Links to Other Key Pages
Links in this Page
RWDe Header Tab (Title and Subtitle - Format Sub-tab)
The Header Tab gives the RWDe Site Administrator control over the Header Sections of all pages in the sub-sites. It is divided into five sub-tabs in order to present an easy to use interface that control the key aspects of the Header Section. The first of these tabs is the Title and Subtitle section which governs the look of text titles and subtitles in the sub-sites (but not the actual content of the titles).
1) Header Section Title Formatting Options
The actual title content is not editable in the RWDe administrator form as the administrator can't force the same title on all pages. The formatting of titles is another matter however - font, font color, font size, font position (alignment) and font attributes can all be set for all pages within a site or whichever sites are set to accept the administrator's settings. If the administrator wishes, they can also force a single link to be followed for all titles in all pages in a site if desired, although this would be an unusual setting.
2) Header Section Subtitle Formatting Options
All of the comments above also apply to subtitles in exactly the same way.
3) Header Section Object Layout
The Object Layout selection control contains a list of all of the possible layout configurations for the Header Section, Header Links Bar, Banner Image and Scrolling Message. Selecting any of the options will tell the RWD pages in the site (the ones that pick up their formatting from the Admin settings) how to display these sections on the web page. This feature provides a huge amount of flexibility when designing a site look and experimentation is key to the best use of the feature. In the image at right, the selected option (which is the default value) would display the Banner Image at the very top of the web page, The Header Section immediately under the Banner Image, The Scrolling Message under that, and Finally the Header Links Bar.
While the list of possibilities in the list may seem somewhat complex and lengthy, it is simply all of the permutations of the four page objects, arranged from the top of the web page down. If you knew, for example, that you wanted to have your Header Links Bar appear at the very top of the page, you would scroll down the list to the options that begin with "Header Links Bar". You would now have six options that would determine the placement of the other three sections on the page. In turn, if you knew that you wanted the Header Section itself to be displayed right under the Header Links Bar, you would then have to choose between only two more options, relating to the order of the Banner Image and Scrolling message on the web page. Using this process, you can quickly set your
option even though the initial list is rather lengthy (24 in total). This control is visible, regardless of which Sub-tab of the Header Tab you are viewing.
Note: While selection from this list will determine the display order of the various objects on the web page, those objects must be visible in order to be displayed - this control does not switch sections or features on or off, it just determines the layout of those objects that are visible on the web page.
RWDe Header Tab (Logo Sub-tab)
The Logo Sub-tab of the Header Tab is extremely important as logos are the most identifiable component of an organization, school, or district and often there needs to be strict control over how they are presented in websites.
1) Logo Placement
The placement of the logo in the header section of RWD pages is of particular importance if brand continuity is to be achieved across a group of websites. The position of the logo graphic can be set to appear on the left side of the header section, in the middle of the header section, either above or below the title and subtitle, or on the right side of the header section.
2) Logo Path/Filename
While local sites can also display graphical logos and images in their sites, the site administrator can override these settings if desired to ensure that an approved version of the organization's logo is presented in all websites. As in previous examples, the path syntax for images is slightly different in the administrator form than in the RWD page itself - a slash precedes the folder name in the administrator form but does not in RWD page forms.
Note: You can have RWD display a list of images (up to 10) randomly by including them in the path with a semi-colon separating each path and file name. The following example shows what you would enter into this field so that RWD will display 4 images randomly as pages are visited or refreshed (colors added for clarity):
/SiteImages/logo_lft1.jpg;/SiteImages/logo_lft2.jpg;/SiteImages/logo_lft3.jpg;/SiteImages/logo_lft4.jpg
You can also have the list of images display sequentially in a slide show using the Slide Show control (5. below)
3) Link (Click on Logo)
If desired, the administrator can force a central link that is followed when any user in any site clicks on the logo - this is a simple way to give a common method for all users in a domain to return to a central site page. It is recommended that links be in internet format using the full syntax (http://www.sitename.com/linkname) as local FirstClass references may not work properly in all cases on centrally set links.
4) Scale Logo (%)
Use of the scaling feature is not generally recommended, however it is available if necessary. It is advisable to ensure that the graphic file for the logo is of the correct size for a 100% scaling to be appropriate, however, if a file is too big (or even a little small), the scaling feature can be used to adjust the size of the graphic on web pages. Again, it is strongly recommended that the graphic be re-sized in a graphic editing program prior to uploading to the images folder and that this control be left at 100.
Caution: If using a repeating animated .gif, the scaling will take place each time the gif re-animates - this will lead to the image diminishing to nothing (if the scale is less than 100%) or expanding to infinity (if the scale is greater than 100%)
5) Slide Show
This field activates the slide show feature for the main logo and, when checked, reveals the related fields that govern the behaviour of the feature. You MUST have multiple images listed in the Logo Path/Filename field for this feature to work.
Use the syntax path/image1.jpg;path/image2.gif;path/image3.png - etc. for your image listings.
Pause
Checking this field will make the slide show pause when a web user hovers their mouse over the image that is currently being displayed in the browser.
Speed
Set the number of seconds between image changes - the default is 4 seconds if no other value is entered.
6) Second Logo
A second logo image is available in addition to the main one. The second image can be placed next to, or across from, the main logo. All controls for the second logo function in exactly the same way to the related controls for the first logo (items 1-5 above).
The second logo was introduced to provide another linkable graphic in the Header Section as well as to create the possibility of more professional looking sites that can be scaled to fit the resolution of the user's computer (known as 'squishy' sites) where two images appear to 'float' on top of a background image (The background image for the Header Section is set in the Section Format tab).
RWDe Header Tab (Scrolling Announcement Sub-tab)
The Scrolling Announcement Sub-tab of the Header Tab is an excellent place to send a highly visible announcement or message across any number of sub-sites. Particularly important in circumstances where a weather warning, school closing, etc. needs to be communicated to the widest possible audience, the scrolling announcement can be added to all sub-sites, while each sub-site also displays the local announcements created by the local users.
1) Scrolling Announcement Font and Font Formatting
The font for the scrolling announcement can be set and, in the case of special announcements for emergencies or weather warnings, changed to draw even more attention to the announcement. The color of the font, the font size, and the font attributes can also be set / changed to accomplish your goals for the site.
2) Scrolling Announcement Link Open Behavior
Each announcement, whether set by the administrator or the local user, can have a link associated with it. The links for these announcements can be set to open in a new browser window or in the existing window.
3) Scrolling Announcement – width of message
The scrolling message can be set to display right across the web page, or, it can take up only a small amount of space on the left side of the page. Set the length of the display of the scrolling Announcement by entering the percentage of the width of the page you wish the message to occupy.
4) Scrolling Announcement – Message
The text of the announcement can be as long as needed although, with the relatively slow speed of the scrolling action, it is recommended that you keep your announcement short and to the point. Longer messages should be displayed across more of the page (with a higher Scrolling width % setting)
Another hint is to end the announcement with several identifying characters in order to differentiate the administrator's message from the various local announcements set by the sub-site creators; an example of what we mean might look like this:
School closed today in North Central Region due to snow /////
5) Scrolling Announcement – Message Link
If desired, the administrator can set a common link that is followed when any user in any site clicks on the scrolling announcement. Again, it is recommended that links be in internet format using the full syntax such as (http://www.sitename.com/linkname) as local FirstClass references may not work properly in all cases on centrally set links.
6) Scrolling Announcement ToolTips
ToolTips allow for extra content to be displayed when a user hovers their mouse over top of a particular message. In RWD version 2, if no ToolTip is present, the content of the message itself will pop-up when the scrolling message is hovered over but the ToolTip allows for a completely different message to be displayed (for example, a more descriptive summary of the link that will result in a click on the scrolling message)
7) Scrolling Announcement Broadcast Behavior
The Broadcast field is an extremely important field to understand. It operates the same way for the Navigation Sidebar and the Information Sidebar. This field has extra power in RWDe in that it can override the way the entire RWDe system has been set up if needed to: turn on the scrolling message, force the format to take on the RWDe Admin form format, and even broadcast an audible alarm in times of emergency. A diagram illustrating the logic behind this control is located in an Adobe PDF document called RWDe_Help.PDF. The file also contains the same information in a table format.
8) Use Custom Attributes
Makes visible the controls needed to set various attributes of the scrolling message that override the default settings for this feature.
9) Scroll Direction
Sets the direction of the scrolling message. Normally, the message scrolls from right to left; this control allows you to change that to a left to right direction.
10) Loop
Allows you to set the number of times the scrolling message will repeat itself. The default is continuous which means the message will continue to scroll indefinitely.
11) Bounce
Checking this field makes the scrolling message 'bounce' back and forth instead of entering on one side and exiting on the other.
12) Scrolling Speed
Determines the amount (in pixels) of movement of the message between screen refreshes. This gives the impression of movement. Higher values equate to a faster scrolling message.
13) Scrolling Refresh / Delay
Sets the refresh rate for the scrolling message (in milliseconds). The higher the number, the slower the scrolling message will appear to move.
RWDe Header Tab (Banner Image Sub-tab)
The Banner Image Sub-tab of the Header Tab has been separated from the Header Section Sub-tab as of this version of RWD because the number of controls and the complexity of the Banner Image section warrants its own area. The Banner Image is a very important part of a multi site system that uses a common branding element across all sites (for example, a district logo in all school sites). An addition of a second available image has many benefits from the ability to have a second linkable object in the banner section to allowing more flexibility to create resolution independent (scalable) sites.
Also new in this release is the ability to assign a color or background image to the banner section alone instead of having it inherit the settings of the Header Section itself (which was the case up to this release).
1) Include a graphical Banner (Image) or Flash file selector
Almost all of the fields in this tab will be hidden until you select something from this first field. If the field is left set to "Do not include a Banner", none of the fields will be visible. You can choose to insert an image or a Flash file in the Banner section using this drop down selector.
If you choose to insert a Flash file, two additional fields will become visible. These are required when using Flash - you must define the width and height of the file as the image below indicates.
2) Slide Show
This field activates the slide show feature for the main logo and, when checked, reveals the related fields that govern the behaviour of the feature. You MUST have multiple images listed in the Logo Path/Filename field for this feature to work.
Use the syntax path/image1.jpg;path/image2.gif;path/image3.png - etc. for your image listings.
Pause
Checking this field will make the slide show pause when a web user hovers their mouse over the image that is currently being displayed in the browser.
Speed
Set the number of seconds between image changes - the default is 4 seconds if no other value is entered.
3) Banner Path / Filename
Enter the path and file name of the uploaded banner image or Flash file in this field. Avoid using the name 'banner' in your image file as many spyware blockers will block these images. We suggest the naming standard: bnr_lft.jpg.
If using Flash, enter the path and file name of the Flash file you have uploaded to your site.
4) Banner Image Justification Setting
The banner image can be set to be justified on the left, in the center, or on the right side of the page. Generally, this is set to left for the first image as a second image can be put on the right side. If you wish to have Flash play on the right side of your banner, set this field to right as only this first section is able to contain Flash. Whatever you set this justification to, the other image in the banner (if used) will appear opposite to it.
5) Banner Image Link
The banner image can now have a link associated with it. Enter an URL that will be opened when a user clicks on the banner. This feature is particularly useful when a central authority wants to use a banner to carry a brand throughout a website and wants a common link back to the central authority's website.
6) Link Open Behavior
Generally, links to outside websites should open in a New browser window while links to internal pages are best opened in the Same browser window.
7) Banner ToolTips
ToolTips allow for extra content to be displayed when a user hovers their mouse over top of the banner image. (for example, a summary of where the user will be taken if they click on the banner image (which will open the URL in the Banner Link To field).
8 / 8a) Use Background Color
This setting will create a background color wash upon which both graphical banner images will sit. This area previously inherited the color of the Header Section background but was added to enhance the design possibilities. Checking this field will hide the background Image Path / Filename(s) field and expose the color picker (8a) so that you can set the color for the background of the Banner section.
9) Use Background Image
To further enhance the flexibility of the product, a background image can be set behind the banner images. If a valid Path and Filename is entered into this field, the background image will automatically tile to fill the space available.
9a) Background Image Path / Filename
Enter the path and file name of the uploaded banner image you wish to use as your background for the Banner Section. The image will be tiled accross the section. Avoid using the name 'banner' in your image file as many spyware blockers will block these images. We suggest the naming standard: bnr_bg.jpg.
10) Second Banner Image or Search Field
A second banner image can now be added to all pages to augment the first or to create special effects (particularly the 'squishy' scalable web pages that are popular.
Note: If chosing an image in this area, functionality is exactly the same as for the first image as outlined previously starting at 1) above
11) Use a Search instead of an image
If a second image is not needed, you may also set the control to display a search field that will appear in exactly the same place as the second image would.
RWDe Header Tab (Section Format Sub-tab)
The Section Format Sub-tab of the Header Tab is a simple section that lets you set the background color or a tiled background image for the Header Section.
1) Header Section Background Color
The entire Header section (except for the Banner Image area) can be set to have a background color if desired.
2) Header Section Background Image
If you wish, you may place a graphical background image in the Header Section of all web pages in the site. This image will be tiled and will replace the Background color setting above.
If you desire a consistent color or background image across the entire page, set the values here to the same settings as the background image in the Page Tab, otherwise, you may create a different look for the Header Section.
If using a background image, it is usually best to use a fairly small image (around 20-50 pixels square) that is quite light or faded, and repeats well when tiled. Setting the path to the image takes on the same format as all other paths in the RWDe Administrator Form.
Remember, you must clear the image field of any content if you wish the background image to be a solid color as set in the Header Section Background Color field.
| 
Help Site Home Page
