Topics
Topics are organized within Categories at the 2nd level in the organizational structure of SSP 7 content. Topics function as the main content container in SSP 7. Topic related contents consisting of informational text, documents and links are available in the Topic Information page. Forms associated with Topics are available in the Topics Form page.
The following diagram illustrates the organizational structure of Topics in relations to Categories and Forms.
The Topics screen is opened by clicking on the Topics button in the Admin Panel.
Topics are grouped into Categories. We refer to the chapter Categories for more information on how to set them up.
Topics Admin Page
The Topics admin page can be access by selecting the Topics section in the Admin Panel.
Each Topic contains the following list of controls.
Reorganizing Topics
• Select the wanted position for the Topic by changing the value in the drop down selection. Positions are numbered from left to right, row by row.
Managing Topic Content
Edit : Change the details of the selected Topic
Delete : Delete the selected Topic. Deleting the Topic will result in deleting all content & Forms that is grouped in this Topic.
Topic Tips:
How to link directly to a topic
You can make a direct link, by following this syntax :
https://<link to SSP>/Forms/requests.aspx?categoryid=35&topicid=96
The CategoryID can be found by simply browsing to it. You will need to find the TopicID in the admin section, when editing a topic, it is in the link above :
https://<link to SSP>/Forms/Admin/topicDetail.aspx?id=96
Create a new Topic
Creating Topics follow similar steps as creating Categories. Topics can be added to the Self Service Portal through the Admin panel of the Self Service Portal in the section Topics. The following procedure details the addition of a new Topic.
Creating a new Topic
Select the Topics section of the Admin panel to open the admin page for Topics.
Click on the ADD NEW TOPIC button. This will open to the General Settings Tab of a new Topic.
Expand the section for Title & short description section. Enter a Title and Description for the new Topic. If multiple languages are installed, enter the translated Title and Description for each language.
Expand the General Settings section. Select a new icon for the category. Before selecting an icon, you must click Update to save the new Topic.
Upload the selected Icon. To upload a new icon use the browse button and navigate to the location of the new icon. Please ensure the new Icon has these measures: width: 58 - Height: 49. When the file is selected from the popup window, the full path will appear in the text box.
Click on the UPLOAD to upload and activate the Icon. alert_1818: Simply Browsing for the file will not succeed, it is required to click the UPLOAD button to transfer the file to the server and to be used on the Dashboard. Due to caching, it is possible that the new icon is not shown immediately.
In the Content Type option select the required type for the Topic. A Standard type will generate a Container for Information and Forms. An External Link will allow you to specify a url link that will open when the Topic is selected.
In the Category option select a Category from the list of available categories. The Topic will now be accessible through the selected category.
Use the SAVE button to save the changes and remain on this screen, or use the OK button to save your changes and return to the Overview screen, or use the CANCEL button to discard any changes.
Authorizing Topics
Topics are authorized through Roles. For details on providing role access to Topics see Access Rights section in user Access Control.
(De) Activating Topics
Following the creation and authorization of Topics they must be activated to be available in containing Category within the Self Service Portal. Topics that are no longer required can be deactivated following a similar procedure. Activation of new categories will subsequently make accessible the contents added to the Category. Deactivation of a Topic will remove user access to all contents of the Topic.
Activating a Topic
Select the Topics section of the Admin panel to open the admin page for Topics.
Find the Topic to be activated by expanding the Category sections and click on the Edit button for the Topic.
Expand the General Settings Section and find the option Live on application. Check the checkbox to activate the Topic. The topic will now be available in the containing Category in the Self Service Portal.
Click Update to save the settings. The changes will take effect immediately.
General Settings
The Title & Short Description section contains the following options:
Title English : Enter the Title for the Topic. This text appears on the New Requests-page of the user, which lists all Topics, grouped into Categories.
Description English: Enter the short description text, except the Title. This text area is HTML enabled, so you have full options to set part of the text bold, italic, or any other style elements. This text appears on the New Requests-page of the user, which lists all Topics, grouped into Categories, underneath the Title as entered in the field above.
Title Français & Description Français : Enter the French Title & Welcome text here. If left empty, the text of the default language will be shown. More or fewer input sets ( Title & Description) can be shown, depending on the number of preset languages for SSP 7.
General Settings Section
Current Icon: If an icon is uploaded before, it is shown here. This icon is used on the top left hand side of the Dashboard, next to the Welcome-text. Use the delete button ( delete ) to remove the existing thumbnail.
Upload New Icon: Use the browse button to browse for a new icon. This button will open the standard Browse window to locate the file, either on the PC or on the network, using mapped drives. Please ensure the new Icon has these measures: width: 58 - Height: 49. When the file is selected from the popup window, the full path will appear in the text box. Use the UPLOAD to upload and use this new Icon. Browsing for the file will not succeed, it is required to click the UPLOAD button to transfer the file to the server and to be used on the Dashboard. Due to caching, it is possible that the new icon is not shown immediately.
Content Type: Specify the action when clicked on the Title of the Topic on the overview page. When 'Standard' is selected, SSP 7 will open an internal page, either showing the list of forms or the information page ( or Homepage ) of a Topic. Which of the 2 is opened, is defined for the whole application, under General Settings. You can not specify this per Topic. When 'External Link' is selected, please enter the target link (including http://) in the text box below. Use the clip0125button to verify the link. This will open a new browser window with the link opened.
Live on application: When this box is checked, the Topic will be shown to the Users of SSP 7. Roles Access Rights allow to fine-tune which Roles can see this Topic, we refer to the User AccessControl section of this manual. If the checkbox 'Live on Application' is not checked, it will not be shown to any Role, regardless of the Role settings.
Category: this listbox shows the list of all current Categories ( including the Categories that are not live for users). Please select another Category if required. Use this field to change the Category of a Topic. Categories are ordered as they are ordered on th Category list page. You can use this function to copy a Topic from one Category to another, including all content and forms.
Homepage of a Topic
The Homepage tab ( tab 2) allows to set the content of the Information page of the Topic . The different elements are grouped. Click on the titles to open or close the different groups.
To define if the Homepage or the Forms page is opened when Topic is selected, access the Platform Settings.
The homepage is divided in the following sections:
Content
The Content section contains the following options:
Related Documents
The Related Documents group contains the following options:
The list of Current Documents is displayed, showing the file type (with the correct icon) and the filename
Use the Delete button delete to remove the selected Document.
Adding a New Document: Use the browse button to browse for a new Document. This button will open the standard Browse-window to locate the file, either on the PC or on the network, using mapped drives. When the file is selected from the popup window, the full path will appear in the text box. Use the clip0053button to upload and use this new Icon. Browsing for the file will not succeed, it is required to click the clip0053button to transfer the file to the server and to be used on the Dashboard. The screen will refresh and the uploaded file will be added at the bottom of the list.
Related Links
The Related Links group contains the following options:
The list of Current Links is displayed, showing the Link and the Link Title
Use the Delete button delete to remove the selected Link
Adding a New Link: Enter the complete link in the first box, including 'http://'. Insert the Title for this link into the second Box. Click on add to add this new Link to the list. The screen will refresh and the added link will be added at the bottom of the list.
Forms
The Forms tab ( tab 3) shows the list of current Forms of the selected Topic.
The tab has the following options:
ADD NEW FORM: Add a new Form by clicking on this button. For more info see General settings
Edit : Change the details of the selected Form. For more info see General settings
Delete : Delete the selected Form.
Position Drop down: Change the selected number to order the Forms as you want. Number 1 is the top position
Export the settings & entries of a form to an XML file by clicking on this button. This option is useful when moving a form between different environments, e.g. from test to production environment.
Please click here what amendments need to be made when importing a form.
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