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Recap: Hello Omni CMS, goodbye Web Press!

March 14, 2023 by Web Strategy and Development

Students using a computer lab in Meyer Library.

During MarCom Training Week, the office of web strategy and development presented “Hello Omni CMS, goodbye Web Press!”

The goal: Help all web editors become familiar and comfortable with using the university’s new content management system (CMS), Omni CMS.

A summary of the presentation is detailed below. You can also download the full presentation (.pdf).

What’s changed and basics

Compared to the old system, Omni CMS is easier and quicker to use.

Key takeaways:

  • To log-in, just go to the page you want to edit and scroll to the very bottom. Look for the little copyright-looking symbol (c). This is the DirectEdit link. Click it.
  • To start editing your page, select the green rectangle icon labeled “Main Region.”
  • To navigate between pages or sections of your site, select Content->Pages. All pages are saved as .pcf files. Your “homepage” is always default.pcf.
  • WYSIWYG Toolbar: Where all the editing magic happens. This is where you add, edit or enhance your content.
  • Dashboard: The command center for all your editing activities.
  • Global navigation links are displayed site-wide. Local navigation links are limited to a specific page.

Design system

The web design system is the foundation for building your pages.

Key takeaways:

  • Everything comes from snippets (puzzle piece), components (atom icon) and assets (box with arrows).
    • Snippets: The starting point for building your page. Grids are the most common. Grids “hold” your content.
    • Components: Where you showcase or highlight your content. Examples include touts, call to action (CTA) and more.
    • Assets: Specialized, frozen content. Maps, catalog content and policies are the most common.
  • Use the elements guide for determining how these items should be used.
  • Make sure your content is accessible and legible to all.

Access and support

How to get access or request help for updating your website.

Key takeaways:

  • Know the steps for becoming a web editor.
  • Contact us or review our documentation if you need help.
  • Common support questions:
    • Directory and profiles: Profile details are updated by our office. Office location and phone number can be updated by the individual person.
    • Broken images in preview: Unpublished images won’t display in preview. You must publish the photo(s) for them to display in preview mode.
    • Forms: A work in progress. Minor edits to frozen forms can only be made by our office.

Download the full presentation: Hello Omni CMS, goodbye Web Press! (.pdf)

Filed Under: Accessibility, News, Omni CMS, Technical, template, Training, Web Support Tagged With: editing, Omni CMS, Omni CMS training, Training, websites

Improve your Omni CMS skills at this free training

February 21, 2023 by Web Strategy and Development

A computer lab worker in Meyer Library helping a student.

Learn how to make your web content shine using Missouri State’s new content management system (CMS), Omni CMS.

During MarCom training week, the office of web strategy and development will be hosting two free training sessions (Hello Omni CMS, goodbye WebPress!) on Omni CMS.

Whether you are a new editor or seasoned user, you’ll learn about the tools available to get the most out of Omni CMS.

At the end of the presentation, we’ll have an open lab to address individual questions or issues you need help with.

Key details: Hello Omni CMS, goodbye WebPress!

  • What: Omni CMS training, as part of MarCom Training Week.
  • When: Monday, Feb. 27 and Wednesday, March 1, 1-3 p.m.
  • Where: Glass Hall 486
  • About: You only need to attend one session. The same information will be covered in both sessions.

How to register

Registration is required in My Learning Connection at my.missouristate.edu.

  • Go to your profile tab.
  • Find the Professional Development box.
  • Select My Learning Connection.
  • Search for this session.
  • Sign up.

Other ways to enhance your skills

MarCom Training Week will also offer free sessions on design, social media, writing, videography and more.

Explore the MarCom Training Week schedule

Filed Under: News, Training, Web Support Tagged With: Omni CMS, Training

New Web Support website is now available for our web editors

December 7, 2022 by Louis Vulpes

Join our growing list of web editors

Attention all website editors and website supervisors, Web Support (version 1.0) is now live!

We’ve recently rolled out a new web resource just for you, our web editors and site supervisors.

Designed to help guide you through our various web systems — explore Web Support to find the answers to most of your editor needs.

Explore Web Support

Filed Under: Training, Web Press, web strategy and development, Web Support

Website editor open lab sessions for summer 2022 relocated downtown

June 3, 2022 by Brian Heaton

Student at computer

Website editor open lab sessions have been relocated to the office of web strategy and development in Meyer Alumni Center suite 601 for summer 2022.

The regularly scheduled time of Friday 2-4 p.m. remains in effect.

More information

Please contact the web support help desk at 417-836-5271, weekdays, or WebSupport@MissouriState.edu if you have any questions.

Filed Under: Training, Web Press, web strategy and development Tagged With: lab, Web Press

Celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on May 19

May 16, 2022 by Web Strategy and Development

Missouri State students in computer lab.

The world celebrates digital access and inclusion with Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on the third Thursday of May every year. More than one billion people worldwide have disabilities and impairments. GAAD gets people talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion.

Creating accessible digital content is a must at Missouri State University. We know it can be a lot to think about, so here are some tips to keep in mind. We’ve also included some ways to join in virtually.

Find a GAAD virtual event

#SpotlightAccessibility – Spread positivity around accessibility by highlighting a great feature or product and learn about what others are using.

People with disabilities say these issues come up most often.

  • Videos that are missing captions.
  • Motion, animations and cluttered pages.
  • Auto play videos and auto-advancing slideshows.
  • Walls of text (long paragraphs and large chunks of text).
  • Small font size
    • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) does not specify a minimum font size requirement.
  • Zooming problems: sites frequently break when size is increased by user.
  • Low contrasts and image of text: scan of a page of text saved as PDF produces an image of text.
  • Bright color schemes: white backgrounds can lead to migraines.
  • Relying only on color: this has long been a no-no, but still prevalent.
  • Mouse-focused sites: not usable on touch screens and difficult for users with motor impairments.
  • Too small touch-targets: thhis is the reason Missouri State University’s 2019 web redesign is so spacious.
  • CAPTCHAS: Keep out a lot more than bots.

Here’s what you can do to make your content more accessible.

While some of these items are automatically handled by MSU’s web templates, you still have an impact on many of of these items.

  • Don’t create a wall of text. Keep paragraphs to 2-4 sentences.
    • Content styled as Intro format should be brief; one or two short sentences plus 1-3 bullets. Anything longer isn’t introductory content.
  • Use headings to make an outline of your content.
  • Avoid images of text. When necessary, the alt text should contain all text in the image.
  • Don’t use heading markup (e.g., h3, h4) to make an “important” statement; consider a Notice Block instead.
  • Don’t use bold or italics for an entire sentence.
  • Use meaningful text for links; avoid brief abstract terms like read more or click here.
  • For web addresses, write descriptive link text.

Make sure you’re following the style guide.

  • In time references, use figures with a.m. and p.m throughout. Omit :00.
    • Examples: Summer office hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telephone support is available 2:30-4 p.m. daily.
  • In email addresses, capitalize each word. Example: BoomerBear@MissouriState.edu.
  • Preferred capitalizations, spelling and usage:
    • Phone numbers: use dashes, not periods. Omit parentheses around the area code. 417-836-5000
    • Most words beginning with “non” or “post” should be formatted as one word with no hyphen (ex. noncredit, nondegree, nondegree-seeking, postbaccalaureate, postdoctoral, postdoctorate). Post-master’s should be hyphenated.
    • Email, not e-mail.
    • Use only one space between sentences. Do not use a space at the end of a paragraph or bulleted list item.
  • Common Bear terms:
    • Bear CLAW
    • Bear Line
    • BearWear
    • BearFare
    • BearMail
    • BearPass
    • Bear Park North (South)
    • BoomerMeals
    • Bear Breaks

Resources

Editorial Style Guide

Web Accessibility Clinic

Omni CMS Documentation

Filed Under: Accessibility, Training Tagged With: a11ysummit, Accessibility, conference, gaad

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