drupal: northeastern university libraries website
DESCRIPTION
A closer look at the Drupal side of our Northeastern University Libraries website redesign//Drupal build. Presented by Lisa Sawin to the Rice University Library Drupal Group on June 5, 2012.TRANSCRIPT
Drupal: A Glimpse at Northeastern University Libraries Website
Who is iFactory?•Based in Boston•Interactive design and development company with over 20
years experience•Division of RDW Group, full-service communications agency•Designers, strategic consultants, information architects,
usability experts, developers•Higher ed profiles include:
colleges & universities | public & private | large & small
undergraduate & graduate
ivy league to community colleges | across the country
Where to find uswww.ifactory.com
blog: interactivity.ifactory.com
Find us as iFactoryBoston:
What you’ll learn today:• Configuring some aspects of the Drupal admin to
enable a wide variety of users to create content• Customizing display of complex content types,
including using javascript blinds to show/hide information• Setting up a variety of views for different ways to list,
filter and sort content • Tagging to enable highlighting content which otherwise
does not get enough attention • Using the Field Permissions module to deliver fine-
grained customization of content delivery
Your presenter
Lisa Sawin Solutions Architect for iFactory
Lisa has 10 years experience in software and web application
design. As a Solutions Architect for iFactory, Lisa's role is to be the
technical voice on projects, from the initial client meetings through
planning, construction and delivery of the final site. She is
experienced in developing Drupal and WordPress sites for a wide
variety of clients in various verticals, from libraries to higher ed to
small businesses.
Higher Ed Websites
• Often have a variety of content creators• Content is often added without being screened• Content can be very complex• Users may need a variety ways to access this
complex information• Site may have a lot of information users don’t
even know they would be interested in• Different users may need different views of the
same content
Higher Ed Websites
• Often have a variety of content creators• Content is often added without being screened• Content can be very complex• Users may need a variety ways to access this
complex information• Site may have a lot of information users don’t
even know they would be interested in• Different users may need different views of the
same content
Higher Ed Websites
• Often have a variety of content creators• Content is often added without being screened• Content can be very complex• Users may need a variety ways to access this
complex information• Site may have a lot of information users don’t
even know they would be interested in• Different users may need different views of the
same content
Higher Ed Websites
• Often have a variety of content creators• Content is often added without being screened• Content can be very complex• Users may need a variety ways to access this
complex information• Site may have a lot of information users don’t
even know they would be interested in• Different users may need different views of the
same content
Higher Ed Websites
• Often have a variety of content creators• Content is often added without being screened• Content can be very complex• Users may need a variety ways to access this
complex information• Site may have a lot of information users don’t
even know they would be interested in• Different users may need different views of the
same content
Higher Ed Websites
• Often have a variety of content creators• Content is often added without being screened• Content can be very complex• Users may need a variety ways to access this
complex information• Site may have a lot of information users don’t
even know they would be interested in• Different users may need different views of the
same content
Higher Ed Websites
• Often have a variety of content creators• Content is often added without being screened• Content can be very complex• Users may need a variety ways to access this
complex information• Site may have a lot of information users don’t
even know they would be interested in• Different users may need different views of the
same content
Drupal Strengths & Weaknesses• Admin users have a lot of power• Admin user interface can be overwhelming• Many contributed modules available to help• Extensible by custom modules, too
• Admin users have a lot of power• Admin user interface can be overwhelming• Many contributed modules available to help• Extensible by custom modules, too
Drupal Strengths & Weaknesses
• Admin users have a lot of power• Admin user interface can be overwhelming• Many contributed modules available to help• Extensible by custom modules, too
Drupal Strengths & Weaknesses
• Admin users have a lot of power• Admin user interface can be overwhelming• Many contributed modules available to help• Extensible by custom modules, too
Drupal Strengths & Weaknesses
• Admin users have a lot of power• Admin user interface can be overwhelming• Many contributed modules available to help• Extensible by custom modules, too
Drupal Strengths & Weaknesses
Customizing Admin Features • Constrained page layouts increase freedom
while maintaining unified look & feel• Only give content creators the tools you’d like
them to use• Image styles constrain images to fit layout• Use combination of contrib and custom
modules to constrain WYSIWYG tools
Customizing Admin Features • Constrained page layouts increase freedom
while maintaining unified look & feel• Only give content creators the tools you’d like
them to use• Image styles constrain images to fit layout• Use combination of contrib and custom
modules to constrain WYSIWYG tools
Customizing Admin Features • Constrained page layouts increase freedom
while maintaining unified look & feel• Only give content creators the tools you’d like
them to use• Image styles constrain images to fit layout• Use combination of contrib and custom
modules to constrain WYSIWYG tools
Customizing Admin Features • Constrained page layouts increase freedom
while maintaining unified look & feel• Only give content creators the tools you’d like
them to use• Image styles constrain images to fit layout• Use combination of contrib and custom
modules to constrain WYSIWYG tools
Customizing Admin Features • Constrained page layouts increase freedom
while maintaining unified look & feel• Only give content creators the tools you’d like
them to use• Image styles constrain images to fit layout• Use combination of contrib and custom
modules to constrain WYSIWYG tools
Contrib + custom = just right
• CKEditor gives us control over WYSIWYG options per text format
• Better formats can restrict a user’s ability to change text format
• A custom module adds the missing puzzle piece to restrict WYSIWYG options
• http://drupal.org/node/1192062
Contrib + custom = just right
• CKEditor gives us control over WYSIWYG options per text format
• Better formats can restrict a user’s ability to change text format
• A custom module adds the missing puzzle piece to restrict WYSIWYG options
• http://drupal.org/node/1192062
Contrib + custom = just right
• CKEditor gives us control over WYSIWYG options per text format
• Better formats can restrict a user’s ability to change text format
• A custom module adds the missing puzzle piece to restrict WYSIWYG options
• http://drupal.org/node/1192062
Contrib + custom = just right
• CKEditor gives us control over WYSIWYG options per text format
• Better formats can restrict a user’s ability to change text format
• A custom module adds the missing puzzle piece to restrict WYSIWYG options
• http://drupal.org/node/1192062
Contrib + custom = just right
• CKEditor gives us control over WYSIWYG options per text format
• Better formats can restrict a user’s ability to change text format
• A custom module adds the missing puzzle piece to restrict WYSIWYG options
• http://drupal.org/node/1192062
Mitigate risk, increase freedom
• Remove the option to “break” the site• Encourage content creators by giving them an
easy-to-use interface
Mitigate risk, increase freedom
• Remove the option to “break” the site• Encourage content creators by giving them an
easy-to-use interface
Mitigate risk, increase freedom
• Remove the option to “break” the site• Encourage content creators by giving them an
easy-to-use interface
• Databases, services, software, courses, etc• Lots of associated information• Users may be confused about what these
content types really are
Complex content
Complex content
• Databases, services, software, courses, etc• Lots of associated information• Users may be confused about what these
content types really are
• Databases, services, software, courses, etc• Lots of associated information• Users may be confused about what these
content types really are
Complex content
• Databases, services, software, courses, etc• Lots of associated information• Users may be confused about what these
content types really are
Complex content
Thoughtful presentation is key• Consistent, structured layout• Understandable terms• Expected interactions: a link should do what
the users expect it to do• Graphic design: use of color, font, spacing
Thoughtful presentation is key• Consistent, structured layout• Understandable terms• Expected interactions: a link should do what
the users expect it to do• Graphic design: use of color, font, spacing
Thoughtful presentationis key• Consistent, structured layout• Understandable terms• Expected interactions: a link should do what
the users expect it to do• Graphic design: use of color, font, spacing
Thoughtful presentation is key• Consistent, structured layout• Understandable terms• Expected interactions: a link should do what
the users expect it to do• Graphic design: use of color, font, spacing
Thoughtful presentation is key• Consistent, structured layout• Understandable terms• Expected interactions: a link should do what
the users expect it to do• Graphic design: use of color, font, spacing
Creatively remove excess info• Blinds to hide some of the content• Icons• Link intuitively
Creatively remove excess info• Blinds to hide some of the content• Icons• Link intuitively
Creatively remove excess info• Blinds to hide some of the content• Icons• Link intuitively
Creatively remove excess info• Blinds to hide some of the content• Icons• Link intuitively
Use a variety of list styles• A-Z index• Exposed filters• Break down into menu items
Use a variety of list styles• A-Z index• Exposed filters• Break down into menu items
Use a variety of list styles• A-Z index• Exposed filters• Break down into menu items
Use a variety of list styles• A-Z index• Exposed filters• Break down into menu items
Related content blocks
• Sitewide vocabulary to connect content• Blocks to display on single node pages• Context to place blocks
Related content blocks
• Sitewide vocabulary to connect content• Blocks to display on single node pages• Context to place blocks
Related content blocks
• Sitewide vocabulary to connect content• Blocks to display on single node pages• Context to place blocks
Related content blocks
• Sitewide vocabulary to connect content• Blocks to display on single node pages• Context to place blocks
Altering site content for users• Field Permissions for displaying individual
fields for specific roles• Context module handles display of blocks
on a per-role or per-section basis• Custom context conditions for block
presentation based on page views
Altering site content for users• Field Permissions for displaying individual
fields for specific roles• Context module handles display of blocks
on a per-role or per-section basis• Custom context conditions for block
presentation based on page views
Altering site content for users• Field Permissions for displaying individual
fields for specific roles• Context module handles display of blocks
on a per-role or per-section basis• Custom context conditions for block
presentation based on page views
Altering site content for users• Field Permissions for displaying individual
fields for specific roles• Context module handles display of blocks
on a per-role or per-section basis• Custom context conditions for block
presentation based on page views
Higher Ed Websites• Use the power of Drupal to help your content
creators feel empowered to keep content up-to-date• Present complex content thoughtfully to make it
easier to for users to understand and find what they need
• Target information to users, so they only see what they need
• Harness serendipitous discovery to show content to user who may not even know they were interested
Higher Ed Websites• Use the power of Drupal to help your content
creators feel empowered to keep content up-to-date• Present complex content thoughtfully to make it
easier to for users to understand and find what they need
• Target information to users, so they only see what they need
• Harness serendipitous discovery to show content to user who may not even know they were interested
Higher Ed Websites• Use the power of Drupal to help your content
creators feel empowered to keep content up-to-date• Present complex content thoughtfully to make it
easier to for users to understand and find what they need
• Target information to users, so they only see what they need
• Harness serendipitous discovery to show content to user who may not even know they were interested
Higher Ed Websites• Use the power of Drupal to help your content
creators feel empowered to keep content up-to-date• Present complex content thoughtfully to make it
easier to for users to understand and find what they need
• Target information to users, so they only see what they need
• Harness serendipitous discovery to show content to user who may not even know they were interested
Higher Ed Websites• Use the power of Drupal to help your content
creators feel empowered to keep content up-to-date• Present complex content thoughtfully to make it
easier to for users to understand and find what they need
• Target information to users, so they only see what they need
• Harness serendipitous discovery to show content to user who may not even know they were interested
www.ifactory.com
interactivity.ifactory.com
617.426.8600
Find us as iFactoryBoston: