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Widgets

The CMS includes custom widgets so you can introduce additional functionalities onto your homepages. The widget section is a required element for all USF homepages. The section is highly customizable, allowing you the option to have one three-column widget, one two-column widget and one one-column widget, or three one-column widgets. Examples of content available on these widgets include news feeds, event listings, and more.

When your website is created, the wireframes that are submitted will allow you to choose what widgets will be displayed on your homepage. Once your page is live you are able to edit the current widgets displayed on your homepage or you can swap out the widgets for different ones. If your site has not gone live yet, please contact your CMS Liaison to create new widgets for you.

Below you will find instructions on: 

How To create a new Widget

  1. From the top (Home) directory, click the widget folder.
  2. Click on your unit's folder.
  3. Click either the New button or the arrow. Clicking the arrow will provide a quick look at which widgets are available, while clicking the New button will provide a larger view.
  4. Select the type of widget you want to create.
  5. Complete all required information, following all instructions.
  6. Click Create.
  7. Click the MultiEdit button.
  8. Make all appropriate changes.
  9. Click Save.
  10. From the Publish drop down menu, select which action is appropriate for your permission level/workflow (Publish, Schedule, Submit for Approval, etc.).

Note: If you are building a test site, pubish the new widget to both Production and Test. Even though your website is not live yet, the new widget needs to be published to Production to operate correctly. All changes after intial creation can be published to just Test.

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How To add a widget to your homepage

  1. Click the Properties button in the page options at the top of the homepage (index.pcf file).
  2. Click the document icon, navigate to and click on the widget you wish to use. You may also enter in the path manually. Widgets need to be created and published prior to selecting them here.
    Screenshot of widget URL fields within a homepage
  3. Click Save.
  4. From the Publish drop down menu, select which action is appropriate for your permission level/workflow (Publish, Schedule, Submit for Approval, etc.). 

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How TO edit AN EXISTING WIDGET

  1. From the top (Home) directory, click the widget folder.
  2. Click on your unit's folder.
  3. Check out the widget that you want to edit.
  4. Select the MultiEdit button.
  5. Make all appropriate changes.
  6. Click Save.
  7. From the Publish drop down menu, select which action is appropriate for your permission level/workflow (Publish, Schedule, Submit for Approval, etc.).

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List of commonly used widgets

Featured Story

Screenshot of the feature story widget in the Omni CMS.

This option provides an opportunity to display a single featured story produced by your unit. The story could be about a faculty member, a student, an upcoming event, an initiative important to your unit’s leadership, etc. This option is not recommended for units that do not have a communication professional on staff.

The featured story must meet certain specifications:

  • the story headline has a character limit of 25 and must link to a web page
  • the story text has a character limit of 150
  • the photo must be a jpg file and must be 320 pixels X 213 pixels
  • when saving your photo from Photoshop, use the “Save for Web” option

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Call to Action

Screenshot of the Call to Action widget.

If you choose the small photo, small rotator, or small video option, you can opt to display four call to action boxes to the right or left of it (vertical). If you choose the large photo or large rotator option, you can opt to display four call to action boxes underneath it (horizontal).You can change the boxes as often as you like.

The purpose of the call to action boxes is to drive traffic to specific functionality on your website. For example, at different points of the year, you may want to drive prospective students to apply, or donors to give, or community members to attend a campus event. In order to implement this option successfully, you need to identify your key audience(s), analyze their needs and meet those needs by producing a call to action that allows them to complete a specific task that you know is important to them.

The call to action boxes must meet certain specifications: 

  • each headline has a character limit of 20
  • each summary has a character limit of 50
  • each box must have an icon, created by UCM
  • each box must link to a web page
  • there must be exactly four boxes 

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One-Column News (Static)

Screenshot of the one-column news manual widget in the Omni CMS.

This option provides an opportunity to display news headlines, summaries and publication dates (optional) that link to news articles you’ve created and posted on your website. It is available in the one-column format. Do not duplicate stories already found in your rotator. This option is good if you generate a great deal of news about your unit. It is not recommended for units that do not have a communications professional on staff.

The widget must meet certain specifications:

  • the widget name has a character limit of 25 The headline and text will display in a pre-determined style.

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Text Navigation

Screenshot of the text navigation widget in the Omni CMS.

If you choose the small photo, small rotator, or small video option, you can opt to display additional navigation to the right or left of it. This navigation can be customized to meet your unit’s needs. However, as with all website navigation, it should not change often. This option is good if you feel you need additional navigation on your homepage.

The text navigation must meet certain specifications:

  • it must contain at least 5 links and no more than 7 links
  • each link has a character limit of 20
  • each item must link to a web page
  • do not duplicate the links already found in your header navigation. The text will display in a pre-determined style. 

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Google Calendar

Screenshot of the Google calendar widget in the Omni CMS.

The Google Calender allows you to display an already existing calendar provided by Google. 

  1. Once Google Calendar is selected from the drop down, you will get a popup with several entries that must be filled in. 
    1. First is the filename.
    2. Then you enter the name you would like your calendar to display. 
    3. Enter the Google API Key. 
    4. Enter the Google Calendar ID
    5. Select the number of events (between 3-5) you would like displayed. 

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One-, Two-, Three-Column Text Options

Screenshot of the one-, two-, and three-column text widgets in the Omni CMS.

This option provides an opportunity to display a block of text to welcome visitors or to display important information regarding your unit. It is not recommended for units that do not have a communication professional on staff. It can either be used as a one-column, two-column, or three-column widget.

The text area must meet certain specifications:

  • the headline has a character limit of 25
  • one-column: the text area has a character limit of 400
  • two-column: the text area has a character limit of 950
  • three-column: the text area is followed by an additional hyperlink separate from the text with an arrow. 
  • The headline and text will display in a pre-determined style.