Feature and Function Overview

Access to the Text Editor - You can only access the text editor if you are a registered member who has permission to create articles.  You can tell if you have permission by looking at the User Menu links.  If the links begin with the word "Submit" then you can be rest assured you do have creation permission.

Save and Exit Controls - There are three buttons that allow you to control when and how the text editor saves. These control buttons are located in the top right hand corner of the editor when it opens:

Document Sections - Each article that you create in the text editor is broken into two document sections; the Introduction section where you place introduction text and the Main Text section where you place the main text of your article. 

Media Types - You can have any media type you wish in an article.  This includes text, images, video and audio files.  You can enter these media types in both the Introduction Section and the Main Text Section of your article.  Check out www.communitymemories.com (another one of our products) for examples of different types of articles and how the various medias can be mixed. 

Inserting Media Types and Making Your Articles "rock" - The control pannel shown in the diagram below is your friend, despite its many buttons.  You choose how many of the buttons you want to use!  These buttons let you control how your article looks and the type of media it has in it.  There are "rollover" explanations on each icon in the control panel and contextual help co-located with the function you are trying to use. 

Web Browser Differences For Control Panel Functions - If you use Microsoft Explorer, you are able to cut and paste directly into the editor using the Control Pannel buttons.  If you use Mozilla Firefox or iCompass you have to use the cntrl features from your keyboard such as [cntrl][c] to copy and {cntrol][v] to paste.

Media File Size & Formats - If you are going to be a multimedia article creator with your articles then you must obey the following rules for the types and sizes of files that you place in your articles:

Images, Publishing and Metadata Tabs - There are some "scary" looking tabs at the bottom of the page.  Only use the Metadata Tab, ignore all others.

• video files for the website will be under 2M in size and in Quick Time format
• audio files for the website will be under 2M in size and in Quick Time or mp3 format
• image files for the website will be under 2M in size, in .jpg format and sized to 200 x 200 pixels or smaller

The Metadata Tab - This is a very important feature since the words you put in here directly afect if people can find your article when searching.  Enter a clear description of your article in the in the Description Box and enter clear key words that contain "the essense of the articles meaning" in the Keyword Box.    

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Creating an Article

Follow these steps to create an article for the site:

1. Navigate to the text editor in manner that you are familiar with.  If you don't know how to do this then refer to the Quick Reference Guide for the site .
2. Enter in a TITLE for your article
3. Select a CATEGORY for your article
4. Enter in the INTRODUCTION TEXT  and information
5. Enter in the MAIN BODY text and information
6. Select the METADATA TAB and enter in a description of your article plus the keywords
7. Pressthe SAVE & CLOSE ICON to have your article published

At any time during your article creation press the SAVE icon (checkmark) to save your work but not exit editing, per the overview section.

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Managing Media Files

Loading Images - When inside the MAIN TEXT section press the IMAGE button from the Control Panel.  Select the UPLOAD icon and navigate to where your image file is located (prepared according to the site specifications).  Select the image file and press the UPLOAD button.  The file will be loaded to the site and appear in the panel at the bottom of the pop up box.  Select the file press the INSERT button.

Loading Video & Audio - When inside the MAIN TEXT section press the STREAMING MEDIA button from the Control Panel.  Select the UPLOAD icon and navigate to where your image file is located (prepared according to the site specifications).  Select the image file and press the UPLOAD button.  The file will be loaded to the site and appear in the panel at the bottom of the pop up box.  Select the file press the INSERT button. 

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Visual Overview