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This Chapter will familiarize you with tools and features that help you set up and operate panel websites and language versions according to your requirements.
- This Chapter shows you how to manage your panel websites and language versions. This includes, for example, deactivating a website and assigning access rights to user teams.
- It will be explained how to create additional websites and language versions.
- The Chapter provides an overview of the varied configuration options offered by EFS Panel. There are numerous options
– for the entire panel
– for individual websites
– for individual language versions. - Panel sites can usually be accessed via one or more dedicated domains.It will be explained how you can match domain and panel site via the EFS People GUI and which further steps are necessary.
- Automated tests help you avoid making mistakes when configuring websites.
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The website editor is designed for up to 20 websites and up to 40 language versions. |
Managing Websites and Language Versions
In the Website menu you can manage the different websites and language versions.
The following info and actions is displayed for a website:
- Name: Name of the website(s). A click on the name opens the website-specific settings.
- Number of pages
- Mapped domains.
To-do marker: Allows you and your colleagues to store notes, e. g. on the degree of completion of a website, directly in EFS.
Default website: yes / no
Online - Set website offline / Offline - Set website online: The button displays the status and allows you to activate or deactivate the website. It is not possible to put the default website offline.
Set rights: You can restrict the access rights of user teams to individual websites.
Test website: Allows to check the configuration automatically.
Copy website: This function allows you to copy an entire website including its language versions.
Delete: This function allows you to delete an entire website. You cannot delete a default website.
The following info and actions are displayed for a language version:
- Name: Indented below the website, you can find the related language version(s). A click on the name opens the Website editor of the language version.
- Target pages: Pages to which visitors are automatically taken in different situations, if they click on or enter the panel URL.
- To-do marker: Allows you and your colleagues to store notes, e. g. on the degree of completion of a website, directly in EFS.
- Default language version: yes / no
- Only in Panels with Social Insight Connect: Facebook: For language versions with an activated Social Insight Connect app, a red icon is displayed. Via this icon, you can access the configuration dialog of the app.
- Online - Set language version offline / Offline - Set language version online: The button displays the status and allows you to activate or deactivate the language version. It is not possible to put the default language version of the default website offline.
Preview: Opens the language version in a pop-up window.
Excel export: Allows you to export text elements for external editing.
Upload file: Allows you to import externally edited text elements.
Set rights: You can restrict the access rights of user teams to individual language versions.
Test language version: Allows to check the configuration automatically.
Copy language version: This function allows you to copy an entire language version.
Delete: This function allows you to delete an entire language version. You cannot delete a website’s default language version.
Putting a Website or Language Version Online/Offline
Using the buttons Online - Set website / language version offline and Offline - Set website / language version online, you can put the various websites and language versions online or offline.
- If a website is offline, none of its language versions are accessible to visitors.
- If a language version is offline, then it is no longer accessible to visitors.
It is not possible to put the default website and its default language version offline.
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We recommend that you create and display a replacement page with an error or maintenance message, for example, if you deactivate a website or language version. |
Defining Access Rights on Panel Sites or Language Versions
You can limit access to the different web sites and language versions by assigning object rights to specific user teams.
To do so, choose the desired panel site or language version and select the Set rights icon. The standard rights dialog opens, in which you can assign different teams read or write rights.
The read or write rights refer to all those website or language version specific ACL rights, which were assigned to the team in general. If the team has for example general write rights on the news functions (news_admin), then it can edit the news only for those language versions for which it has write rights.
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You can assign rights to News and FAQ, the menus containing community features, forms etc. in specific languages to user teams, without granting them access to the website editor. This is of special importance if you want to delegate community management to users who are not familiar with the website editor. To realize such a constellation, you have to combine
and abstain from granting read or write rights on “panel_cms”. |
Editing Text Elements of the CMS Externally
Key text elements of the CMS can be exported for external editing or translation. Afterwards, the changed content is imported back into EFS. External editing allows to add new text elements, too, which is particularly useful when upgrading panel installations:
- it is possible to create new text elements. This is of special importance if, after upgrading a panel to a new version of EFS, additional wildcards or messages are needed.
- It is up to you to decide if you want to add new text elements during import, or if existing texts should be updated as well.
The export file can be imported into any language version of the installation. Thus, you can use one export file to create new text elements in several language versions.
The following text elements can be edited externally:
- Wildcards for text elements
- Notifications
- Error messages
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Registration messages, topics, HTML page titles and other text elements are currently not covered by the export function. |
Exporting content
- Switch to the Website menu to make an export.
- Choose the desired language version. Open the export dialog by clicking on the Excel export icon.
- Choose the contents which you would like to export.
- Confirm by clicking on Export.
- The export file is created. You can download it by clicking on the file Copy file to local PC.
Importing contents
- Switch to the Website menu to make an import.
- Choose the desired language version. Open the import dialog by clicking on the Upload file icon.
- Choose the edited Excel file from the hard drive of your PC.
- To update existing wildcards and messages, activate the “Update existing datasets” checkbox. If you want to add new text elements, while keeping the old ones as they are, make sure the checkbox is deactivated.
- With Import the import operation will be triggered.
Editing contents externally
The exported XLS file contains the wildcards and messages of the CMS, various meta information and the empty column “new content” in which the required new texts can be entered. The following tables 15.1 and 15.2 explain the meaning of the columns in detail.
To realize your changes, please proceed as follows:
- To change existing text elements, simply enter the appropriate new text in the “new content” column.
- To create a new wildcard, add a new row and add the required data.
- To create a new notification or error message, you have to add two new rows:
- The text type of the first row is “header”. For a message of type „error message“, you can optionally enter a header in this row.
- The text type of the first row is “body”. It contains the message itself and is obligatory.
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Caution: A frequently made mistake is to change the text in the “content” column. New text must be entered in the “new content” column. |
Table contents:
| Column | Meaning |
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| section | Indicates which type of content it is. |
| identifier | Number or name of each text element. |
| text type | In this column, you define if the respective row contains header or body of a message. |
| language | Language version’s abbreviation. |
| content | The previous content of each text element. Do not change! |
| new content | Text changes or new texts are entered into this column. |
| status | Indicates the status of the editing process. |
Entry in the column “section”:
| Entry in the column “section” | Meaning |
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| placeholders | Wildcards for text elements. |
| errors | Error messages. |
| messages | Notifications. |
Creating Websites and Language Versions
You can create new websites as well as new individual language versions. However, their configuration and page structure must be created from scratch. Alternatively, you may copy an existing website or a selected language version, adopting the respective settings and contents. This is advisable, for example, if the copied version is to differ only slightly from the original or if you need a copy for testing purposes.
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Please note: Copying of websites and language versions is only possible within the same installation. An export / import function that would allow a transfer from one installation to another is not available. |
Creating a New Website
- Switch to the Website menu.
- Click on the + Website button.
- Enter the name of the new website.
- Select the appropriate functional scope.
- Confirm by clicking on Create website.
A new website which already has a default language version will be displayed. In the default version “Standard Layout // From scratch”, however, neither are configured nor do they contain pages or templates, merely a few settings are preset by default.
Creating a New Language Version
- Switch to the Website menu.
- Click on + Language version.
- Specify the website you wish to assign the new language version to.
- Enter the name of the new language version.
- Confirm by clicking on Create.
A new language version will be created. This language version is neither configured nor does it contain pages or templates.
Copying an Existing Website
- Switch to the Website menu.
- Search for the website you wish to copy. In the “Actions” column, click on the Copy website icon.
- Enter the name of the new website.
- Specify the existing content you wish to copy. You can copy messages, wildcards, page modules, templates and includes, form configuration, news items, FAQ, quick polls, bulletin boards, mail templates and bonus items.
- Specify the language version you wish to copy.
- Confirm by clicking on Create.
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Please note:
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Copying an Existing Language Version
- Switch to the Website menu.
- Search for the language version you wish to copy. In the “Actions” column, click on the Copy language version icon.
- Enter the name of the new language version.
- Specify the existing content you wish to copy. You can copy messages, wildcards, news items, mail templates, bonus items, quick polls, page modules, templates and includes, form configuration, FAQ, forums, download sections, discussions, chats and blogs. In language versions with Social Insight Connect, the settings on the tab Facebook configuration are not copied, Social Insight Connect will be deactivated in the copy.
- Confirm by clicking on Create.
General Settings
EFS Panel offers a wide variety of configuration options, both global options that apply to the entire panel installation and options that apply to individual websites and language versions. These features are presented in detail in the following.
Global Settings for the Entire Panel
In the Website → Global configuration menu you can define parameters that apply to the entire EFS People installation.
Global settings for all websites
| Description | Explanation |
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Global redirection URL for all websites | Occasionally, clients may want to use the panelists administration of EFS People and conduct their surveys with EFS People while using an external website as their panel’s address. In this case, the global redirection allows you to redirect all traffic from websites of the specific panel installation to your desired alternative domain.
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Select whether a header with X-Frame-Options should be sent to the client | Today, almost any browser makes it possible for web applications to sent a HTTP header „X-Frame-Options“ which declares to the browser if a certain website is allowed to be shown in a frame or not. Possible value options are:
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Session settings
| Description | Explanation | Preallocation in the standard panel |
|---|---|---|
| Name of the session cookie | The cookie is set by the panel. | panel-session |
Length of panel session validity (in seconds) | In this field, you can set the session period for panel visits. | 3600 |
Cookie type to be used when the panel website is visited | You have the option not to place cookies when your website is visited. The following options are available:
The “HTTP-only cookies” option is preset on new installations. Please note: The described settings only apply to the panel website.
| Use HTTP-only cookies |
Mode to determine the language version | When a visitor navigates to the panel website, EFS will automatically try to determine and to open the most appropriate language version. It is up to you to decide which procedure is to be employed:
Example:
| Domain name is only used if language version was not previously detected |
| Session parameter handling | If the session parameter is not automatically appended to URLs, the panel will only work with cookies enabled. | Append session parameter automatically to URLs |
Login
| Description | Explanation | Preallocation in the standard panel |
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Panel login is possible for panelists with the following panel statuses | With this option you can define the statuses under which the panelists are allowed to log in. For example, you may allow a temporarily admitted candidate to already log in. If all panel statuses are deselected, the internal website areas become inaccessible while surveys remain accessible irrespective of the website. Please note: The panel statuses are not website-specific, but all panelists are described by the same panel statuses. Therefore, the selected setting will apply to all websites of the panel installation. | It is possible for all panelists to log in with the exception of those with a “deleted” status and those with user-defined statuses. |
Participation in panel surveys is possible for panelists with the following panel statuses | With this option you can define the status under which the panelists are allowed to participate in panel surveys (given that they belong to an appropriate sample, of course). | |
Participation in master data surveys is possible for panelists with the following panel statuses | With this option you can define the status under which the panelists are allowed to participate in master data surveys (given that they belong to an appropriate sample, of course). | |
Direct panelists to the website/language version they´ve been assigned to after login | This setting ensures that when logging in, panelists will be directed to the website/language version they are assigned to. Please mind: This option influences the behavior of the system during the login process, it does not control access to language versions in general. If you want to control access to specific pages, please go to the Page configuration tab and restrict access to appropriate panelist groups. | No |
Activate brute force login protection | This option activates the brute force protection for the panelists’ personal area. | |
Brute force account deactivation time (in seconds) | In this field, you specify for how long the panelist accounts are to be suspended upon triggering the brute force protection. Please note:
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Number of allowed failed login attempts | In this field, you specify how many failed attempts are allowed. If the specified number is exceeded, the respective panelist account will be suspended. |
Ab EFS 9.1: Password security
With EFS 9.1, password encryption for panels was adjusted according to most recent security standards. In addition to the features described below, this includes the following mail wildcards in the standard scope:
- #password_recovery_url#: “Reset password” link.
- #u_sec_quest#: Security question.
- #u_sec_quest_answer#: Answer to the security question.
The appropriate mail template is set in the function module.
| Description | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Activate change log | In the period specified (see below), the password can be changed only once. |
Password change timeout | see above |
| Prevent re-use | In the period specified (see below), a password cannot be used again. |
| Re-use interval | see above |
Validity period for the “Reset password” link | After the period specified, the “Reset password” link will not be valid anymore. |
| Activate security question | Optionally, a security question can be used.
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| Activate brute force protection | This option activates brute force protection dedicated to the answering of the security question. |
Brute force account deactivation time (in seconds) | In this field, you specify for how long the panelist accounts are to be suspended upon triggering the brute force protection via the security question. Please note:
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Number of allowed failed login attempts | In this field, you specify how many failed attempts are allowed for answering the security question. If the specified number is exceeded, the respective panelist account will be suspended. |
Profiles
| Description | Explanation |
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| Master data group 1 to 5 | Optionally, the visibility of master data may be made configurable. In order to keep the profile settings form clearly structured despite large numbers of master data variables, these variables are grouped. The panelists can then define the visibility for each group. In this section you can assemble the groups. Use the Ctrl or Shift keys to select multiple variables for each group. |
Performance
| Description | Explanation | Preallocation in the standard panel |
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Time period that should be taken into account when calculating “panelists online” (in seconds) | 600 | |
Only logged-in panelists should be taken into account for calculating “panelists online” | No |
Locale settings
| Description | Explanation | Preallocation in the standard panel |
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| First day of week | Sunday or monday can be selected. From EFS 8.2, you can choose any day of the week. The setting affects the calculation of the upper limit of friends to be recruited per week and the display of the survey of the week, as long as you do not select another day for a specific language version. | Monday |
Time zone for data display on panel pages | Europe/Paris |
Registration
| Description | Explanation |
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URL parameters taken into account when checking for invite keys (comma separated) |
Rating settings
| Description | Explanation |
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| Rating scale | Various scales are available for community rating functions. |
Panelists are allowed to change their ratings | In this field, you can specify whether the panelists are allowed to subsequently change their ratings. |
From EFS 10.3: Panelists are allowed to revoke their ratings | In this field, you can specify whether the panelists are allowed to revoke their ratings. |
Tagging settings
| Description | Explanation |
|---|---|
Maximum number of tags per post per panelist | See Chapter "Tagging and Categorization of Community Content". |
Maximum number of user tags per panelist per language version | see above |
Maximum number of tags per minute | see above |
| Minimum length of tags | see above |
Auto-tag hashtags in posts | see above |
Only with Content Search activated: Search settings
| Description | Explanation |
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Modules available in search | In the drop-down list, you can select the content types which should be covered by search. Available content types: blogs, discussions, downloads, forums and news. |
Modules available in search | Maximum number of results to be displayed in the “All results” list per content type. |
Maximum number of search results in summary | Maximum number of results to be displayed in the summary per content type. |
Settings for Individual Panel Websites
In the Websites menu, click on the name of the desired website.
Website settings
| Description | Explanation | Preallocation in the standard panel |
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| Name of website | Name of the website | Default |
| Description | Description for internal purposes only | |
| Default language version | In this field, you can specify the default language version.
| english |
Only for installations with several websites and/or language versions: Choose this website as the default installation website? | In this field, you can specify the default website.
| yes |
Login
| Description | Explanation | Preallocation in the standard panel |
|---|---|---|
Authentication method for panel login (this setting applies to all panel sites) | You can choose between the options:
| Login with e-mail address and password |
Maximal permissible load on login | This setting temporarily disables login to the website, if the server load exceeds the specified value. Please enter “0”, if you do not wish to disable login during high load phases. | 0 |
Update panelist’s IP address on every login | If you activate this option, panelists’ current IP address will be entered in their data record every time they log in. If you do not activate this option, the panelists’ IP address will only be collected upon registration. | No |
Individual Language Version Settings
1. Access
Starting in Website editor, click on Website settings, then go to the tab General settings.
| Description | Explanation | Preallocation in the standard panel |
|---|---|---|
| Current ID | ID of the language version. | |
| Language name | Name of the language version | english |
| Output mode |
| HTML |
Target page logged out section | Page you are usually automatically taken to when you click on the panel URL. | Pages → Home |
Target page logged in section | Page logged-in panelists are usually automatically taken to when they log in. | Pages → My home |
| Target page first login | Page panelists are taken to when they log in for the first time after registration. | Pages → My home |
| Language selection page | Page on which visitors can choose a language version. This page is used,
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| Assigned languages | Used to determine a user’s language when no cookie is set and no other language information is available: Many browsers transmit a language code in the value „HTTP_Accept_Language“, e.g. „en“ for English speaking users or „de_DE“ for German speaking users from Germany. In this input field you can specify the language codes for which (in the absence of other data) the current language version shall be displayed. |
Output
| Description | Explanation | Preallocation in the standard panel |
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Output encoding of the panel site | This field is used to set the required character set for the language version. | UTF-8 |
Repeat main menu items in second level navigation | Optionally, you can display the main menu items a second time in second level navigation. | No |
Profiles
| Description | Explanation | Preallocation in the standard panel |
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Profile visibility for new panelists | Via this field, you can define whether personal data of new panelists should be visible for other panelists and visitors before these candidates log in and set up their profiles. | “Show profile to others” deactivated |
Thumbnail size for profile pictures (in pixels) | Use this field to define the size of thumbmails for profile pictures. | 60 |
Surveys
| Description | Explanation | Preallocation in the standard panel |
|---|---|---|
Survey of the week (previously: Survey that shall be linked...) | This survey is displayed from the first day of the week onwards, until either the panelists have participated or the week is over.
To define the starting point of the weekly intervals, select the first day of the week in the global website configuration or in the settings of a specific language version | |
User-defined labels 1 to 3 | You can highlight selected surveys additionally with specific notes or icons. This makes sense, for example, in the case of new surveys, surveys with special incentives, or regular weekly surveys. |
Bonus points
| Description | Explanation | Preallocation in the standard panel |
|---|---|---|
Name of bonus points (short form) | Can be inserted and output via the {$env.credit_name}) wildcard. | PP |
Name of bonus points (long form) | Can be inserted and output via the {$env.credit_name_long} wildcard. | Panel points |
Label for “no bonus points available” | Will be output when a respondent has not earned any bonus points yet. | no Panel points available |
Allow multiple invitation of the same member in promotions | No | |
Text to be entered in the bonus points history when redeeming points. | Is used to document the history of redeemed points. Use the wildcard %s to insert the name of the request bonus item. | %s |
| Name of panel | The name of the wildcard for a link to the panel, which is inserted into the e-mail form for “Tell-a-friend” campaigns. When the email is dispatched, the wildcard will be replaced with a clickable link. | <link to the panel> |
Registration
| Description | Explanation | Preallocation in the standard panel |
|---|---|---|
Minimum password length checked on sign up | A minimum number of characters can be set for the password. | 5 |
Maximum password length checked on sign up | A maximum number of characters can be set for the password. | 8 |
| Password security guidelines | You can impose restrictions on the panelists regarding their choice of passwords. The following check algorithm combinations are available:
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Number of bonus points granted on registration | If you wish to award initial bonus points for registration, you can specify the number in this field. | |
Text to be entered in the bonus points history when registering | Registration | |
Way of entry that is set on registration |
Contact form
| Description | Explanation | Preallocation in the standard panel |
|---|---|---|
| Text in feedback mails: “sender” | This and the following text elements are used in the e-mails sent to the panel operator via the contact form. | Sender |
| Text in feedback mails: “content” | see above | Inquiry |
| Text in feedback mails: “headline” | see above | Headline |
Text in feedback mails: “topics” | see above | Subject |
| Text in feedback mails: “selection” | see above | Selection |
Locale settings
| Description | Wildcard | Explanation | Preallocation in the standard panel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name of panel | {$env.panel_name} | Name of the panel, which can be output via wildcards. This is also used in the mails sent by panel visitors or panelists to the panel operator via the contact form. | Your Panel |
| First day of week | Sunday or monday can be selected. From EFS 8.2, you can choose any day of the week. The setting affects the calculation of the upper limit of friends to be recruited per week and the display of the survey of the week for the current language version. If nothing is selected, the global setting will be used. | ||
| Date format | {$env.locale.date_format} | d.m.Y | |
| Date format | {$env.locale.date_format2} | d-m-Y | |
| Time format | {$env.locale.time_format} | h:i a (T) | |
| Time format | {$env.locale.time_format2} | H:i:s | |
Time zone for date display on panel pages | Europe / Paris |
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