Web Resources and Guidelines

Using the Text Editor

Use of Headings

Headings should be use following our web conventions, in most cases you should start with a "heading 1" or "heading 2". Headings should not be used to make fonts bigger. Why? This is because headings are important to search engines. A well-structured page, one that opens with an H1 and then H2, H3, etc., is easier for "web crawlers" to crawl and index.

Think about the text on your page. Too often people enter a header as a one-line paragraph, make it bold and consider it a section header. This is a disservice to your audience and to search engines. To a web crawler that is simply a paragraph in a sea of paragraphs. Rather, select the text and make it a true heading by applying an H tag. Don't fret over the sizing, worry more about where the header falls in the page hierachy. Don't put an H1 after an H2 just because you want the font to be bigger.

To format your text as a heading, simply highlight your text and select your heading style from the drop-down menu.

Creating Links

External Links

External links are links that are not part of your site. These are pages that are not maintained by you. Examples: a link to a local newspaper, a link to the SOU admissions site (if Admissions is not your site), etc.

To create an external link follow these steps:

1. Highlight the text that will be the link
2. Click on the link button in the toolbar.
   
3. Type the URL address
4. If you want the link to open in a new window, check the box "Open the Link in a new browser"
5. Click on Save
   

Internal Links

Internal links are all links to pages or documents (pdf, word) that you maintain. You either created the page or you uploaded the file (pdf, word, etc) to Publish. To create and internal link follow these steps:

1. Follow steps 1-2 from creating an external link
2. This time don't type the url, instead click on Browse
3. Click on the option button to select the file that you are linking to. Note:If the file you need is not available, then please see instructions on how to upload a file.
4. Click on Select File
5. Leave the "Open in a new window" box unchecked. Internal links are part of your site and there is no need to open a new window.
6. Click on Save

Inserting Images

Images are important additions to your web pages, but you must use images with caution. Things to keep in mind:

• Publish is not image editing software (your images must be prepared for use on the web before you bring them into Publish)
• Remember about the physical dimensions. The main content area is approx. 600 px wide. Your image width cannot exceed this width
• Keep in mind file sizes. Most images should be under 75K.
• When resizing images, keep the proportions the same as the original image. If you reduce the width by x amount then you must reduce the height also by x amount
• Avoid using images for text replacement as this makes your site less accessible, and difficult to maintain

To insert an image follow these steps:

1. Place your cursor where you want to insert the image
2. Click on the insert image button
3. Click on Browse

1. You should see a list of all the images available. Click on the option button next to the image's file name.
   If the image that you want is not listed, follow the instructions for uploading files, then return to this step.
2. Click on Select File

1. Enter the text for the Alt Text field. This is what screen reader will read
2. The "Native Size?" box should always be checked
3. Optional: Set your "Spacing" any number from 1-10 will be okay. This spacing will determine the padding between your image and any text that wraps around the image.
4. Optional: Set your "Alignment", the alignment that you choose will determine how the text will wrap around your image.
5. Optional: Set your border. 0 for no border, 1 for a 1px wide border around your image
6. Click on Save Changes

Uploading Files

In many cases you will need to insert images into your pages, or create links to internal documents (pdf, word, etc). Images and documents such as PDF, or MSWord, have to be created outside publish, then brought into the Publish system, using the upload file feature.

There is no special button in the toolbar for uploading a file. To upload a file you will have to be creating an internal link or inserting an image

1. Follow steps 1-3 from Inserting Images or steps 1-3 for creating Internal Links
2. Click on Upload Files ...

1. Click on Browse

1. Now you should have access to your local computer. Find the file in your local machine. Select the file and click on Open

1. You should see the path to the file in the upload window. If you do not see the path you need to repeat the previous step
2. Optional: In some cases you may need to change the file name. If so, just type the new file name in the "New Name" box. Remember to include the file extension (.jpg,.pdf, .gif,.doc,etc)
3. Click on Upload

1. Return to step 3 of Inserting Images