Adding a Folder
Important: Because folders or "directories" are the backbone of good site design, we highly recommend following a few simple procedures first. It's best to review your current folder structure, usually reflected in your site navigation (the second horizontal navigation in the light blue bar) before adding new folders. In general, top listings of this navigation usually represent your folder structure. If possible, keep a printout of your "site flow" (see Site Architecture) to best understand how a new folder would fit into your current architecture. New folders should not repeat menu items already existing in other folders. If you find that is the case, it's best just to add a new page in an existing directory. If you determine your site would benefit from a new section, and you want that section accessible from the site navigation menu, please contact Web Services so we can make it globally accessible.
Adding a folder or "directory" in Contribute is done by creating a new page or adding imagery on your site. When adding a new folder to your site, you should start with the Menu file (_menu.html). Each folder needs a right and left side menu for the template to properly function. Please note: these steps will not add the new section to your site navigation bar, you would need to contact Web Services if you want that section globally accessible. The steps are as follows:
- Make the connection to your site
- Open the main menu from your site called "_menu.html"*
- Select "New Page"
- Choose "Copy of Current Page"
- Enter the title of your menu file as "menu"
- Edit the list items in your menu keeping names brief
- Click Publish
- Click thru the warning dialogue box
- Click "Choose Folder" and name your new folder. Folder names follow the same rules and conventions as file names. Never use spaces or special characters such as ampersand "&" or percentage signs "%". Lower cases are preferred and if necessary use underscores "_" in lieu of spaces. Be sure to write your folder name down as it won't be readily accessible again until linked from somewhere else.
- Save the menu as "_menu.html". This step is very important. If you do not name the file correctly the left menu will not be visible on the pages in that folder. Your menu and folder will now be created at the same time.
*You will need to enter this url directly into your address window to access it. The url will be your main site appended by /_menu.html. Example: http://mirror.www.umb.edu/yoursiteaddress/_menu.html
You must follow the same procedure to ensure you have a right side menu in your folder as well. This file is called "_menu_right.html" and is explained in the tutorial movie.
Adding a "documents" folder by adding images or linking documents
This process is automatically done by Contribute when you add hyperlinks that link to document types such as: Word, Excel, PDF etc. The folder is automatically called "documents" and will be created in whatever directory you added the link. When possible it's best to create as few document folders as possible on your site for easier maintenance. Usually the only site that would not need a menu file would be the documents directory.