Tips & Tricks for End Users

1. Tips & Tricks for End Users 2008 Cascade Server User’s Conference Justin Klingman, Manager, Web Design & Content Management Beacon Technologies, Inc. September 22, 2008 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

2. Introduction • Who am I? • Beacon Technologies, Inc. • 10th-year anniversary • Automate, Grow, and Showcase Your Business • Custom Software Development, Search Engine Marketing, Web Design & Content Management 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

3. Introduction • My Cascade Server World • Purchased in April 2005 as “PublishXML” • Used as a Software as a Service (SaaS) • 26 customers, 65 sites, 60 total users • 2-system architecture for performance • 7 separate instances • Partner with Hannon Hill • Participate on the Product Advisory Council • Conduct end-user training 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

4. Introduction • Session geared towards both end users and managers • Focusing on tips & tricks to effectively implement, manage and use Cascade Server • Let’s make this interactive…feel free to interrupt me! 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

5. Introduction • What we’ll cover: • Smart Implementations • Repurposing Content • Using Data Definitions • Integrating Scripting Languages • Managing Search Engine Marketing Efforts • Controlling Flash Applications • Documentation and Training End Users 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

6. Smart Implementations “Plan and Think Ahead” 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

7. Smart ImplementationsTemplate Set-up • It’s tempting to create a new template for every different page look & layout • Try to keep a minimal number of templates • Advantages: • Less to keep up with • Quicker, easier redesign • What are some ideas for consolidating the use of templates? 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

8. Smart ImplementationsTemplate Set-up • Use CSS for minor layout alterations • Example: • 2 different content layouts for a site: • Page w/ Right Column • Page w/o Right Column • How do they all run off of one template? • Create additional CSS file that overrides main site CSS • Create XSL that calls CSS file • Apply appropriate XSL to page using Configuration Sets • Set up Asset Factory for each Configuration Set 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

9. Smart ImplementationsData Definitions • Key: Think long-term! • “How can we design this so that it can be easily modified in the future?” • Always use, even if just one WYSIWYG editor region • Can expand Data Definition to add functionality • If not used, may have to edit 100s of pages to apply a Data Definition in the future 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

10. Smart ImplementationsData Definitions • Try not to use one Data Definition for multiple applications • Can be applied to each page using Content Types in 5.5.2 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

11. Smart ImplementationsMetadata Sets • Always use unique Metadata Set per site • Can be applied to each page using Content Types in 5.5.2 • Just like with Data Definitions, think about expansion • Consider using separate Metadata Sets for Pages, Files, Folders, External Links • Create individual Asset Factories for each type of asset per site 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

12. Repurposing Content 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

13. Repurposing Content • Gives your site users multiple formats • Publish your site in the following formats: • Print-friendly • Lite HTML / Handheld Devices • PDF, Word Documents • XML / RSS • Multiple Languages • Repurpose content across multiple pages 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

14. Using Data Definitions 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

15. Using Data Definitions • Use Target CSS to control the following attributes of your WYSIWYG editor: • Font family / size / color • Background color • Width of the content region (Firefox only) 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

16. IntegratingScripting Languages 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

17. Integrating Scripting Languages • WYSIWYG editor doesn’t play nice with scripting languages without special code • Most scripting languages can’t be run inside Cascade (exception: some JavaScript) • How do we get scripting code into Cascade Server? 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

18. Integrating Scripting Languages • Use Server-Side Includes (SSI) • Allows developers full control over their code without using Cascade • Protects code from modification, deletion 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

19. Integrating Scripting Languages • Adding SSI below the content region • Create include files outside Cascade • Create a stylesheet for each include file • Add a template region just below DEFAULT • Used to attach SSI stylesheet to page • Allows end user to maintain introductory content • Attach appropriate stylesheet • When published, application will be displayed 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

20. Integrating Scripting Languages • Adding SSI Inline • Insert SSI within the body of content, floating left or right, in between paragraphs • Allows more flexibility for end user to position applications within content region • Allows end user ability to add their own applications 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

21. Integrating Scripting Languages • End users insert an HTML module into WYSIWYG editor that contains SSI • Use CSS to create identifiable box • Use inline CSS to allow end user to specify width/height of area, alignment properties • [system-view:internal] tags will prevent internal CSS code from being published • Disadvantages: • [system-view] tags show in editor • Module can accidently be deleted very easily 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

22. Integrating Scripting Languages • Put scripting code in XSL • Add scripting code directly into editor without SSI • Use HTML view • <!--#START-CODE and #END-CODE • Disadvantage: code cannot be seen within the editor, and can be easily deleted 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

23. Managing Search Engine Marketing Efforts 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

24. Managing Search Engine Marketing Efforts • One of Cascade’s great benefits: producing search engine-friendly sites • Controlling the <title> tag using Metadata Set • Past: Search engines relied heavily on “keyword” and “description” metadata fields • Present: Still uses “description”, but now key in on <title> text • SEM team wanted to control <title> per page • Added custom metadata field called “SEO Title” • Added template region within <title> tag • XML and XSL display standard <title> (e.g. “Company > Services”) • SEM team enters different title (e.g. “Web Design | eCommerce Website Design”) to override standard title 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

25. Managing Search Engine Marketing Efforts • Set up SEM template regions • Include Google Analytics scripts on each page • Allows SEM analysts to add code to a certain page, such as a conversion tracking script or other metadata • Use Data Definitions • Add SEM-specific fields for key phrase mgmt. • Set up a separate SEM page type • Create key phrase-rich landing pages 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

26. Cascade andFlash Applications 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

27. Cascade and Flash Applications • Flash becoming more popular, but difficult to maintain • Beacon’s challenge: Empower end users to maintain apps’ content, imagery, etc. using Cascade • Solution: • Develop Flash app that reads an XML file • Develop Data Definitions for content entry • Publish content as XML file for Flash to read 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

28. Cascade and Flash Applications • All-Flash Site: • Site has two versions: Flash, and non-Flash / non-JavaScript version for search engines • Build normal site in Cascade • Repurpose content: • Full HTML (non-Flash / non-JavaScript version) • HTML from the WYSIWYG editor (Flash version) • HTML is read by Flash player, creating the page • Navigation published as XML, read by Flash to build menu system 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

29. Documentation andTraining for End Users 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

30. Documentation andTraining for End Users • Create your own user’s manual • Hannon Hill Knowledge Base is great, but too much information for an end user • Nobody knows more about your implementation than you • Lay out like a tutorial and use screenshots • Keep it up-to-date with version releases • Takes time & effort, but end users will thank you! 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

31. Documentation andTraining for End Users • Training Tips • Walk through the entire manual using pages they’ll use • No individual workstations (my opinion) • If possible, conduct training in-person • Slow down! 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference

32. Questions? My Contact Information: Justin Klingman Beacon Technologies, Inc. http://www.beacontechnologies.com/ 336.232.5685 jklingman@beacontechnologies.com 2008 Cascade Server User's Conference