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Website Help
How do I login & logout?
Users can login by entering their userid and password in the top right hand corner of any given webpage.
Passwords are case sensitive. If you've forgotten your password and know your registered email address (the one you gave the project administration), you can have your password sent to you via the 'forgot your password' link. If you're not sure or are unsuccessful, email the webmaster and your password will be reset.
How do I get a userid and password?
The Project is currently opening up its online presence to qualified academics, scholars, and graduate students interested in its work. If you wish to participate, please send your details, including your academic affliation and position either directly to the Project Manager, Dr. Marlene Eberhart, or through a team member who knows of your work and is willing to approach Dr. Eberhart or the webmaster on your behalf. There more information on the get involved page.
Do I need Javascript enabled?
Yes, in order to allow all of the functionality of the website to work correctly you need to have javascript enabled. Most browsers do as default - if you don't know, and everything works fine, you most likely have javascript enabled.
Where can I view the Making Publics Web policy?.
The webpolicy is linked at the foot of each webpage - alternatively you can view it at Webpolicy.
Is my online MaPs presence anonymous?
No. While MaPs users have a certain amount of control over their online presence, how their comments are displayed, etc., full identification of users is an essential element of the MaPs online community. As a virtual public space this allows for a critical sense of online community etiquette and responsibility and is important in the Project's peer-review and debate ethos.
How do I navigate through the website?
The main navigation bar is at the top of every webpage and is subdivided into four main categories:
Below this are 'crumbs' - the trails of where you are in the website, moving all the way back to the front home page.
Within the white 'contents' area, for team members, are links which allow users to view alternate versions of the current webpage - the 'public view' and the 'schools view'. In the top right hand corner of this section are three icons which are quicklinks to this help page, the calendar, and to print the current page.
How do I print a webpage?
Because the formating on the website is quite extensive it is best to use the print icon located in the top right hand corner of the contents section of each webpage in order to print.
This will cause a new temporary webpage to popup along side a print dialogue box.
In order for this printing to fuction properly, please enable javascript. The temporary page will disappear when a user clicks print or cancel. If there are hidden elements or tabs within the page, please make sure you have the appropriate details selected before clicking on the button - what ever is selected will be reflected in your print job.
What is the myPortal page?
The myPortal or Portal is your online profile page. Many of the operations on the old portal page are now available via the dashboard, which acts as a central page for managing your online activities and interacting with others in the MaPs network.
What is a workgroup?
A workgroup is a dedicated space for a group of users on the Project website - it is private in order to allow discussions on focused and particular aspects of the Project's work that are either not ready for more public consumption, as in the case of the Making Publics Volumes, or to allow preparatory work for project initiatives such as the upcoming 2010 Festival.
What is a Conférence?
A conférence is an online space for debate on a particular research theme or subject within the project. They are open to research users only.
To post to a conférence, just click 'make a post' and fill in the comment box.
Bibliographic sources found in the MaPs database can be associated to Conférence comments. Search by title, click on the entry you desire to associate to your comment, and then save the comment.
How do I edit my user information?
Every user can edit their own profile and activities online. If you wish to alter your profile do so directly in the Portal (http://makingpublics.mcgill.ca/portal.php) itself while logged in. To edit a detail, click on the 'pencil' image; to delete, use the red 'x'. There are links at the end of each section to pop up forms for adding new details to individual sections. To add a publication, paper or presentation, you must use the Common Archive 'Add Entry form - as long as you select yourself as author, editor, etc. the entry will automatically appear on your profile page. Additionally, if you wish to add another's work, you may do so using the same procedure. The portal also allows editing of non-users to some degree - especially tags.
If you wish to alter your online identity in any respect - your name, password, academic affiliation etc., you must do so via the Edit User page which is accessible via the 'edit my details' link on the right hand side of the portal page while logged in.
How do I myNews?
You may post a myNews from your myPortal page using the 'add new entry' link on the myBlog tab. You can also edit past and current entries. Please note only the last entry will be displayed on your webpage. myNews entries are accessible by public (ie not logged in) visitors to the website. They should be drafted accordingly.
Basic HTML tags can be used in myNews entries.
How do I post a comment?
Comments can be posted wherever there is a 'wall'. At the top right hand corner of every wall is a link 'make a post' - click on it and a box will appear into which you can write your comment and save it.
Basic HTML tags can be used in comments to provide links or format text.
What is the difference between a myNews and a comment?
A myNews is an individual entry - essentially a journal or diary entry - which is viewable by all website users whether logged in or not. A comment is only viewable to logged in users and is appended to a particular topic or discussion, appearing on Walls or in threaded discussions as in conférences. Generally, comments are directed and shorter, while myNews are open ended and longer entries.
How do I edit a comment?
You can always edit your comments after you initially post them. To do this locate the comment either by finding the webpage directly, or find the comment through your myComments tab on the Portal page. Click 'edit' - a box will appear with your comment - edit it, and click ok to save your changes.
How do I add keywords to my profile, an event, or a bibliographic entry?
To add tags or keywords to your profile click on 'add' under the tags header on the right hand side of the myPortal page. A box will appear - write in your keywords and phrases, separating each discrete tag / keyword or phrase by a COMMA. These can be altered once added by clicking 'edit keywords' in the same location.
To add tags or keywords to an event or a bibliographic entry, click 'add keywords' underneath the title on the righthand side. Again, a box will appear - separate your keywords or phrases with a COMMA. Click 'ok' to save.
How does the new website work?
The website is written in page coding called PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) - the 'frontend' and a MySQL database 'backend'. This allows manipulation of the types of content and data we can present to users based on variables they themselves offer (or not) to the webserver. This functions both at in the webpage itself, but also via the database. In other words, the new webpages are constructed 'on the fly' for each user, each time.
When a user loads a webpage, the PHP code requests whether they are logged in or not. If they are not, the webpage displays content written for public external consumption. If they are logged in, or do log in, the server is presented with a series of variables drawn from the database based on their userid. One of these variables is a profile variable - the server uses it to resolve what content to display to the user in the webpage.
The result is a webpage which retains a consistent URL or address, while allowing for variable content. Users who are not logged in cannot see the content of pages seen by logged in users simply because the information (ie the webpage) never reaches them - the server doesn't send it to them at any stage if they're not logged into the website. This allows for secure manipulation of content itself.
A Typical page layout
The typical page consists of four main subsections: the header, the sidebar, content, and the footer:
