11

Successful IngredientsSuccessful Ingredientsand and

zShellzShellJosten MaJosten Ma

12 March 200812 March 2008

22

The UH ExperienceThe UH Experience

How we got startedHow we got started Lesson learnedLesson learned It is not just technicalIt is not just technical Some sampleSome sample Tools that we developedTools that we developed

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Our Wish ListOur Wish List

Credit Reference: external sources

• That does not Cost a lot• Support both

• Novice users and • Developers users• Has to look nice (market branding)

• Extensible• Performance, Reliability, Redundancy• Security

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The Choice is PloneThe Choice is Plone

Open Source CMSOpen Source CMS Authenticated UsersAuthenticated Users Easy of content Easy of content

managementmanagement Full Features (more than Full Features (more than

300 add-ons)300 add-ons) 45 web sites on campus45 web sites on campus

Portal

WWW

Content Stake Holders

Technical Administrations

users

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Sample Web SitesSample Web Sites

Research CentersResearch Centers– http://www.tlc2.uh.edu/http://www.tlc2.uh.edu/– http://www.tlc2.uh.edu/Members/jostenhttp://www.tlc2.uh.edu/Members/josten– http://www.research.uh.edu/http://www.research.uh.edu/

PIPI ConferencesConferences Student AssociationsStudent Associations Community OutreachCommunity Outreach Cultural (multimedia)Cultural (multimedia)

Click here for: Example Web Sites

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Researchers Needs Researchers Needs

Basic FunctionalitiesBasic Functionalities– Web Pages with customizable templatesWeb Pages with customizable templates– Folders, Documents, Images & Photo AlbumFolders, Documents, Images & Photo Album– News, Calendar & Events News, Calendar & Events – Bread Crumb, Navigation & ShortcutsBread Crumb, Navigation & Shortcuts– Search, WorkflowSearch, Workflow– External References LinksExternal References Links

Recent Capabilities RequestsRecent Capabilities Requests– Forum, Blog, Polls, Mailing List, Newsletter, e-Forum, Blog, Polls, Mailing List, Newsletter, e-

commerce.commerce.

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It is not just technicalIt is not just technical

Organization support (Boss(es))Organization support (Boss(es)) Understanding your user & environmentUnderstanding your user & environment Importance of ProcessImportance of Process Tech team Tech team

– Immediate staffImmediate staff– Open source communitiesOpen source communities– ConsultantsConsultants

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Business ProcessBusiness Process

Need a blue printNeed a blue print Development approachDevelopment approach Get them startedGet them started

– Interview (What is the compelling story, Interview (What is the compelling story, – Design LayoutDesign Layout– Site mappingSite mapping

SupportSupport– TrainingTraining– MaintenanceMaintenance– DocumentationDocumentation

Plone CommunityPlone Community

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Customizing Content PagesCustomizing Content Pages

Select Pre-Packaged TemplatesSelect Pre-Packaged Templates Add ContentsAdd Contents Built Your OwnBuilt Your Own

– Centralized Location Centralized Location – Plone CompliantPlone Compliant

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Member - Editing LayoutMember - Editing Layout

Add Web Items

Folder View

Breadcrumbs Member Section

Item Tabs

View page

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Create web pageCreate web page

Add ItemsFolder View

Breadcrumbs Member Section

Item Tabs

View page

Web Page Interface

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Apply Content TemplateApply Content Template

Choose templatesChoose templates TypesTypes

– Front pageFront page– With imagesWith images– SlotsSlots– CombinationsCombinations

Working with widgets of the templateWorking with widgets of the template

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News Folder ViewNews Folder View

Add ItemsFolder View

BreadcrumbsMember Section

Item Tabs

View page

Items in News Folder

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Web Page Templates ViewWeb Page Templates View

Change Template

Breadcrumbs Member Section

View page

Web Page Templates

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Customizing Web SiteCustomizing Web Site

Download Template Download Template Import templateImport template Select Select Apply banner and Apply banner and CustomizeCustomize Add contentAdd content

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Default DesignDefault Design

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Changing to New DesignChanging to New Design

Simply electing the web design you like

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Rapid Web SitesRapid Web Sites

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What’s inside zShell?What’s inside zShell? Separates edit features into a clear and distinct editing mode.Separates edit features into a clear and distinct editing mode. Provides a templating framework for the creation of presentation Provides a templating framework for the creation of presentation

elements of a website. elements of a website. Allow developers to swap and install entirely new Plone skins for their Allow developers to swap and install entirely new Plone skins for their

portals with a simple click. portals with a simple click. Highly extensible Highly extensible Transform the presentation of plone portals entirely and are content Transform the presentation of plone portals entirely and are content

driven, so a single portal can now take on many different visual forms.driven, so a single portal can now take on many different visual forms. Installs a new content type called Web Page. Web Pages are Installs a new content type called Web Page. Web Pages are

essentially Document types, but can be assigned content layout essentially Document types, but can be assigned content layout templates to enforce consist looking pages, or provide a set of features templates to enforce consist looking pages, or provide a set of features a given page should contain.a given page should contain.

2020

In ReflectionIn Reflection

Tools which we are happy withTools which we are happy with Best thing since slic breadBest thing since slic bread Go to market?Go to market? To Productizer or not?To Productizer or not?

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In ClosingIn Closing

ZShells Augments Plone into a true CMS backed websiteZShells Augments Plone into a true CMS backed website

Does not sacrifice any of Plone’s features and editing contributions but Does not sacrifice any of Plone’s features and editing contributions but at the same time removes all content editing features from the at the same time removes all content editing features from the

anonymous presentation of the portalanonymous presentation of the portal

Adheres to the Plone way of utilizing templatesAdheres to the Plone way of utilizing templates

Moves away from the default appearance of Plone without losing any Moves away from the default appearance of Plone without losing any features of Plonefeatures of Plone..

Easy to maintain and support through future upgradesEasy to maintain and support through future upgrades

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Lesson LearnedLesson Learned Many kind of usersMany kind of users

Some say –’Plone can be difficult for infrequent or non-technical Some say –’Plone can be difficult for infrequent or non-technical content managers.’ content managers.’

Users might want to use Plone as a web site, as opposed to a CMS Users might want to use Plone as a web site, as opposed to a CMS portalportal

Users might want to move away from default appearance of Plone Users might want to move away from default appearance of Plone without losing any features of Plonewithout losing any features of Plone

Need for core CMS features to coexist within a more traditional Need for core CMS features to coexist within a more traditional presentation framework for the web presentation framework for the web

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What is zShell?What is zShell?

Framework providing an alternative interface for using Framework providing an alternative interface for using Plone portals within Zope. Plone portals within Zope.

Distinguishes an ‘edit mode’ and a ‘view mode’ for Plone’s Distinguishes an ‘edit mode’ and a ‘view mode’ for Plone’s default editing interface.default editing interface.

Provides an additional templating system that integrates Provides an additional templating system that integrates into the traditional Plone template concepts into the traditional Plone template concepts

Drives the entire presentation of the portal, as opposed to Drives the entire presentation of the portal, as opposed to being married to a single main templatebeing married to a single main template

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What is zShell?What is zShell?

Comes with a default template suite that can be Comes with a default template suite that can be customizedcustomized

Enables multiple skins for entire Website and also Enables multiple skins for entire Website and also

different skins for varied parts of same Websitedifferent skins for varied parts of same Website

Or Create a consistent branding with complex multi-levelOr Create a consistent branding with complex multi-level

nested templatesnested templates

Quick prototyping toolQuick prototyping tool

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QuestionsQuestions

ThanksThanks

2626

And a bit moreAnd a bit more…… Adds a new content type called Web Page, which allows developers Adds a new content type called Web Page, which allows developers to create as many presentation templates as they desire for Web Page.to create as many presentation templates as they desire for Web Page.

And with this, customization of the web site is just a pencil click away And with this, customization of the web site is just a pencil click away

Reusable and CustomizableReusable and Customizable

For security, like Plone, it adheres to Zope’s robust security frameworkFor security, like Plone, it adheres to Zope’s robust security framework

It also integrates well with other Plone Products available and theIt also integrates well with other Plone Products available and theworkflow settings as wellworkflow settings as well

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The zShell GameThe zShell Game

Applying your own designApplying your own design Install zShell and UseInstall zShell and Use

– 3 simple steps3 simple steps

Changing Shells is simpleChanging Shells is simple– Import Design Template OR Import Design Template OR – Customize your ownCustomize your own

Replicating web site with AppealReplicating web site with Appeal