Carnegie Mellon University

CMU Web

A service provided by the University CMS Team

CMU Web  ›  How to Use the CMS  ›  Build Your Site  ›  Manage Your Site  ›  Configuration  ›  Dashboard

Dashboard

Start with CMS 101: Dashboard for an overview of the default dashboard. Provided below is a deeper dive into the dashboard elements and how to use them.

CMS Dashboard

Using Widgets

Widgets are the tools provided on the dashboard that facilitate management of content, keep you abreast on tasks and alert you to notifications. The dashboard layout is customizable so you can pick and choose which widgets to use and how to arrange them.

Manage Widgets

  • Add widget - The Welcome widget contains an Add Widget button; click on it for a list of widgets. Note: Not all widgets on the list are functional, see below for widgets available.
  • Configure widget - Some widgets can be configured with additional settings; when hovering over these widgets, an edit icon will appear Edit widget icon
  • Rearrange widgets - Simply drag and drop widgets into place
  • Remove widget - Click on the Remove widget icon at the upper right when hovering over the widget

Welcome

Welcome widget

Use the Welcome widget to:

  • Add widgets to your dashboard
  • View unread notifications by clicking the notification count badge (pink circle on the date)
  • Reset the dashboard. Note: This reset does not revert to the default dashboard set by the University CMS Team; for the default dashboard, see CMS 101: Dashboard.

Stale Content

Keep your content fresh by monitoring assets that haven't been updated within a set time period. Each Stale Content widget must be configured with a specific site; add multiple widgets for additional sites.

Configure the Settings

  1. Edit the Stale Content widget
  2. Select a site to monitor
  3. Specify a time period in which to consider content to be stale (e.g., content last updated more than 60 days ago)
  4. Specify whether to only include content that you own (i.e., content created by you)
  5. Save settings

Tip: A Stale Content report is accessible in the Hamburger Menu under Reports.

My Upcoming Tasks

Your "to do" list in the CMS.

  • Create tasks to remind yourself of action items to be completed
  • Create tasks and delegate to other website managers
  • Share tasks with others to participate
  • Collaborate with others using the communication tools provided

More on tasks.

My Content

Quickly access assets including:

  • Starred - Assets that were starred for quick reference
  • Recent - Assets you recently viewed
  • Owned Content - Assets you own (typically the assets that were created by you). Asset ownership can be found in the Action Toolbar under Details > Properties.
  • Drafts - Assets that are works in progress (i.e., edits were made but not committed with a submit); more on drafts
  • Workflows - Non-functioning
  • Locks - Assets which are locked and can only be edited by you; more on checking out/locking an asset

Tips: Your content is also accessible by clicking on My Content in the Main Toolbar. A Content Ownership report is accessible in the Hamburger Menu under Reports.

My Sites

Sites you've recently visited will be listed; click any of them to switch into the site. To select a site not listed on the widget, use the Site Selector in the Main Toolbar.

Tip: You can select a default site in the User Menu under Settings and the site will always be at the top of the list.

Content to Review

Review dates can be set on assets to ensure content is always up-to-date; this widget will display review tasks that are overdue, upcoming and scheduled. Each Content to Review widget must be configured with a specific site; add multiple widgets for additional sites.

Configure the Settings

  1. Edit the Content to Review widget
  2. Select a site to review
  3. Specify a time period in which to display content due for review (e.g., content due for review in 14 days)
  4. Specify whether to only include content that you own (i.e., content created by you)
  5. Save settings

Set a Review Date on an Asset

There are several ways to set a review date on an asset:

  • Right-click on the asset in the asset tree > Schedule Review
  • Select the asset in the asset tree > ••• More > Schedule Review
  • Edit the asset, click on the Metadata tab scroll to Review Date

Tip: A Content Up for Review report is accessible in the Hamburger Menu under Reports.

Notifications

Your most recent notifications, including:

  • Publish Reports - Every publish job is recorded as a notification with a record of its success or failure; more on publishing. Internal broken links are also included in publish reports; more on checking links.
  • @username Mentions - Each time you are mentioned in a comment (i.e., another user mentions you by using @username), you will receive a notification. More on @username mentions.
  • Tasks - When a task assigned to you is overdue, you will receive a notification; more on tasks.

A link to View All Notifications is available at the bottom of the widget with options to mark as read, delete, and search.

Tip: Your notifications are also accessible in the User Menu under Notifications.

New Content

Create new assets directly from the dashboard by clicking on any of the asset types displayed. Each New Content widget must be configured with a specific site (click on the Edit icon to select a site; add multiple widgets for additional sites).

Note: The only page which can be created using the New Content widget is the Standard Page; to create the special page types, select a site and use the Add Content button in the Main Toolbar.

Non-Functioning Widgets

The widgets below are not functional, however alternate options are available.

  • Analytics: Pageviews & Unique Visitors - Analytics data can be obtained through other tracking methods; more on web analytics.
  • Link Checker - Alternate methods to check for broken links are available; more on checking links.

Manage Tasks

A task is an action item to be performed in the CMS, such as replacing an image, publishing an asset, proofreading content or selecting news articles for a Hero rotator. The My Upcoming Tasks widget provides a method of setting tasks and collaborating on them with others.

Follow the instructions below to use tasks to help manage a site.

Tip: For a more detailed review of your tasks, select Tasks in the User Menu. You will have options to view tasks assigned to you, created by you, those that you are participating in and those that have been completed. You can also search for tasks and add new ones.

tasks-widget.png

Add a Task

  1. Click on Add a Task in the upper right of My Upcoming Tasks widget
  2. Enter a relevant Name for the task (e.g., Update news articles in Hero rotator)
  3. Enter a Description with additional instructions
  4. By default, you are the Assigned User; to assign task to another user, click on your user name and use the chooser to change the User Assignment
  5. Specify the Priority of the task
  6. Specify the Due Date of the task
  7. Using the chooser, specify Related Content task should be performed on
  8. Click Create; the task will appear in the My Upcoming Tasks widget
  9. Additional actions can be performed using the Action Toolbar; click on a task in the widget, then:
    1. Edit the task to modify it
    2. Resolve the task when completed
    3. Delete the task if no longer needed

Collaborate on a Task

After a task has been created, the ability to collaborate on the task with others is possible by clicking on the task in the widget.

  1. Participants - The task can be shared with additional users by using the chooser and selecting other users; the task will then appear on their My Upcoming Tasks widget
  2. Comments - A dialog can be established between participants of the task using the comments feature:
    1. Enter comments into the box; to mention a specific user, use the @username feature; click Post Comment
    2. Hover over a previous comment for additional actions including Reply, Resolve and Delete
    3. Enable Show Resolved option to display all comments in the thread including those that have been resolved

@username Mentions

Mentioning another user in comment fields using the @username feature allows you to send them a notification to alert them of the comment; simply enter @username (use Andrew ID in place of username) and a list of users will be provided to select from. The mention will appear in the user's Notifications widget and they will also receive an email.

Using the @username mention and selecting user from list

Where to Use @username

  • Asset Comments - Every asset has a comments feature; select the asset in the asset tree, then select Comments in the Action Toolbar. Leave a comment and include @username to make an inquiry or request regarding the asset.
  • Task Comments - Collaborating on tasks usually requires discussion between participants. Leave a comment and include @username to facilitate back-and-forth communication; more on tasks.
  • Version Comments - While editing an asset, the option to leave a custom comment is part of the submit process. Leave a comment and include @username to notify others of the edit you made.

Note: Any time a comment is left on an asset, the owner of the asset will receive a notification regardless if they were @username mentioned or not.

CMS Emails

When you receive an email from the CMS it will likely contain a link to an asset, such as an asset where you were @username mentioned in the comments. If you are already logged into the CMS you can click on the link and access the asset immediately; if you are not logged into the CMS, you will be asked to log in, then you will need to click the link in the email again to access the asset.