e boa r d a n d v isitor com m en tin g a r e en a bled for th e site, in th e sa m e w a y
Eliza beth -th e-w eb-pa g e-bu ilder set u p h er w eb site, bu t Sa lly -th e-pr og r a m m er cr ea tes specific
con n ect ion s to th e cu stom bu tter fly con ten t ty pes th r ou g h u se of sm a r t folder s, so th a t m essa g e boa r d,
com m en tin g , a n d em a il tr a ffic r eg a r din g differ en t species a r e listed a n d coor din a ted in sev er a l v er y
u sefu l v iew s.
Comparison and Conclusion
Th ese th r ee per son a s illu str a te differ en t w a y s to a ccom plish th e sa m e th in g . Is a n y on e of th e th r ee
w eb sites n ecessa r ily a n d dem on str a bly better th a n th e oth er s? No, a per son w ith lit t le or n o a r t ist ic
ta len t , or pr og r a m m in g skills, bu t w ith clea r th in kin g , ca n bu ild a n d m a in ta in a g r ea t w eb site, ju st
by u sin g th e bu ilt -in fu n ct ion a lity of Plon e. Use of cu stom sm a r t folder s in a stock Plon e w eb site offer s
su bsta n t ia l pow er to y ield sim ila r r esu lts to th ose of th e a dv a n ced pr og r a m m in g tr ea tm en t descr ibed
in th e th ir d ex a m ple. Th er e a r e u n dou btedly differ en ces in con v en ien ce a n d pr esen ta t ion , bu t th ey
a r en 't ov er ly sig n ifica n t -- Plon e a n d Zope a r e "ou t-of-th e-box " w eb per for m er s. Cu stom iza t ion a n d
dev elopm en t of specia lized softw a r e on ly a dds to a fu ll-fea tu r ed ba se.
So, w h a tev er y ou r ex per ien ce a n d per spect iv e, w h en y ou feel th e n eed or w a n t to ex pa n d y ou r
kn ow ledg e, u se th e docu m en ta t ion a r ea of Plon e.or g , or bu y a Plon e a n d/or Zope book to div e in to th e
deeper w a ter s of site a dm in istr a t ion a n d pr og r a m m in g !
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