Creating and Editing Panel Pages

This Chapter shows you how to configure panel pages and fill them with content and functions with the help of page modules:

• You should be familiar with the most important steps for creating new panel pages from the introductory Chapter. Features and tools for editing pages in the website editor are introduced in this chapter.
• Furthermore, this chapter contains detailed information on the individual EFS Panel page modules.

Before you start

If the website you are editing contains several language versions, please note:

• There is only one page structure available for each website, which is used by all language versions. If you create a new page it will be incorporated in all language versions.
• You can configure a page differently to some extent in the various language versions.
• Content and functions on a certain page can differ between language versions.
• Each language version has its own set of templates, meaning that you can link a page to other templates in each language version.
• A page’s online and offline status can differ in different language versions. In particular, when publishing a new page, the publication always only refers to the current language version.

Managing Pages

Page Overview

In order to view the pages of a website, open it in the Website editor, then change to the Pages tab.

• If you create more than one language version or even set up several websites, there will be a set of pages for each website; page configuration and content, however, may differ between language versions. You can use the selection function in the upper part of the dialog to switch from the current language version to the other versions.
• The tree view on the left hand shows all pages. The tree arrangement reflects the external navigation structure.
  • Clicking on a page title opens its corresponding edit dialog on the right hand.
  • Traffic light: publishing status of the page.
  • i: The links and the wildcard used to address the page.

  • Copy page: The page is copied, a new page name has to be entered.

  • Delete page: The page and all its subpages in all language versions will be deleted following a confirmation prompt.

• + Page: Opens the dialog where you can enter the data for a new page.

• Search: Opens a list of all pages along with detailed information (status, page identifier, internal page name, HTML title, URL alias) and a search function. The actions in the drop-down list below the overview allow you to change several selected pages en bloc.

  • Delete selected pages: The pages and all their subpages in all language versions will be deleted following a confirmation prompt.

  • Publish selected pages: The pages are published, i.e. they are available both in the working version and the online version.

  • Set selected pages offline: The selected pages are no longer available online.

Editing Pages

Edit Dialog

Open any page, for example “Home”.

Actions

Actions can be carried out with the help of buttons and drop-down lists in the head section:

• + Page module: Allows to create new modules.
• Save:
  • Save: Saves the page. It is subsequently available in the working version. Please note: In the publicly accessible version, the page is only available once it has been published.
  • Save & publish page: The page is published. This means it is not only available in the working version but also in the online version.
  • Save & Set page offline: The page is no longer accessible online.
• Preview: Various preview modi can be opened in a new browser tab.
  • Offline version: The current working version of the page, i.e. the version you usually prepare changes in.
  • Direct editing: In this modus, you can make changes in the preview itself.
  • Online version: The page version that can be accessed by visitors.

Tabs

Further functions for editing page content and configuration are located on the tabs:

• Page modules: This tab is used to create and edit the page modules.
• Page configuration: Contains configuration option.
• Modules from other pages: Referenced modules.

Editing Options for Page Modules in Detail

Page content and functions can be set on the Page modules tab, which is usually automatically opened first.

The central part of the tab contains the modules already created for the page.

You can either display only the title or all module properties:

• [+], [-]: These icons allow to open and close individual modules.
• Move: You can use the arrow icons to change the order of the modules.
• Edit page module: From EFS 10.4, you can find reference name, page module title and module template below this icon.
• Delete page module: The respective module is deleted after a confirmation prompt.

Page Configuration in Detail

You can define page properties, such as position in the navigation and access rights, in the Page configuration tab. The tables explain the configuration options.

Language-independent configuration options

Language-specific configuration options

Referencing Page Modules from Multiple Pages

By creating appropriate page modules, you can easily compile the desired contents and functions for each panel page. However, if an element such as a news list, for example, is to be displayed on multiple pages, creating the respective module on every single page would be very time-consuming. The updating of changes would also involve considerable effort: every copy of the page module would have to be adjusted manually.

Therefore, once you have created a page module, EFS allows you to reference it from other pages as well: the modules are created only once, changes are made only once, but the contents will be visible on all desired pages.

Example

In the example shown above, the “Latest News”, the display of the currently logged-in panelists, and the list of blogs are referenced page modules. In the website editor, the are located on a dedicated page “GLOBAL”.

Work Steps

Referencing page modules from multiple pages requires three steps:

1. Deciding where the global page modules should be placed in the overall structure and modifying the main template accordingly
2. Creating page modules
3. Referencing page modules from the desired pages

Defining the Position of Global Page Modules

First, you have to decide at which position the global page modules are to be displayed. Then you have to modify the main template accordingly.

In the standard panel, for example, the following code is used to insert various page modules on the right-hand side between the login section and the quick poll, as shown in the example above:

{* START GLOBALS *}
{if $global_page_contents}
{foreach from=$global_page_contents item=s key=k}
<div class="gpRightColBox">{$s}</div>
{/foreach}
{/if}
</div>
{/foreach}
{* END GLOBALS *}

This code checks whether there are any page modules referenced from the currently opened page. The wildcard used for addressing these modules is $global_page_contents. If modules have been referenced, it will be checked whether the panelist is logged in: if so, the contents of these modules will be displayed.

Of course, you can also insert the referenced page modules at other positions.

Creating Page Modules

Create the desired page modules.

• They can be created as usual on any page of the CMS.
• Optionally, you can also create the repeatedly used page modules on a dedicated page set up for this purpose. This is useful, for example, if these modules do not fill the content area of a normal page but are displayed in special areas on the page margins, as in the standard panel shown above.

Referencing Page Modules from the Desired Pages

1. Go to the page from where page modules are to be referenced.
2. Open the Modules from other pages tab.
3. Tick the “Select” checkboxes for those page modules that are to be displayed.
4. Confirm by clicking on Save. A reference is now established between the page and the selected page module.
5. Repeat these steps for all pages where the page modules are to be displayed.

A Detailed Look at Modules

This Chapter will take a detailed look at the modules used to compile panel pages.

Content Module: Headline + Text

The most frequently used module is certainly the “Headline + text” content module. It is used to create page sections which are for informational purposes only. One example for such an information text can be found on the About us page of the standard panel.

In the standard panel, you can use the “cont_headline_text” template to change the appearance of the “Headline + text” module.

Options

The following options are available:

Function Module: Lost Account Functionality

The “Lost account” module newly introduced in EFS 10.4 creates a form via which panelists can ask for their forgotten account name.

EFS Panel provides various design options:

• You can select the mail template used to deliver the account name.

• Once the account name has been successfully delivered a confirmation message will be displayed.

Options

The “Lost account” function module offers the following options.

Function Module: Master Data Category Overview

The function module „Master data categories list“ allows you to display one or more master data categories. This may be of use, for example, if you offer separate „Change data“ forms for each category. Links to corresponding sections of the master data survey may also be displayed in such a list. The module is controlled via the “func_md_view” template. If this template is not available in your installation, you can revert to the „masterdata_categories“ template in the template library.

EFS Panel provides various design options:

• You can select the desired master data categories.
• The categories can be relabeled. This is particularly important in multilingual panels.
• Several sort order options are available.

Options

The “Master data categories list” function module offers the following options.

Function Module: Display of Private Messages

When using the community function “Messages from panelists to panelists”, the function module “Display of private messages” allows you to create different lists of received messages:

• a message overview, e.g. on the personalized homepage.
• a detailed list of the received messages.

Which list is created depends on the selected template (“func_messages_light”, “func_messages”).

Options

The “Display of private messages” function module offers the following options.

Function Module: Picture Upload for Panelist Profile

With the function module “Picture upload for panelist profile” you can set up an upload form that enables the panelists to upload two profile images.

In the standard panel, the appearance of the form is determined by the “func_profile_picture” template.

Options

The following setting options are available:

Function Module: Chat

The “Chat” function module allows to set up chats.

In the standard panel, the appearance of the form is determined by the “func_chat” template.

Options

The “Chat” function module provides the following setting options:

Function Module: Change Data

The “Change data” function module allows you to generate a form where panelists can subsequently edit the data they entered upon registration. In the standard panel, you can find this form on the Change details page, for example. You can determine which data can be edited in this form using a separate GUI.

You can use the “func_change_details” template to change the appearance of the “Change data” form.

Options

The following options are available:

Function Module: Discussion

The “Discussion” function module allows to set up discussions.

In the standard panel, the appearance of the form is determined by the “func_discussion” template.

Options

The “Discussion” function module provides the following setting options:

Function Module: Downloads

The “Downloads” function module allows to set up download lists.

In the standard panel, the appearance of the form is determined by the “func_download” template.

Options

The “Downloads” function module provides the following setting options:

Function Module: Change E-Mail

It is essential for panel operation that panelists’ e-mail addresses are up-to-date. EFS Panel therefore provides a module that allows you to change e-mail addresses with the help of a form. In the standard panel, you can find such a form on the Change details → Change e-mail page, for example

EFS Panel provides various design options:

• In addition to the input field for the new e-mail address you can optionally query the old address or request confirmation of the new e-mail address. Both options are used in the standard panel.
• By changing their e-mail address panelists trigger verification of their e-mail address in the standard panel, i.e. they are sent a confirmation mail.
• Once the change has been saved a message informs the panelists that they must confirm a verification mail to successfully complete the process.

In the standard panel, you can use the “func_change_email” template to change the appearance of the change form and change confirmation.

Options

The “Change e-mail” function module offers the following options.

Function Module: FAQ List

The “FAQ list” function module allows you to embed an FAQ list in a panel page. In the standard panel, such a list can be found for example on the How it works → FAQ page. The contents of the FAQ list are maintained via a separate GUI.

EFS Panel provides various design options:

• You can optionally limit the number of FAQ items to be displayed.
• You can create different FAQ lists for each language version and place them on different panel pages.
• You can sort items according to different criteria.

You can use the “func_faq” template to change the appearance of the FAQ. In the standard configuration, the questions are displayed; users can display the full text of the FAQ item by clicking on the [+] icon.

Options

The “FAQ list” function module offers the following options.

Function Module: Form for Text Search in Modules

This function module allows to set up a form for text search.

Function Module: Forum

You can use the “Forum” module to embed a forum in a panel page. The module is controlled by the “func_forum” template.

Options

The “Forum” function module offers the following options.

Function Module: Tell-A-Friend

The “Tell-a-friend” function module allows you to generate a form which panelists can use to invite friends to participate in the panel as part of a campaign. In the standard panel, you can find such a form on the My home → Tell-a-friend page, for example.

The campaigns themselves are created and maintained via a separate GUI.

In the standard panel, you can use the “func_tell_a_friend” template to change the appearance of the “Tell-a-friend” module.

Options

The “Tell-a-friend” function module offers the following options.

Function Module: Contact Form

The “Contact form” function module allows you to create a form that can be used by panel visitors and panelists to directly contact the panel operator. In the standard panel, you can find such a form on the Contact us page, for example.

EFS Panel provides various design options:

• The form is status-dependent: Whereas normal visitors are required to enter their e-mail address and name, this information is automatically determined for loggedin panelists.
• After sending the contact request a confirmation message will be displayed.
• Optionally, you can offer users various topics to choose from, to which they can assign their inquiry.
• You can have the requests sent to different e-mail addresses depending on the topic. This allows you to directly sort requests into different inboxes by topic or have them sent to specially qualified staff members.
• In addition to the details of the person who sent the request, the delivered mails contain background information, such as information on their browser settings, IP and referrer.
• You can modify the standard text elements of the mail.

You can use the “func_contact_form” template to change the appearance of the contact form and confirmation page.

Options

The “Contact form” function module offers the following options.

Adding topics and corresponding recipients

You can offer users one or more topics to which they can assign their mail. Internally, each of these topics is often assigned to an individual recipient – usually a member of the panel operator’s staff specially qualified for the topic. Alternatively, you can have the e-mails sent to an inbox where they are filtered by topic.

To do so, enter the topic and the recipient in the input fields in the “Add new feedback topic” section and click on Save. Repeat these steps for each additional topic.

To delete a topic simply remove all content in the respective input fields and click on Save.

Editing default texts for contact mails

You can edit default e-mail text elements that can be sent via the contact form to the panel operator.

To do so, switch to the Website->Panel websites menu, select the desired language version and open the Configuration tab.

• You can edit the text elements in the “Contact form” section.
• You can edit the name of the panel in the “Locale settings” section.

Function Module: Account Balance

You can use the “Account balance” function module to generate an overview of the panelists’ account balance, which includes all transactions carried out. In the standard panel, you can find such an overview on the My home → Account balance page, for example.

In the standard panel, the account balance template is entitled “func_account_balance”.

Options

The “Account balance” function module offers the following options.

Function Module: Leaderboard

The function module “Leaderboard” allows to set up a leaderboard for the community.

Options

The “Leaderboard2” function module and the old version “Leaderboard” offer the following options.

Function Module: List of External Studies

The function module “List of external studies” allows to display a list of the external studies in which the panelists participated on their personal homepage.

Options

The “List of external studies” function module offers the following options.

Function Module: List of Prize Draws Won

The “List of prize draws won” function module allows you to generate a list of prize draws won by a certain panelist.

Such lists are usually inserted on the panelist’s account balance page, in the standard panel they can be found on the My home->Account balance page beneath the actual account balance overview.

You can use the “func_won_prize_draws” template to change the appearance of the list of prize draws won.

Options

The “List of prize draws won” function module offers the following options.

Function Module: List of Featured Panelist Blogs

With the function module “List of featured panelist blogs” you can create a list of blogs that are particularly worth reading.

In the standard panel, the appearance of the blog list is determined by the “func_blogs_featured” template.

Options

The “List of featured panelist blogs” function module provides the following setting options:

Function Module: Quit Membership Form

The “Quit membership” module allows you to create a form that panelists can use to quit their panel membership. In the standard panel, you can find such a form on the Change details → Quit membership page, for example.

EFS Panel provides various design options:

• You can define the panel status to be assigned to panelists who quit their membership.
• Reasons for quitting can be stored in a master data variable.
• After sending the form a confirmation message will be displayed.

In the standard panel you can use the “func_quit_membership” template to change the appeareance of the quit membership form and the quit membership confirmation.

Options

The “Quit membership” function module offers the following options.

Function Module: News

You can use the “News” function module to create panel pages specifically for news items or to incorporate news sections in panel pages. News items are maintained via a separate GUI.

The following figures show the standard panel’s news overview and an individual news item. In the standard panel, you can use the “func_news” template to change the appearance of the news area.

Options

The “News” function module offers the following options:

Function Module: Panelists Online

With the function module “Panelists online” you can set up the display of the loggedin panelists. This function is particularly popular in communities.

In the standard panel, the appearance of the panelist counter is determined by the “func_panelists_online” template.

Setting options

The “Panelists online” function module provides the following setting options: