How do I maintain my website with Ensemble CMS? This tutorial introduces you to basic terms and concepts associated with using Ensemble CMS to manage your website. Ensemble CMS Ensemble CMS is a content management system, which provides a user-friendly way for you maintain your website. The CMS is web-based, so it works with both PCs and Macs. Before working with the system, review the technical requirements listed on the Ensemble CMS support website ( www.ensemble.cms.vt.edu). Content items are created by completeing content type web forms. Webpages are assembled by combining content items and templates. The system is preloaded with university-designed templates, which define the layout and formatting of pages. How do I maintain my website with Ensemble CMS? - 1
Content Explorer The secure URL to access the CMS is https://ensemble.vt.edu/. Enter your PID and password, and then click the Login button. Once the application has fully loaded, you ll see the Content Explorer interface. Content Explorer is the web interface for Ensemble CMS through which you create and publish content to your website. How do I maintain my website with Ensemble CMS? - 2
Community In the upper right area of the screen, you ll see your username, your roles in the system, and the community you are currently logged into. Your community is your work group within Ensemble that has access to a common set of sites, templates, and content items. All Virginia Cooperative Extension unit office websites are in the Extension Offices community. How do I maintain my website with Ensemble CMS? - 3
Content Types As I mentioned before, content items are created by completing web forms. A content type defines the fields and structure in a form for creating a particular type of content. The General Content, File, Brief, Image, and Image - Non-standard content types provide the foundation for creating webpages in the CMS. A General Content type is used to create a basic page. A File content type is used to upload a file. You can upload images with either the Image or Image - Non-Standard content type. The Brief content type is used to display the same information on multiple pages or information on the right sidebar of a page. For the Extension Offices community: A Ext General Content type is used to create a basic page. An Ext File content type is used to upload a file. Upload images with the Ext Image content type. The Ext Brief content type is used to display the same information on multiple pages or information on the right sidebar of a page. How do I maintain my website with Ensemble CMS? - 4
The Content Editor Complete the fields in a Content Editor to create a new content item. How do I maintain my website with Ensemble CMS? - 5
EditLive Most content types include at least one rich text field in a Content Editor. It usually is the Body or Brief Version field. When you click on the field, EditLive loads. You can then use the Word-like interface to type or paste content into the field. In addition to entering and formatting text for pages, EditLive is used to insert links, images, and other CMS content into fields. How do I maintain my website with Ensemble CMS? - 6
Workflow Each content item progresses through a set of states in a workflow. Your role determines what part of the workflow you can interact with. All content items are created in the Draft state. Once an item is in the Public state, when the next publishing cycle for the site is initiated, the item will be published on your live website. For more information about the CMS publishing cycle visit the Ensemble CMS support website (www.ensemble.cms.vt.edu). How do I maintain my website with Ensemble CMS? - 7
Workflow States A content item's workflow state is listed by the item in Content Explorer. How do I maintain my website with Ensemble CMS? - 8
Tutorials When you re ready, the advanced features of the CMS give you even more options for presenting information on your pages. For example, you can add content to the right sidebar of a page or incorporate audio and video content into your pages. The Step-by-Step Ensemble CMS tutorials will introduce you to creating, editing, and publishing content with Ensemble CMS. Instructions are available for each tutorial, so you can try the steps illustrated in each presentation for yourself. How do I maintain my website with Ensemble CMS? - 9