Drupal: A Guide for New Users
This page is a guide for users of our new public website. The site uses an open-source Content Management System (CMS) called Drupal to assemble and display information.
This site retains an organization based on the previous version. Content is organized into books for 4 audience types, as displayed on the top menu bar: Students, Instructors, Proctors, and Developers. These books guide the user through a presentation of content in a predetermined order.
Most nodes are also usually tagged with keywords. Clicking on these keywords calls up every node associated with that particular category. Selected categories are listed on the side menu bar.
The following pages describe the different user roles and content types, including a guide for posting content (such as blog entries).
The CWRL hosts other Drupal installation, including "hub sites" for personal and class use. Information for administrators of individual Drupal installations is available in our Administrators' Guide.
Users of the CWRL Public Site
While most of the content on this website is viewable without creating an account, users can, according to the permissions they have, contribute or alter site content. Users are assigned various permissions according to the roles they play in the lab: Staff, Developer, and Administrator. In addition, Drupal classifies anonymous users (anyone who points their browser at one of our pages) and authenticated users, who are users who register with the automated system. Permissions are as follow, and each successive user incorporates the permissions of the previous (in other words, an authenticated user can do what an anonymous user can plus what is listed).
Anonymous users can view and search content, with the exception of content that has been restricted to higher permissions.
Authenticated users can post comments, submit CFPs to a queue.
Staff users can make blog entries and forum topics, and submit content to the Assignment Database. Anyone who works in the lab as a proctor or teacher will be considered a staffer.
Developer users can make layout changes to the navigation, create and edit book pages, and create taxonomy terms (keywords for the database). All staffers who work for the Developer group are granted these permissions.
Administrators can alter or add to any aspect of the site. The Director, System Analyst, and ADs are the designated Administrators.
To become an authenticated user, simply follow the log-in link from the home page and fill out the registration form. If you play one of the roles listed above, your permissions should be upgraded in due course, but feel free to contact an administrator if they aren't.
Content Types
All of our website content is stored in a central database. Every page of content is called a "node," and each node is classed as a particular "content type." The content types which are currently used for the CWRL site are book page, forum topic, and personal blog entry, and two content types created specifically for this site: assignments and CFP.
Assignments: records of computer-assisted assignments for use in the CWRL Assignment Database.
CFP: Calls for conference papers or publications
book page: a page that can be put into hierarchical relation with a group of other book pages. (See "Navigating the Site" below)
forum topic: threaded discussions for CWRL classes
blog entry: an online journal that we offer to CWRL staff and faculty. We also offer more advanced capabilities on personal installations. See "Blogs" below.
Creating Content
After you log on, a menu similar to this will appear:
(You may also have an administer option, according to your user level). To create content, simply choose the top link. You will be presented with all the options available to you in the main screen. For example, a staffer would see:
Choose an option, and you will be given an input screen. For most content types, 'Title' and 'Body' are required, though you may have the opportunity to choose a one or more keywords, or provide an alias URL (i.e., a URL of your own choosing).
Be sure to click Submit at the bottom of the input screen. If you are trying to attach a file, you will have to click 'Attach' and then 'Submit' on the subsequent page.
CWRL Blogs
The CWRL offers two options for those interested in personal blogs: simple blogs hosted on the public site (i.e., this website) or more powerful blogs hosted on locus.cwrl.utexas.edu. The first option is easier but allows much less customization, while the second requires setting up an administrator's account on another installation but allows the greater customization of appearance and more flexibility. See that documentation for details on administering your own Drupal site. This documentation also covers course sites on instructors.cwrl.utexas.edu, which is the only option that permits student blogs.
Every Staff, Developer, and Administrator has the potential to keep a blog on the CWRL website. To start blogging, simply log in, select "create content" and then the content type "personal blog entry." Your blog will be viewable at http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/drupal/?q=blog/x, where x represents your drupal id number (which the system generates when you create your account). You can link directly to your blog from "my account," and blogs.cwrl.utexas.edu will list all the blogs hosted by the public site.
You can select an alternate theme to distinguish your blog from other site content. Choose My Account, Edit, and scroll down to Theme Settings. There you may select from several options. You can also create a blog post to describe your blog. Simply check the box "sticky on top of lists" in the Options box when creating the entry. For more detailed modifications, you will need to become administrator of your own locus.cwrl.utexas.edu site. See the Administrator's Guide for more details.
Forums
CWRL forums are now administered with Drupal. This page explains how to create a topic, reply to a topic, and how to set up an account.
Creating a Forum Topic (Instructors)
At the beginning of the semester, all CWRL classes will have forums accessible through http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/forum. To add a new topic to your forum, simply log-in and choose create content>forum topic. Make sure you add the new topic to the appropriate class forum: select your class from the drop-down Forums menu (above the Body field).
Replying to a Topic (Students and Instructors)
Although anyone can read a forum topic and comments, you must log in to reply (account details below). You can either reply directly to the topic by filling out the form at the bottom of the page displaying the active topic and replies, or you can make a threaded reply to a particular comment by clicking on the reply link under the comment in question.
Creating an Account (Students)
To create an account, click on Log In at the top right of the screen. Then choose the register tab and fill in your user name* and e-mail address. This e-mail address will receive a message with your password and instructions, so make sure it is accurate. If you do not see receive an e-mail with the subject 'Account details for ______' within a few minutes, check your bulk/junk mail folder.
*Your user name must be your first and last name. Accounts with nicknames will be deleted.