WebDev Announcements

NEW: CommonSpot Newsletter

2011-10-07T17:29:00.000-05:00

We're introducing a new format for communicating important, timely information affecting CommonSpot publishers. It uses the CommonSpot newsletter system and sends content directly to your email account.

See all the issues in the CommonSpot News section.

Summer 2011 Workshop Times

2011-07-20T08:40:00.002-05:00

CommonSpot Assisted Work Time (Open House)

CommonSpot Assisted Work Time sessions are intended for current users who would like some work time away from the office. Staff will be present to answer questions and give advice.

July 7, 3:00 - 4:00 pm
July 13, 10:00 - 11:00 am
July 21, 9:00 - 10:00 am
July 26, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
August 3, 10:00 – 11:00 am
August 8, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
August 19, 9:00 - 10:00 am
August 24, 3:00 - 4:00 pm
September 1, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
September 6, 10:00 - 11:00 am
September 15, 10:00 - 11:00 am
September 19, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
September 30, 10:00 – 11:00 am

CommonSpot Advanced Topics

Prerequisite for CommonSpot Advanced Topics: CommonSpot Intermediate workshop

July 28, 10:00 – 11:00 am
     Rich Text Editor Techniques

August 17, 3:00 - 4:00 pm
     Sidebar Linking Options

September 28, 10:00-11:00 am
     Uploading Documents

CommonSpot Publishers: Do NOT Upgrade to Firefox 4 or IE 9

2011-04-15T09:15:00.000-05:00

The Firefox 4.x and IE 9.x browser versions have not been qualified for use with the CommonSpot editor. We've seen Firefox 4.0 cause several editing problems. We've not tested IE 9 to see if it misbehaves but we expect that it will. As we move to the next version of CommonSpot, these versions will be supported, but that is not scheduled until later this summer.

Remember, if you are a Macintosh user, Firefox is the only browser you can use to edit CommonSpot pages.

If you have already upgraded your browser, you can contact the Help Desk at 836-5711 for help in rolling it back.

Spring 2011 Workshop Times

2011-04-01T08:33:00.000-05:00

CommonSpot Assisted Work Time (Open House)

CommonSpot Assisted Work Time sessions are intended for current users who would like some work time away from the office. Staff will be present to answer questions and give advice.

April 1, 10:00 - 11:00 am
April 14, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
April 18, 10:00 - 11:00 am
April 27, 10:00 - 11:00 am
May 6, 9:00 - 10:00 am
May 12, 1:00 - 2:00 pm
May 18, 3:00 - 4:00 pm
May 23, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
June 1, 10:00 - 11:00 am
June 9, 2:00 - 3:00 pm
June 15, 1:00 - 2:00 pm
June 23, 1:30 - 2:30 pm
June 28, 10:00 - 11:00 am

CommonSpot Advanced Topics

Prerequisite for CommonSpot Advanced Topics: CommonSpot Intermediate workshop

April 21, 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Maintaining Links in the Horizontal Navigation Bar

May 19, 9:00 - 10:00 am

Options for Web Forms

June 22, 10:00-11:00 am

Using Google Analytics

Changing Items in a Bulleted List

2011-03-29T13:10:00.000-05:00

There is a recent bug in the rich text editor that makes it difficult to change a link in a group of bulleted list items. We hope to have a patch applied soon. Luckily, the fix is pretty easy:

Before changing items in the list, highlight the entire group of items and click the bulleted list icon to un-bullet the items (see image above)

Add new list items or change links to existing items – whatever changes you need to make

Sometimes an item will get pulled up from below the item you are working on and be on the same line—just press Enter or Return to push it down to the next line

When all changes are made and all items are lined up properly, highlight the entire group and reapply the bullets

January-March CommonSpot Workshops

2010-12-29T16:46:00.000-06:00

Here are the new workshop times just posted in the Online Registration System:

CommonSpot Assisted Work Time (Open House)

CommonSpot Assisted Work Time sessions are intended for current users who would like some work time away from the office. Staff will be present to answer questions and give advice.

January 11, 2:00-3:00 pm
January 19, 9:00-10:00 am
January 25, 2:00-3:00 pm
February 3, 2:00-3:00 pm
February 9, 10:00-11:00 am
February 23, 9:00-10:00 am
March 3, 2:00-3:00 pm
March 10, 10:00-11:00 am
March 17, 2:00-3:00 pm

CommonSpot Advanced Topics

Prerequisite for CommonSpot Advanced Topics: CommonSpot Intermediate workshop

January 6, 2:00-3:00 pm Open Topic
January 20, 1:00-2:00 pm Using the Rich Text Editor
February 10, 10:00-11:00 am Open Topic
February 21, 3:00-4:00 pm Open Topic
March 8, 10:30-11:30 am Open Topic
March 29, 2:00-3:00 pm Open Topic

Nov-Dec CommonSpot Workshops Posted

2010-11-02T14:41:00.000-05:00

Here are the workshops that have just been posted in the Online Registration System:

CommonSpot Open House sessions are intended for current users who would like some work time away from the office. Staff will be present to answer questions and give advice.

CommonSpot Open House (Assisted Work Time)

November 4, 2:00-3:00 pm

November 9, 3:00-4:00 pm

November 18, 9:00-10:00 am

December 2, 10:00-11:00 am

December 7, 2:00-3:00 pm

December 15, 3:00-4:00 pm

Prerequisites for CommonSpot Advanced Topics include the CommonSpot Intermediate workshop.

CommonSpot Advanced Topics

November 8, 2:00-3:00 pm Tips for Using the Rich Text Editor

November 30, 9:00-10:00 am Open Topic

December 9, 1:30-2:30 pm Open Topic

New CommonSpot Handouts Posted

2010-09-28T10:37:00.000-05:00

A series of new handouts have recently been posted to the Advanced Topics section of the Web Development Services site. These include:

Maintaining Your CommonSpot Web Site
Using the Image Overlay Gallery Element
Using the HTML Element
Implementing ReCAPTCHA in CommonSpot
The Page Index Element
Ordering Items in a Sidebar Page Index

Update to Google Analytics Handout

2010-09-28T09:57:00.000-05:00

The handout for using Google Analytics has been updated. The updated handout includes a new section on keywords.

New Fall 2010 CommonSpot Workshops

2010-08-17T13:22:00.000-05:00

Here are the Fall workshops that have just been posted in the Online Registration System:

CommonSpot Open House sessions are intended for current users who would like some work time away from the office. Staff will be present to answer questions and give advice.

CommonSpot Open House (Assisted Work Time)
August 18, 9-10:00 am
August 24, 2-3:00 pm
September 2, 9-10:00 am
September 8, 2-3:00 pm
September 15, 9-10:00 am
September 21, 2-3:00 pm
September 30, 9-10:00 am
October 5, 2-3:00 pm
October 12, 9-10:00 am
October 20, 2-3:00 pm
October 25, 9-10:00 am

Prerequisites for CommonSpot Advanced Topics include the CommonSpot Intermediate workshop.

CommonSpot Advanced Topics
August 25, 9-10:00 am (Creating a Site Map)
September 7, 9-10:00 am (Using Google Analytics)
September 23, 2-3:00 pm (Using Templates and Page Indexes)
October 13, 2-3:00 pm (Ordering Items in a Page Index)
October 26, 9-10:00 am (Embedded Elements)

Additions to CommonSpot Advanced Topics Handouts

2010-04-14T15:16:00.001-05:00

There have been some recent additions to the handout in the CommonSpot Advanced Topics section of this Web site:

Adding Embedded Elements: The Mebome Widget / The Twitter Element
Creating a Sitemap
Creating a Subsite Search
How to Deactivate/Reactivate a Page
Managing Registered External Links
Using Google Analytics

Next Series of CommonSpot Workshops Have Been Scheduled

2010-04-14T11:11:00.000-05:00

The next set of workshops have just been scheduled. They are listed below, but be sure to register through the Online Registration System.

Be sure to read the descriptions of the workshops before you register to make sure you have the necessary prerequisites.

Spring/Summer 2010

CommonSpot Overview
May 11, 10:00-11:00 am
June 21, 2:00-3:00 pm

CommonSpot Open House
May 4, 10:00 – 11:30 am
May 12, 2:00 - 3:30 pm
May 18, 10:00-11:30 am
June 2, 2:00-3:30 pm
June 22, 12:30-2:00 pm
July 8, 9:00-10:30 am
July 14, 1:00-2:30 pm
July 20, 10:00-11:30 am

CommonSpot Advanced Topics
May 14, 10:00-11:00 am
June 23, 2:00-3:00 pm

Compatability View in Internet Explorer Causes Pull Down Lockup

2010-04-13T15:58:00.000-05:00

There is a little known setting in the Internet Explorer browser that can cause problems for CommonSpot Web publishers.An icon at the top right-hand corner of the browser can unknowingly get turned on, which will cause the CommonSpot toolbars to be locked once you switch to edit mode.Simply click the icon a second time to disable the feature to correct the problem.

Rich Text Editor Style Pulldown Bug

2010-04-09T10:08:00.002-05:00

Note: For the most part, this will only be a problem for those needing to apply the “tight-text” style to text.

For CommonSpot publishers using Firefox 3.6, the pull down list of styles in the rich text editor is currently unavailable. A patch will be installed April 16, 2010 which will correct the problem for PC users. Firefox 3.5.9 and older browser versions are unaffected. PC users can use Internet Explorer in the meantime. Mac users with Firefox 3.6 will need to wait for the patch, or contact the Help Desk to roll back to Firefox 3.5.9.

New CommonSpot Workshop Schedule Announced

2010-02-17T09:22:00.001-06:00

A new series of CommonSpot workshops have just been scheduled. They are listed below, but be sure to register for the workshop through the Online Registration System.

Be sure to read the descriptions of the workshops before you register to make sure you have the necessary prerequisites.

Overview
Tuesday	2/23/10	2-3:00pm
Tuesday	3/30/10	2-3:00pm
Wednesday	4/28/10	10-11:00am
Open House
Thursday	2/18/10	10-11:00am
Thursday	2/25/10	10-11:00am
Monday	3/01/10	9-10:00am
Tuesday	3/16/10	1-2:00pm
Monday	3/22/10	2-3:00pm
Wednesday	3/31/10	10-11:00am
Tuesday	4/13/10	10-11:00am
Thursday	4/22/10	2-3:00pm
Advanced Topics
Thursday	2/25/10	2-3:00pm
Tuesday	3/09/10	9-10:00am
Wednesday	4/07/10	10-11:00am

WebDev Site is Converted!

2010-02-17T09:01:00.000-06:00

Like the shoemaker who's children go barefoot, the WebDev site has finally gotten its conversion. An entire section is devoted to CommonSpot. We hope the site is easier to navigate and more meaningful.

Update to Basics Exercises

2010-02-07T12:03:00.006-06:00

We've just updated our Basics Exercises related to checking the "Include in public image gallery" option when adding items to the Image Gallery. Please replace your copy with this new one. You'll find it under the CommonSpot Documentation section.