Account Information > AU Access > Create a channel using Contribute

Create a channel using Contribute

Task:

Create a channel for a tab in AU Access using Contribute.

How to do it:

  1. Make sure your channel meets the General Guidelines (e.g., audience of more than 100 students).
  2. Submit a request for a channel in AU-Access from the Home tab using the 'Request a Channel' form in 'Feedback & Channel/Tab Request'. When your channel is approved and set up, you will receive a message from Administrator Account with a connection key file attached and telling the password to use for step 4.
  3. Purchase and install Contribute software.

    To order: Contact Rob Mitchell - rmitchell@govconnection.com
    Designated reseller: GovConnection
    The first time you launch Contribute, you will be asked for a serial number, which is provided when you purchase the software.

  4. Establish connection with the server: drag the connection key you received in step 2 onto the desktop. Double-click it, log in using the password given in the message, check 'trust this server' and log in again. If it doesn't work, contact your IT provider and verify that your computer is joined to the auburn domain and that you are logged into the auburn domain.
  5. In Contribute, click the name of your channel on the Start Page. (Make a note of the channel name if you plan to use an image; it's different from the channel title that displays in AU-Access.)
  6. Click the 'Connect' button.
  7. Click the 'Edit Page' button.
  8. Add your content and make changes. Verify that your channel follows the Channel Guidelines.

    Tips:
    1. Every image needs to be fully qualified and no wider than 250px.  Here's how:
      • insert the image from your computer
      • highlight the image > right-click > Image Properties
      • for 'Image file:', before 'images/...' insert the first part of the url, using
        http://cps-image.auburn.edu/cps/channelname/
        where channelname is the name of your channel as it appears on the Contribute Start Page
      • if the 'Display width' is more than 250, change it to 250. Be sure the 'Constrain proportions' box is checked

    2. Every hyperlink needs to be fully qualified and open in a new window. 
      To create a new link:
      • with a browser, go to the target page and copy its address
      • in Contribute, highlight the link text
      • click the 'Insert Link' button and choose 'Browse to Website'
      • paste the web address you copied before (do not use the 'Create New Page' or 'Drafts & Recent Pages' buttons - all links must be outside the channel)
      • for Target frame, choose 'New Window'

      To change an existing link open in a new window:
      • put the cursor on the link > right-click > Link Properties
      • click the Advanced button
      • for Target frame, choose 'New Window'

  9. Click the 'Publish' button.
  10. View your channel on http://auaccess-t.auburn.edu/ (the testing server) to make sure it looks the way you expect. (If you don't see it on one of the tabs, click Content-Layout > click the tab where you want to see the channel > click 'Add Channel' > choose 'Select All' categories > Go > select your channel > 'Add Channel' > back to ... Tab). Refresh the browser page whenever you Publish another change. Note that a change may take a minute or two to take effect.
  11. To make the channel available on http://auaccess.auburn.edu (the production server), send a message to Administrator Account (account@auburn.edu) indicating the channel is ready. Once it 'goes live', changes you make will show up on both servers as soon as you publish them.