Basic CMS Terminology
Learn basic terminology used when working in the CMS.
Many of the terms below can have different meaning depending on the context used. Similarly, some of the things described below may use different names in different setting. Review how WTS and CMS users understand the terminology below so we can better understand each other (especially when you submit a ticket to wts@ucsd.edu for assistance). Help us to help you!CMS - what is it?
CMS stands for 'Content Management System.' There are many different content management systems, but when we refer to the CMS, we are using it as shorthand for the Hannon Hill Cascade CMS. We will also use 'campus CMS.'
Site, page, URL - what is the difference?
A site (aka website) is a collection of individual pages (aka webpages) using the same domain or subdomain. Most sites at UC San Diego use the form sitename.ucsd.edu. Here, the domain is 'ucsd.edu' and 'sitename' is the subdomain.
A page is one individual webpage on a site. If we ask you to provide your website (for access, for example) you do not need to list all the individual pages. Just give us the basic sitename.ucsd.edu.
A URL is the web address of a specific page (or other asset, like a file or image) on the internet. Each URL (which stands for 'Uniform Resource Locator') is unique. If two people enter the same URL in their web browser, they will be taken to the same content. This makes URLs invaluable when you are asking WTS for help. 'My site' or 'the lab page' may not be clear to us, depending on other context. But saying "https://blink.ucsd.edu/technology/websites/training/faq.html" is clear.
Redirects: shortlinks and vanity URLs
Redirects allow multiple ways to get to the same URL. Both of the following redirect examples point to the same URL: https://blink.ucsd.edu/technology/websites/training/managing/siteimprove/index.html
A shortlink, or 'go' link is within the same subdomain/site as the target. https://blink.ucsd.edu/go/siteimprove is a shortlink. Shortlinks are managed directly by WTS. We suggest using shortlinks when you already have a site in the CMS. The 'go' in the URL helps prevent future issues if you reorganize your site later.
A vanity URL is a separate subdomain. http://siteimprove.ucsd.edu is a vanity URL. Vanity URLs require WTS to work with other groups to make sure the vanity URL isn't already in use or reserved by others.
Generally, you don't need multiple redirects pointing to the same URL.
Names - what's in a name?
In the CMS, a 'name' is a technical term. It used to be called a 'system name.' We will still call it a system name at times to help distinguish it from a page's title, display name, or the non-technical use of 'name.' The name in the CMS determines the URL of the page (or other asset). It can be labeled a 'page name,' 'folder name,' 'file name,' etc. in the CMS, depending on what kind of asset is being named. Names must be all lowercase and have hyphens instead of spaces. More about names.
A display name is a type of metadata in the CMS. The display name determines what will show up in the site's navigation menu for the page or folder. The other metadata includes title, summary and author. When we discuss metadata in the CMS, these are the items we are referring to. Note that there is a Metadata button at the top of your CMS edit screen. You should not need to use this if you have quality page content, which should be your primary goal when working in the CMS. More about display names and metadata.
Moving about a site - what am I clicking on?
Navigation menus - when you click on a navigation menu, you will be taken to a different page.
Navigation menus are automatically generated in the CMS based on folders' and pages' display names. The top navigation (or top nav) is consistent across the entire site. Some users refer to this as the 'dropdown menu.' The side navigation (or side nav) is displayed in the left column of many templates and is based around the page you are currently on.
Top nav shows the top two levels of the site.
Side nav shows the content surrounding your currently location. Note that if your current location is in the top two levels of the site, the two navigation menus may show the same information.
Drawers - when you click on a drawer, you will stay on the same page, but a section (the drawer) will open to reveal additional content. Drawers are built in to certain templates.
Tab - when you click on a tab, you will stay on the same page, but a section of current content will be replaced by another.
Only the profile page template has built in tabs.
Advanced users can use html to add tabs to a page. Refer to our kitchen sink page.