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Dynamic Info Blocks

Microblogs

Microblogs are all the blog contents but none of the overhead. They allow you to produce timely small amounts of content, without needing to have a database driving the whole process.

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About Microblogs

This page will run through the way microblogs are created, setup options, and data entry. Below you will learn the various fields that are available as well as way to go beyond the default labels to craft something that is best suited to the needs of a particular use case. Remember microblogs do not support user comments or create separate URLs per story. Direct linking is still an option but it will always link back to the microblog page and scroll to the requested story.

Application Styles & Formatting

To learn more about transforming an exisiting application into another format, layout, or modifiers check out our styles guide for microblogs. It has the style classes and modifiers for use on the pages that use them. Microblogs feature a preview option where you can push content to other pages when new blog items are created.

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[video text goes here]

[video file goes here]

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Info Block Type: Dynamic Content

To start you'll need to set the info block type to dynamic. If the info block wasn't set as dynamic it can be changed in the page properties.

In the custom settings you can set the Used As drop-down to Dynamic Content.

Depending on your needs you can also choose to increase the amount of content blocks that you have available in the edit mode.

When you're ready save the settings and return to the edit screen.

page properties options to set info block as dynamic

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Interface Setup

Once the content type is set to dynamic you can go ahead and set the dynamic type. This will help change the editing screen so you get the best experience for your block type.

dynamic content with two buttons for interface setup and snapshots In the left menu will be two buttons next to the content layout editor. The top button is used for the presentation and below that is the button for snapshots.

To edit your info block interface setup use the presentation button. This will open the interface overlay panel where you can make further choices.

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Dynamic Content Interface Options

The interface options will overlay the info block editing area, don't worry you can always press the presentation button to remove it.

The interface is split up into three major areas: the copy, the content setup, and the preview panels. When using application info blocks the preview panel will not be used.

overlay panel with three columns and options for setting up dynamic content types

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The Copy Panel and Editor Options

The first option in the copy panel is Content Layout. As you work through your setup it will update the Content Layout textarea. This code is auto generated and used to help structure the info block interface when put on content pages.

Editable Section Layout Options

Below the content layout is are the controls for Editable Section Layout Options. The first option would allow you to change the way each info block is set. Leave it as rows with number of columns set to auto.

The always show options check box will allow you to have the css, categories, tags, and details editor boxes show up. For directories you do not need to check this box, the interface will know to always show those editors.

Extra wide editing is the next check box and can help if you need to write significant content inside the block's content editor then it may be helpful to have the maximum space to mange that data.

Dynamic content overlay interface, copy panel with text area for content layout, options for editor display, check boxes for always show options and extra wide editing

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Display Type

Make sure that the option for Microblog is marked.

There are two additional options for the dynamic content regardless of your data type.

Snapshot Grouping is used when you have multiple files that are going to be pulled into the page where you use it. You can choose to use them or not by checking the box.

Automate Deep links provides an optional button that will allow users to deep link to the page where the content is used and preselect the info block content they want. This is an easy way to cross link from any page directly into a specific item without needing the user to perform any other selection. It also opens up the ability to reuse your info block content across more pages.

display type with option set to microblog

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Interface Setup

Microblog have a simplified interface, they are meant for general content that fits into a wide range of subjects. Blog style options will help to configure the end user interface; however, they can not add filter items or reset sorting choices.

The Collection Name is useful when combining multiple files into a single page section. The check box for use name as header will keep collections separated and under the header provided in the Collection Name field. Collection name is optional.

Blog Link To is required so that blog preview data know where to link the story to. The field is simple enough to get, just open the page where you want your blog to live and copy the path inside the CMS editor. It will be at the top left next to the "Back to Pages" link.

This page is where you would send public users to visit your blog. It may have folders or could be at the root of your site. The file name should contain a ".pcf" extenstion.

Blog options help you set the features on the public interface. There are check boxes for search, collection name, categories and tags.

In the future we will be working with a Show More feature which will help reduce the initial length of the page for users to scroll through. We also will be developing a way to limit based on a moving date range, last 6 months for example.

If you move the blog file remember to update your info block setup with the new path or previews will link to the wrong file.

microblog interface setup with collection name and initial layout options

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Field Mapping

The last option within the Dynamic Content Setup is the field mapping options. If you'd like to learn more about it we have a field mapping guide that will explain the process in greater detail.

Save the interface setup

As you make different choices during the setup process that the Content Layout code within this textarea has updated.

When you finish with the dynamic content setup, copy the C ontent Layout textarea code.
On the left side of the editing screen click the standard editing button for Content Layout.
Paste in the value you copied and save your work.

The page will automatically reload with the updated settings. If you need to update the interface settings just click on the presentation button. The current layout options will be automatically updated and you can make any changes needed.

Remember that after your changes you will need to copy/paste the updates to the Content Layout editing section on the left side.

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Microblog Info Block Editors

Adding content to your microblog is now ready. The default display for an microblog is to just show the content block section on the left and the options on the right. This layout is compact but should provide you with enough space to see everything at a glance.

stanard editor for microblogs

In the presentation dashboard the option for extra wide editing will stack all the editing fields one on top the other. This can provide you with the biggest space possible when editing blog entries.

microblog editor showing full width option enabled

By default the content block number will not have a title. As soon as one is used in the block content the value will update from 9) content block to 9) (your title value).

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The Content Block

The content is the big single space for editors to write what they want. In the microblog info block this is the blog post users will read. You can edit using a standard CMS edit toolbar and craft the content as you need.

The publish date and header images are pulled from the Details block (see below for more)

Review some of the microblog styles pages for inspriation on design and layout.

typical microblog example

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CSS / Categories / Tags

The CSS editor allows you to style the item independantly. It allows for options like accordion, tab content, and bucket content. These will give several ways to orgnaize large data within the block content.

Categories and tags are universal for all info block types. They provide comma separated items that will give end users tools to sort data.

Editor showing the CSS, Categories, and Tags sections

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The Details Editor

Microblogs do rely on using some detail fields for end users to see not only in the blog page but also the previews.

You can overwrite the published date and set the author name using the Details options. Use the header image to set the image on top of your blog post.

While in the editor use the style drop-down menu to choose the field you want to give a value for. Select the field and type your value. The field name will automatically appear above the data that is typed.

If you press return within the editor it will retain the last used style. You can use the style drop-down and look for check marks next to any used styles.

Verify that the correct style(s) have been used and uncheck the ones that no longer apply. Each time you uncheck the style menu will close and you need to reopen it - this is an Campus CMS behavior.

directory details options with all fields and data displayed

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Detail Styles (Field Names)

Microblogs do not need every field, but to make sure you are aware of them here's a full list of all the style choices in the Details editor. The styles are broken down into three sections: Item Info, User Info, and Content Info. This was to help provide some context, but if you are working on a directory or resource centers, you can always treat each center as a user.

Additionally this is where it is important to know if field mapping has been used. There is no way to know from the drop-down styles if this particular directory is replacing the field name, check with content editors for clarification.

Item Info

Active (Y/N) - this allows us to hide items without deleting them
Item Title - provide context as to what is the item name
Description Text - depending on the interface this may show up in the default display or show on the larger full item view
Location - where the item is found, office building, relevant place
Header Image - an image which will either show up in the full view, or across the top of the info block. Style will have a direct impact on where / when this displays
Preview image - mostly used for blogs, this will show up in full view on some interfaces alongside the description text
Sort Rank - usually a value like a number or letter, this is used for sorting based on editor choice and not something like a name. Useful if you have a specific order that needs to be maintained - also be aware this values is manually updated
Set Published Date - the info block will track the original published date of each item. If old content needs to be backdated or changed this will allow editors to overwrite with a new date

User Info

First Name - first name of user or item, this is important if you want to sort last name first, first name last
Last Name - last name of user or item
Pronouns - provides space to indicate user chosen pronouns (he/she/they)
User/Item Image - image that is used by default for directory items
Department - most relevant department name
Unit - if user/item is within a department in a section or other area that is important
Role - could be speicifc duty, or function that is important to this item
Status - provides current information about item
Position - user hired as, or item placement / usage
Degree - on a directory this will be placed after user firstname lastname with a comma
Phone - phone number where they can be contacted
Email - email address as text, or as a mailto link
Office - office number, building, etc
Hours - plain text version of office hours
User Website - plain text url, or hyperlink to website *do not use URL as hyperlink text
Lifespan - meant to be used for image galleries when looking at artist information, multiple entries may be allowed based on display style

Content Info

Medium - in art exhibits used to describe materials, multiple entries may be allowed based on display style
Subject - item subject matter, multiple entries may be allowed based on display style
Item Website - plain text url, or hyperlink to website *do not use URL as hyperlink text

detail styles dropdown menu showing an example of the list of styles

second half of the details style dropdown values

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