The pages in a portal site are highly customisable. Portal pages can be configured via the portal editor which can draw content from files, documents, and worksheet. The portal page editor can be divided into three panels: The left-hand panel offers options for adding individual components to the page, the centre panel manages the whole page view, and the right-hand panel opens as an editor for the content of the selected component.
Left-hand panel
Sections:
The portal page builder allows content to be added to a portal page through a block-based interface. Through 'Sections' users are able to outline the structure of the page by selecting different block configurations to create 'sections' of the page where specific components can later be placed.
Opus 2 offers 6 different horizontal block configurations:
- 1 section across the page
- 2 sections divided equally
- 2 sections divided 2/3 - 1/3
- 2 sections divided 1/3 - 2/3
- 3 sections divided equally
- 4 sections divided equally
The page structure is created by vertically layering these horizontal block configurations until it is structured as intended.
Components:
Within the portal page editor, 'components' refers to the specific content that can be added to the page.
This content is added to the page by selecting a component type and dragging and dropping it into one of the defined page sections. The user can then edit the specific content of the selected component type.
Opus 2 supports the following types of components: text block; image; link; input form; calendar; timeline; worksheet; chart; cards; single card; documents (click here for more information about components).
Middle panel
Layout:
'Layout' is the design builder of the page. It allows users to position their chosen sections and components to configure the visual interface of the page. Sections have to be defined first before users will be able to add components to them. Both sections and components are added to the page by dragging and dropping them into the 'Layout' area. Components will be displayed only as their component type here; in order to view the actual content users should switch to the 'Preview' tab.
Preview:
This allows users to preview the content of the page in the way it will be displayed once it has been published. This ensures that users are able to preview draft configurations of the page before making them 'live'. The 'Preview' option is able to update the display instantly as changes are made to the content and page design.
Right-hand panel
This panel allows users to edit the specific content within a component. Once the component has been added to the 'Layout' area, users will be able to select the component to view and edit it. The options to edit the content of a component are dependant on the component type (click here for more information about components).