You will need to use a desktop or laptop to edit the site - smaller devices are not supported - using a Google Chrome or Mac Safari browser (Mozilla Firefox support is currently being trialled). Go to appin.scot/?edit and login with the username and password you created in response to the original invitation to be editor.
Editing content
Once logged in as editor, you can edit most content throughout the website. Navigate to the page, either directly or from the list of Pages and then click on the item to edit - the editor pencil icon will display and you can then edit in place.
Be aware however that there is often hidden complexity in web page content and we recommend contacting us before any major editing or if in doubt; the system is designed to make editing existing content simple and straightforward, but deleting or adding completely new content to a page is problematic and we recommend contacting us first.
Page content within tabs is not currently accessible to editors; please contact us with any changes to such areas.
News and directory entries
News and entries in the organisation and business directories are most easily accessed through the appropriate website dataset known as a Collection. You can access all collections from the main editing menu once you are logged in as editor. Collections allow you to manage entries through submission of simple forms; see the Collections tab below.
Pagetop images
The page top images on most pages can be updated as described above - navgate to the page, select the image and then upload a replacement one from your computer. Images are generally 1600 pixels wide x 280 pixels high; the image file size should not exceed 4MB.
The home page and news page main images are managed through a collection - navigate to the Pagetop image collection; supply the image and popup caption/credit text and select the page on which to display the image.
Events
Events are managed through Google calendar - you can access this through a web browser www.google.com/calendar or through the Google Calendar app on Android or iOS devices. See the tab below for more details.
Documents
Downloadable documents are stored in an Appin.scot Google Drive area - you can access this through a web browser at www.google.com/drive/ or through an app on Android or iOS devices. More details in the tab below.
We are here to help. Call 01631 705 003 or email seapebble@seapebble.co.uk.
Managing collections
News and directories are managed through the appropriate website "collection" dataset; there is also a collection for pagetop image credits.
You can easily search for content in your collections by name with the search box at the top of the page. Your matching results will display almost instantly as you type.
You can also manage and filter your columns based on the fields you're using. Just click the thumbtack icon on the top right, and select which fields you want displayed.
Once displayed, you can sort and organize them as you see fit.
Editing and creating new entries
Each field in the collection has a sentence describing its function -in most cases these are self explanatory. To edit text just click into the field and start typing/editing, just like you would in Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
Most fields are restricted to plain text entry: there is no option for styling the look of the text, as this is managed by the website.
Larger fields, known as rich text fields, for example the full description of an organisation or the main news item text, do allow styling of text. You can style text (with bold and italics) as well as add links. You can also convert text from one type to another, like from paragraph text to a heading and insert images. This is described in more detail on this page, see right/below.
Saving and publishing changes
Any edits that you make, or new items that you create, will be automatically saved, but won't appear on the live site until the next time it's published. It will instead be shown as an Unpublished Change.
You can track any Unpublished Changes on the bottom right of the Editor Panel; when you are ready you can click to publish all pending changes to the live site.
Pagetop image credits
The "Pagetop image credits" collection is used to manage tooltip credit or caption text for the page top images on the home and news pages. The text is entered in the Image credit text field; the page to which the credit is to be applied is selected from the Page dropdown.
To show up on the site, at least one credit text must be assigned to the page; if you inadvertently apply multiple credit texts to the same image, only the most recently published will show.
Unused credits can easily be hidden temporarily using the Hide this field, or deleted permanently from the collection by first selecting the particular credit to be deleted and then using the Delete button.
Rich text fields
These larger fields, for example the full description of an organisation or the main news item text, allow some styling of text. You can style text (with bold and italics) as well as add links. You can also convert text from one type to another, like from paragraph text to a heading and insert images.
Adding and styling text & images
Enter new text in these larger fields just by clicking into the field and typing. You can also insert new text by placing your cursor anywhere in the field and hitting Return to create a new insertion point. The insertion point icon appears, a small + on the left of the field.
Simply start typing to enter text; to add an image click on the insertion icon + and then choose the image icon. To apply bold or italic styling, or to make text into one of the predefined heading styles, simply highlight the text then choose the appropriate option.
Images
Once inserted, there are options to control the size and layout of images. Click on an image to access the layout options (see below); click on the settings icon (small wrench) to access the size options (it is also good practice to add in text describing the image in the "Alt text" box).
Links
To add a link just highlight the text and click the link icon.
Here you can choose to link to other pages on Appin.scot or to external URLs. For external links, including to documents which you have uploaded to Google drive, simply paste the URL here.
To link to another page on Appin.scot, or for email or phone links, click the link icon again to access the different link types.
Select the page icon to access a drop down of all the pages on the Appin.scot website. The drop down lists the pages for individual collection members, such as a particular organisation or individual news item, after the main pages of site in the drop down, so you may need to scroll down quite some distance.
Individual fields
Each field in the collection has a sentence describing its function - in most cases these are self explanatory. In a few cases fields have a special function:
- Hide this entry: select this to immediately conceal an item on the website.
- Organisation/business category: an organisation can be assigned to up to 2 categories from EITHER the Organisation categories OR Business categories. At this stage the website does not allow organisations to be both an organisation AND a business.
- Featured business/organisation: normally leave this blank (only used where a business/organisation is to appear as featured).
- For visitors: use this to determine which organisations and businesses appear in the Visitor's Directory.
- Appin.scot web page: normally leave this blank - Sea Pebble will populate this where a specific page or microsite has already been created on Appin.scot for the organisation.
- Web link: a link to an external web page for an organisation. The safest way of getting the link without error is to copy it in full from the address bar of a browser visiting the page.
- Full description: for a basic listing this can be left blank. (Note also that this field is ignored if there is a link to an Appin.scot web page in place).
- Contact fields: use these fields to best suit the available contact information - there is no problem in leaving some, most or even all of these empty.
- News item link: an onward link from a news item. This has to be entered in full - even for links to other pages on Appin.scot. The safest way of getting the link without error is to copy it in full from the address bar of a browser visiting the page.
The main calendar is the Appin events calendar.
There is a second calendar specifically for Community Development Trust events.
Both calendars are displayed on the main News & Events page; there is a separate Community Development Trust News & Events page which displays only events from the Trust calendar.
Events on Appin.scot are managed through Google calendar. You can access this through a web browser www.google.com/calendar or through the Google Calendar app on Android or iOS devices.
Help for use of Google Calendar is available here: support.google.com/calendar
Downloadable documents are stored on an Appin.scot Google Drive area - the webmaster can access this through a web browser at www.google.com/drive/ or through an app on Android or iOS devices.
Documents should first be uploaded to the drive. We recommend that documents to be uploaded are made in to PDFs. Open Google Drive in your web browser and navigate to the appropriate folder. In most cases, files can be uploaded by simply dragging and dropping onto the appropriate area in your web browser.
Once uploaded, click the file then choose Get shareable link. This will generate a link to the file which can then be used on the website, either within a collection item or elsewhere within a text area on the site.
Linking to uploaded documents
Links can be created, added or updated within text areas on the site in the same way as within collections. Navigate to the area to be edited and click on the editor icon; select the text for the link then choose the link icon. Copy the shareable link (see above) and paste it into the link .
Support for Google Drive is available here: support.google.com/drive
The following forms are available to users on the website to submit content to the webmaster.
Forms are converted to emails when submitted and then forwarded to web@appin.scot.
Organisation form - add or update an organisation in the directory. Form is held on the Organisations page
Business form - add or update a business in the directory. Form is held on the Businesses page
Events form - add or update an event in the calendar. Form is held on the News & Events page
Trust enquiry form - a general enquiry to the Trust - usually forward to info@appin.scot. Form is held on the Trust Contact us page
Trust volunteering form - a volunteering enquiry to the Trust - usually forward to info@appin.scot. Form is held on the Trust Contact us page
Report a pothole form - residents can report a pothole - Form is held on the Report a Pothole page within the Community Council page. Form is emailed to relevant Community Councillors. (copy to webmaster for reference)