Sitecore CMS Training: Basics
Log in to the Sitecore CMS at the following page using your normal R-MC username and password:
http://www.rmc.edu/sitecore/login/.
Note: The username that you use to log in to Sitecore should not include "@rmc.edu".
During the training sessions today, we will cover the two primary editing modes of the Sitecore CMS. Eventually, you will likely develop a preference for one over the other and work almost exclusively in your preferred view. For now, select “Use Content Editor”.
Once you have logged in successfully, you should see a screen similar to the above. Take note of the list of files to the left – expand “Home” and then use this area to navigate to the web areas which you oversee.
Next, select the page you wish to edit. Remember that the CMS is different than Dreamweaver – if you want to change your homepage, select the “folder” icon – we are no longer using “index” or “default” pages as homepages.
Once you have a page selected, click the “Edit” button in the upper left. This locks the page and allows you to make changes.
The fields on the right side of the CMS screen should now have dark borders. In contrast, the borders are light gray before you press “Edit.” You can now make changes to your page by typing into the boxes along the right.
Title: This field influences what appears in large blue text across the top of your content area.
Page Title (Blue Text): This field sets how a page is references in global side navigation. In the event that a crumbtrail is not set, this field is the default there too.
For use in left navigation and breadcrumb: This text appears in the head of the left-navigation and in the page crumb trail.
Title Tag: The page title tag influences what text appears at the very top of the page and in search results.
To make changes to your content area, double-click anywhere inside of this field or select the “Content Editor” button when it appears. You should receive a pop-up like the above. Make changes to this area just as if you were in Microsoft Word. When done, select “Accept” in the lower right. “Reject” will return you to the CMS without retaining any of your changes from the pop-up editor.
When done with making edits (either completely or until you return later), choose “Save” in the upper left if you would like to retain your work.
If you are completely finished with a page, select the “Publish” tab and then click the “Publish” button. Click “Yes” on the pop-up and then “OK”. Your page has now entered work flow and awaiting final approval.
Finally, choose the “Approve” tab and then “Approve” to make the page go live on the web. You can decide whether or not to supply a message in the pop-up box.
Your page edits should now be on the web.
There are other options for site maintenance available in the CMS, some are covered in more advanced CMS lessons. For now, let’s examine the options available in the “right click context menu.”
By right-clicking on a file in the listing to the left, you will bring up the context menu pictured to the left. Just as in Windows and Mac operating systems, you will be able to create new pages, cut, copy and paste; you can also rename files and delete them, and create duplicates.
Incidentally, the “Sorting” options featured within this menu are how you will reorganize the links in your side navigation. By sorting items higher within your site, they will appear higher in your navigation. Conversely, items relegated to the lower levels of your site folder will be featured lower in navigation.
Duplicate is useful for creating similar pages. Be mindful that duplicate creates an exact replica of the original, so you will need to make changes to all title fields and navigation descriptions.
Note that you must select and publish the main folder of your site any time you make sorting changes or delete any page.