Sitemaker CMS Tutorial
FAQ: News
Enrolled DB alumni can add personal updates, quick reports or full-scale feature articles. Layout options include preconfigured pages and full HTML/CSS markup.
News/blog
Write short reports in predefined layout; no technical skills are required.
Question: What is in a blog post?
Answer: The news/blog tool is intended for short, contemporary reports. Each post has preconfigured spaces for title, text, one link and one graphic. No technical markup skills are required, but a writer can turn on HTML/CSS and achieve all styles that do not affect the overall layout of the document.
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Question: Must I have a title in a post?
Answer: Since the title is used as the label of a link to the item, it is essential for navigation. Without a title, your item will be invisible in lists. Omitting a title is the classic rookie mistake,.
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Question: What can I include in my text?
Answer: It is recommended that writers prepare article text in a word processor to take advantage of spelling and grammar tools.
Text should NOT use styled text like boldface, as styles will be lost. Styling can be achieved within the system with HTML/CSS markup, but it is not necessary.
Links must be fully qualified (start with, e.g., http://... or other protocol, followed by the domain, path and page ID. One link can by typed with a label to be positioned automatically below the post; others can be typed in the text if HTML is enabled.
Graphics of many filetypes can be included. Authors can upload one graphic that is automatically positioned. External graphics can be included by HTML reference. Specific rules apply. Graphics for upload must be at web scale; the system does not accommodate "camera dumps" at scales that overflow the intended space, so the author must preprocess large images.
Video and other formats can be included by turning on HTML/CSS and using the embedding features of the remote host.
Text should NOT use styled text like boldface, as styles will be lost. Styling can be achieved within the system with HTML/CSS markup, but it is not necessary.
Links must be fully qualified (start with, e.g., http://... or other protocol, followed by the domain, path and page ID. One link can by typed with a label to be positioned automatically below the post; others can be typed in the text if HTML is enabled.
Graphics of many filetypes can be included. Authors can upload one graphic that is automatically positioned. External graphics can be included by HTML reference. Specific rules apply. Graphics for upload must be at web scale; the system does not accommodate "camera dumps" at scales that overflow the intended space, so the author must preprocess large images.
Video and other formats can be included by turning on HTML/CSS and using the embedding features of the remote host.
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Question: Who can post articles in the news/blog?
Answer: The website's owner-operator and any authorized user can post new articles. Only a designated editor can activate items for public or members-only viewing.
Items can be created from a special editing platform (The Editing Suite). Authorized <i>members</i> can also be authorized to create articles from their own profile space; these will be reviewed by an editor before publishing and may be subject to changes to conform to the site's style and objectives.
Items can be created from a special editing platform (The Editing Suite). Authorized <i>members</i> can also be authorized to create articles from their own profile space; these will be reviewed by an editor before publishing and may be subject to changes to conform to the site's style and objectives.
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Question: What is an article list?
Answer: A cluster of articles intended for presentation in another part of the website.
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Feature Articles
Create longer reports on any topic, organize by type, time and topic; use HTML/CSS markup for unique layouts.
Question: What is an article, and how does it differ from a news/blog post?
Answer: The Article Manager is an organizing tool for more complex topics and layouts. The AM has more layers and options for classification, and the articles can be grouped for display in more parts of the site.
Authors can stylize text, include any number of links and graphics (both stored in this system or externally referenced). More navigational options are also available to tie sections together or create structured presentations up to the standards of a full-featured magazine or newspaper.
Authors can stylize text, include any number of links and graphics (both stored in this system or externally referenced). More navigational options are also available to tie sections together or create structured presentations up to the standards of a full-featured magazine or newspaper.
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Question: What is in an article?
Answer: In addition to visible content, an author can with an editor define layout and embed external content, including essentially unlimited, text, links, graphics, video, etc.
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HTML/CSS
The system is designed to work without technical layout skills, but you can smoke 'em if you have 'em.
Question: Can I create a page that does not use a preconfigured layout?
Answer: The system has a blank slate option. This allows you to design your own pages. The only limitation is that certain control language cannot be included, to prevent attempts to compromise the system.
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Training
Training is available for member-authors, staff writers and editors, and owner-operators. A system representative will contact each new writer or editor.
Question: Is more training available?
Answer: More training is available to enrolled users who have been approved as member-authors or staff editors. Your representative will contact you.
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Miscellaneous
Question: Who was the last pharoah of the Ninth Dynasty?
Answer: You wouldn't believe how rarely this question is asked, so why is it in an FAQ?
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Question: Is this platform intended to be all things to all people?
Answer: The platform is intended to allow content and not layout to dominate publishing decisions. Persons who have a strong grasp of HTML and CSS layout tools can do much more.
Users can quickly create sites and manage content with the system tools.
The system is also useful for rapid prototyping and content delivery with little or no technical background and assistance from our support team. A website can be created and populated with useful information in minutes.
The providers are receptive to ideas for new and improved features.
Users can quickly create sites and manage content with the system tools.
The system is also useful for rapid prototyping and content delivery with little or no technical background and assistance from our support team. A website can be created and populated with useful information in minutes.
The providers are receptive to ideas for new and improved features.
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