Default & Enhanced Homepage

Widgets

CMS Workshop: 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.

create a new Widget

  1. From the Omni CMS home screen, navigate to your site folder.
  2. Click on your unit's folder.
  3. Scroll to and click on the "widgets" folder.
  4. Click either "New" or the arrow icon.
    1. Clicking the arrow icon will provide a quick look at which widgets are available, while clicking "New" will provide a larger view.
  5. Select the type of widget you want to create.
  6. Complete all required information, following all instructions.
  7. Click "Create".
  8. Click "MultiEdit".
  9. Make all appropriate changes.
  10. Click "Save".
  11. 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, publish 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 initial creation can be published to just Test.

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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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edit AN EXISTING WIDGET

  1. Navigate to your unit's directory (website folder).
    1. Click on the "widgets" folder.
  2. Check out the widget that you want to edit by clicking the light bulb icon.
  3. Click the MultiEdit button.
  4. Make all appropriate changes via MultiEdit > Parameters and/or MultiEdit > MultiEdit Content.
  5. Click Save.
  6. 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:

  • Story headline has a character limit of 25 and must link to a web page.
  • Story text has a character limit of 150.
  • The photo must be a jpg or png file and must be 320 px by 213 px.
  • 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 Widget 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 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.
    • Icons are located in /images/cta-icons.
  • Each box must link to a web page.
  • There must be exactly four icons displayed.

Edit Call to Action widget:

  1. Navigate to your unit's directory (website folder).
    1. Click on the "widgets" folder.
  2. Check out the Call to Action widget by clicking the light bulb icon.
  3. Click the MultiEdit button.
    1. The editing screen will appear as Properties > MultiEdit Content.
      MultiEdit Content in MultiEdit
  4. Start with Call to Action 1:
    1. Use the Order dropdown menu to choose the Call to Action icon order (as they appear down the page (vertically) or across the page (horizontally)).
      1. The Call to Action widget will appear vertically if it is chosen as the Feature Sidebar Widget in Index > Properties > Parameters.
      2. The Call to Action widget will appear horizontally if it is used in the dedicated Horizontal Call to Action section in Index > Properties > Parameters.
        Editing the Call to Action widget
    2. Choose the Call to Action icon you would like to use via the Dependency Manager.
      Dependency Manager to choose Call to Action Icon
    3. Use the Filter field to search for the icon or scroll through the list.
      1. Click the icon you would like to use. Then click Insert.
        Selecting the Gift icon for the Call to Action icons
    4. In the Image Description field, add alt text for the icon.
    5. In the Headline field, add the headline.
    6. In the Text field, add the text that will appear underneath the headline.
    7. In the URL field, add a full URL that will be linked in the icon and headline.
      1. If the link lives outside the CMS, change the Open in New Tab? dropdown to "Yes".
      2. If the link lives inside the CMS, keep the Open in New Tab? dropdown as "No".
    8. Repeat Steps 1-7 for Call to Action 2-4.
    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.).

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News - Manual - One-Column

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 or two-column format. This widget is a good option for your unit if it generates lots of news stories and has a communications professional on staff. It is best practice not to duplicate stories in this widget already found in your rotator (if applicable) or another widget. 

The News - Manual - One-Column must meet certain specifications:

  • Widget name has a character limit of 25.
  • Headline and text will display in a pre-determined style.

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Links - Styled List

Screenshot of the text navigation widget in the Omni CMS.

If you choose the small photo, rotator, or video option, you can opt to display an additional widget to the left or righthand side, including a "Links - Styled List" widget. This widget is a good option for units who need additional navigation on their homepage. Make sure not to duplicate links already found in your main navigation.

The Links - Styled List must meet certain specifications:

  • Must contain at least five links and no more than seven links.
  • Each link has a character limit of 20.
  • Each item must link to a webpage.
  • Links will display in a pre-determined style.

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Text - One-, Two-, or Three-Column

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 - One-, Two-, or Three-Column must meet certain specifications:

  • Headline has a character limit of 25.
  • One-column: text area has a character limit of 400.
  • Two-column: text area has a character limit of 950.
  • Three-column: text area is followed by an additional hyperlink with an arrow.
  • Headline and text will display in a pre-determined style.

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Full List of Widgets

  • Button(s) Centered
  • Calendar - Automatic
  • Calendar - Automatic - Google
  • Calendar - Manual
  • Call to Action
  • Featured Story
  • Featured Story - Three-Column Grid
  • Links - Styled List
  • News - Automatic - One-Column
  • News - CMS Feed - One-Column
  • News - CMS Feed - One-Column with Image
  • News - CMS Feed - Two-Column with Image
  • News - Manual - One-Column
  • News - Manual - One-Column with Image
  • News - Manual - Two-Column with Image
  • Text - One-Column
  • Text - Two-Column
  • Text - Three-Column

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