These notes provide information on creating a new website using the Adventist Web Engine content management system. A website can be created in several different ways. Please review the table of contents for more information.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Create a new empty website
Notes:
- A new empty website will be created
- A non-configured homepage is added. All other pages will need to be created to implement any design.
- ! If you need a ready website consider cloning an existing website of the design you need.
Steps to create a new website
- Navigate to the Web Module and expand the module
- Click on "Manage sites" section title
- Click on "Add website" button
- Click on "Add a new website" option
- Fill out the fields:
- Name: name to identify in the backend of Web Engine
- Title: Official name of the website
- Primary domain:
- To start use a "relaunch" domain name. Ex:
- <your-website>.staging.web.adventist.cloud (<your-website> = your website name)
- Use "a-z", "0-9", "-" characters only.
- <note!> : Use the base domain name if your entity has one. (ask your administrator)
- Enable built-in analytics: Always set the checkmark, if there is any chance someone will need to know website traffic.
- Design: select the design for this website.
- "Adventist design" (ALPS) for Division, Union, Conference, local churches
- "Adventisten.de design" for entities in German speaking countries (only with approval)
- "Base design" for special projects (only with approval)
- "Hope design" for Media library or Courses module websites
- Region: select the closest region to the target audience. (if field visible)
- Groups: add a group if someone is supporting this website.
- Add user: skip this initially.
- Click on "Create" button to create the website.
Web > Menus
- Expand the new website and then click on "Appearance" title
- Depending on the design, various menus are available.
- Look under Website > Appearance > Header & Footer tabs to see what menus can be added.
- Next, click on "Menus" title.
- To start, just create empty menus for use on the website.
- Follow these steps per menu for the website.
- Click on "Add Menu" button
- Title: name of the location is a safe value (Main menu, Footer menu, Top menu, etc.)
- Automatic mode: remove checkmark (menu is now in manual mode)
- Click on "Create" button
- Create next menu.
- <note!>: The menus will need to be filled out when the website has pages. This is a manual process. It is not recommended to use the automatic mode for menus, as automatic mode automatically puts all pages into a menu, and this is usually not desirable.
Web > Layouts
- For most designs, no layouts are required.
- Base and ALPS transparent header can use layout.
- To use the transparent header, see those notes.
- Decide on using transparent header per page or for entire website.
Web > Appearance
- Below Appearance there are a few options to consider if you need them.
- Some options may not be available in all designs.
Web > Appearance > Design
- Default layout: set if needed
- Design Options (ALPS): make design adjustments to the ALPS design
- Variant: Do not adjust after website is worked on!
- Appearance: best to leave alone.
- Color theme: Adjust as needed.
- Typography theme: best to leave alone.
Web > Appearance > Colors
- Colors: adjust only if needed. Pay attention to branding!
Web > Appearance > Themes
- Custom themes: Can create a custom theme with colors if needed
- Default themes: Color themes already available for the system
Web > Appearance > Header
- Logo: set the logo for the website.
- Placeholder logos: https://www.adventist.design/downloads/logo/
- Set the menus created earlier.
- Drawer description (ALPS): add text to be displayed in the drawer. (not in all designs)
- Click on the Update button to save your changes.
Web > Appearance > Footer
- Set the fields as the design dictates.
- Copyright field has a date appended to it automatically.
- click "Update" button to save changes.
Web > Appearance > Social Links
- Adventist design does not use the Social links tab.
- Social links are used by the Hope Channel and Hope Courses ("Hope design").
- For some designs the Social links tab will not be used.
web > website > Pages
Homepage
Note: At this point, if one is creating a website such as Media Library, Courses, etc. move to that documentation.
- Click on the name of the website. There should be a "Home" page already created.
- Click on the "Home" page.
- Select a preset page template for the Homepage.
- Some designs may have a preset for the homepage.
- Otherwise, select the Empty preset and build the design required.
- When using page presets, don't forget to configure/connect links, buttons, etc. to other pages.
- Click button "View online" in the upper right corner of the backend
- The website homepage should appear. If an error has occurred, please review the steps already taken. If problem persists talk with your administrator.
Cloning a website
Notes:
- An existing website can be cloned to quickly create a new website, without having to build a new website completely from scratch.
- This can help divisions and conferences or even local churches to quickly develop a new website from a website that is already running and proven.
- Some partners have created example websites they clone to provide local churches with example websites quickly and reduce the development costs for the local churches.
- After cloning a website, admins should review the clone, to ensure everything is working properly.
Cloning an existing website
From the Web Module, there are two paths for cloning a website at this time.
- From the Manage sites interface:
- Click on the button "Add website"
- Select option "Clone an existing website"
- From the Manage sites interface:
- Locate the website to be cloned
- Under the actions column, click on the menu icon (3 dots), select "Clone site"
- (if the option is not visible in the list, you don't have rights, speak with your admin)
In either case the cloning interface will appear. With the second option, the source website will already be filled in, as the website to clone has already been chosen.
Fill out the following fields:
- Site to clone: indicate which website you would like to clone.
- Entity: select owner (entity) of the website
- For this entity: if the website resides under the current entity.
- For another entity: if website should reside under another entity.
- Target entity (if another entity): select from list.
- If the website is for another entity, you will need to switch entities to see the website, after the cloning process is completed successfully.
- New name: Name for the new website.
- Primary domain: enter domain name.
- Use a relaunch domain name, while website is prepared for the final domain.
- Enable built-in analytics: Always set the checkmark, if there is any chance someone will need to know website traffic.
- Groups: If backend users require access, create a group
- Add user: skip this initially.
- Click on "Clone" button.
- The cloning process might take a few minutes.
Review the cloned website
- Already mentioned above, review all the website settings, pages, etc. to make sure that everything is configured properly.
- Update the website language to a new language if required.
- Web > Website > Settings > General tab > Language section
- Additionally review the clone website frontend, to ensure everything is working correctly.
- Examples of what to check (not a complete list as it will vary by the website cloned):
- List view pages have correct detail view pages.
- Detail pages are configured for any block listing articles, shows, episodes, etc.
- Media libraries, articles, events, etc. are properly referenced on the new website.
- Check the website logo, meta data, etc. to reflect the new branding or entity.
Copyright Responsibility
- The content on a website may have certain licensing restrictions. There could be images, logos, icons, audio, text, video or download files that are licensed to or by the original entity who owned the website being cloned.
- The website may have implemented a design that has been developed by a third-party. Ensure that you have clarified with the owner of the design that you are allowed use of the website design.
- It is the Responsibility of the user who is cloning a website, that they review all website content for all potential licensing issues.
Importing a website
Notes:
- It is currently only possible to import a JSON file that has been exported from the Adventist Web Engine (AWE) content management system. The file should not be tampered with or altered in any way.
- No other JSON files from any other systems are allowed to be imported at this time.
Steps to export a website
From the Web Module, to export a website:
- Navigate to the manage websites (Web > Manage sites)
- Locate the website to export
- In the Actions column for the website, click on the three vertical dots to open menu
- Select option "Export site"
- A JSON file representing the website should download to your computer.
Steps to import a website
From the Web Module, to import a website:
- Navigate to the manage websites (Web > Manage sites)
- Click on the "Add website" button
- Select option "Import site in JSON format"
- Drag and drop JSON file or use file picker to select file
- Entity: select (entity) owner of the website
- Target entity (if another entity): select from list
- New name: Name for the new website
- Primary domain: enter domain name
- Use a relaunch domain name, while website is prepared for the final domain.
- Enable built-in analytics: Always set the checkmark, if there is any chance someone will need to know website traffic.
- Groups: If backend users require access, create a group
- Add user: skip this initially.
- Click on "Import" button
Review the imported website
- Review all the website settings, pages, etc. to make sure that everything is configured properly.
- Additionally review the website frontend, to ensure everything is working correctly.
- Examples of what to check (not a complete list as it will vary by the website imported):
- List view pages have correct detail view pages.
- Detail pages are configured for any block listing articles, shows, episodes, etc.
- Media libraries, articles, events, etc. are properly referenced on the new website.
- Check the website logo, meta data, etc. to reflect the new branding or entity.
Copyright Responsibility
- The content on a website may have certain licensing restrictions. There could be images, logos, icons, audio, text, video or download files that are licensed to or by the original entity who owned the website being cloned.
- The website may have implemented a design that has been developed by a third-party. Ensure that you have clarified with the owner of the design that you are allowed use of the website design.
- It is the Responsibility of the user who is importing a website, that they review all website content for all potential licensing issues.
Website Template
- A "template website" is used to allow entities to have an internet presence without having a backend to update the website.
- A template website uses entity data (from ACMS) and fills the website with data dynamically.
- A use case could be several local churches with no web master, who want an internet presence and agree to use a common design. Usually, a Conference would make a design for these churches to use and then assign the churches to the template. The local church would not have any access for updates as there is no backend. They would simply keep their entity data up to date in ACMS.
- A template website does not have a website listed under Manage sites, because it is not a full website. It is found in the sub-module "Manage automated sites".
- Altering the template website for one entity, alters the website template for all entities that are using that template. (Be Careful!)
Creating a website template
In order to create a website, using a website template, the website template has to be created first. Using one of the other options in this document create a website.
Next steps:
- Once a website has been fully created, it can be set as a template by the following:
- Go to the website settings
- Go to the Advanced tab. Then scroll down to the section "Template"
- Set a Checkmark in the box "This is a template site"
- Set a checkmark in the box "Expose public entity data field"
- Click on the "Update" button
- Place the "Exposed fields" in the text areas of the website, where an entity's information should be displayed.
- e.g. on the homepage, there may be a text field where the name of the entity should be displayed.
- e.g. change "Name of Local church" to {Entity.name}. (after the template is matched with a local church, and viewed in the frontend, the real name is displayed)
- Use the "Exposed fields" in any text area where you want that piece of information to come through.
- When all changes are made, you can use the "Managed automated sites" module to connect the template to the entity(ies).
Using the website template
Under the web module, click on the sub-module "Manage automated sites".
- Click on "Add automated site"
- Entity: Select the entity
- Domain: Check the domain
- Template: Select the template to use for the website
- Click "Save" button
Go to the domain name for the automated website and make sure that it is working properly.
If changes to the website template are requested
Note: Any changes made to a website template will be displayed on all entities that are using that template. If the template is removed, all websites will be broken.
If an entity using a website template needs special changes, then they need to have their own website.
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