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idfive Drupal Accelerator CMS Training Overview

This document provides a comprehensive training outline for the idfive Drupal Accelerator website. This training is designed to help content managers and administrators effectively use the CMS for day-to-day content management tasks.

idfive Drupal Accelerator​

Website CMS Training - [TRAINING DATE]
Screen Share: [MEETING URL]

IDFIVE ATTENDEES:

  • [LIST IDFIVE TEAM MEMBERS]

CLIENT ATTENDEES: (ensure logins created for all attendees)

  • [LIST CLIENT TEAM MEMBERS]

Getting Started​

URLs & Access​

Initial Questions for Tailored Training​

  1. Who are we training? (Roles: Content managers, administrators, editors, etc.)
  2. What is their current skillset in Drupal or other CMS platforms?
  3. What are their day-to-day roles in the site? (What content will they manage most frequently?)

Overview of Site and Content Types​

User Roles & Responsibilities​

  • Administrator: Full site access, configuration, user management
  • Content Manager: Create and edit content, manage media
  • Editor: Edit existing content, limited publishing permissions

The site uses several menus for navigation and functionality:

  • Main Navigation (main) - Primary site navigation
  • Header Audience Links (header-audience-links) - Targeted audience navigation
  • Header CTA Links (header-cta-links) - Call-to-action buttons in header
  • Header Utility Links (header-utility) - Utility links (search, login, etc.)
  • Footer Primary Links (footer) - Main footer navigation
  • Footer Secondary Links (footer-secondary-links) - Secondary footer navigation
  • Footer Disclaimer Links (footer-disclaimer-links) - Legal/disclaimer links

Content Type Overview​

1. Home Page (idfive_home_page)​

  • Purpose: Site homepage with dynamic content areas
  • Key Features: Hero sections, content blocks, featured content
  • Typical Use: Updated periodically for announcements, featured content

2. Basic Page (idfive_page)​

  • Purpose: Standard content pages (About, Services, etc.)
  • Key Features: Rich text content, media integration, sidebar options
  • Typical Use: Static informational content, policy pages

3. Landing Page (idfive_landing_page)​

  • Purpose: Campaign-specific or targeted content pages
  • Key Features: Flexible layout options, call-to-action components
  • Typical Use: Marketing campaigns, event promotion, targeted messaging

4. Article (idfive_article)​

  • Purpose: Blog posts, news articles, timely content
  • Key Features: Author attribution, publication date, categories, tags
  • Typical Use: Regular content updates, news, insights, thought leadership

5. Event (idfive_event)​

  • Purpose: Event listings and detail pages
  • Key Features: Date/time fields, location, registration information
  • Typical Use: Upcoming events, webinars, conferences

6. Person (idfive_person)​

  • Purpose: Staff profiles, team member pages
  • Key Features: Biography, contact information, photo, role
  • Typical Use: Team directories, staff spotlights

7. Alert (idfive_alert)​

  • Purpose: Site-wide notifications and important messages
  • Key Features: Priority levels, expiration dates, display options
  • Typical Use: Emergency notifications, maintenance notices, announcements

Special Integrations​

  • idfive Component Library (ICL): Powers the visual components and design system
  • Brand Assistant Module: Provides content analysis and brand compliance checking
  • Custom Theme Integration: Seamless integration with idfive design standards

Content Type Detailed Training​

Home Page Management​

Frontend Review:

  • Navigate to the homepage to see current layout and content
  • Identify editable regions and dynamic content areas

Backend Management:

  • Access: Content > Add content > Home Page
  • Review all available fields and their frontend correlation
  • Practice editing hero sections, content blocks, and featured areas
  • Understand how changes affect the frontend display

Special Considerations:

  • Homepage often feeds from other content types
  • Layout changes may require administrator permissions
  • Consider site performance when adding large media files

Basic Page & Landing Page Management​

Frontend Review:

  • Compare Basic Page vs. Landing Page layouts
  • Understand when to use each content type

Backend Management:

  • Access: Content > Add content > Basic Page or Landing Page
  • Review field mapping between backend and frontend
  • Practice with rich text editor and media embedding
  • Understand sidebar and layout options

Available Components:

  • [LIST SPECIFIC WIDGETS/COMPONENTS AVAILABLE]
  • Text blocks, image galleries, call-to-action buttons
  • Embedded forms, video players, quote blocks

Article Management​

Frontend Review:

  • Browse existing articles to understand structure
  • Note categorization and tagging systems

Backend Management:

  • Access: Content > Add content > Article
  • Practice creating articles with proper metadata
  • Understand publication workflows and scheduling
  • Review SEO fields and social media integration

Event Management​

Frontend Review:

  • Browse event listings and detail pages
  • Understand how events display in calendars/listings

Backend Management:

  • Access: Content > Add content > Event
  • Practice adding events with dates, times, locations
  • Understand registration integration (if applicable)
  • Review recurring event options

Person Profile Management​

Frontend Review:

  • Browse team directory or staff pages
  • Understand how profiles integrate with other content

Backend Management:

  • Access: Content > Add content > Person
  • Practice adding staff profiles with photos and information
  • Understand departmental organization
  • Review contact information integration

Alert Management​

Frontend Review:

  • See how alerts display site-wide
  • Understand different alert priority levels

Backend Management:

  • Access: Content > Add content > Alert
  • Practice creating time-sensitive alerts
  • Understand expiration and scheduling options
  • Review display location settings

Media Management​

File Naming Conventions​

  • No spaces: Use hyphens or underscores (my-file-name.jpg)
  • Lowercase: All file names should be lowercase
  • Descriptive names: Use meaningful, descriptive file names
  • Avoid special characters: Stick to letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscores

Image Optimization​

  • Compression: Use tools like TinyPNG before uploading
  • File formats:
    • JPG for photographs
    • PNG for graphics with transparency
    • SVG for icons and simple graphics
  • File sizes: Keep under 1MB when possible for web performance

Alt Text Requirements​

  • Required for accessibility: Every image must have alt text
  • Descriptive: Describe what the image shows, not just what it is
  • Context-appropriate: Consider how the image relates to surrounding content
  • Screen reader friendly: Write for users who cannot see the image

Media Library​

  • Access: Content > Media
  • Organize media using folders when available
  • Reuse existing media when appropriate
  • Delete unused media to keep library clean

Accessibility Guidelines​

Descriptive Link Text​

  • Avoid: "Click here," "Read more," "Learn more"
  • Use: Descriptive text that explains the destination
  • Example: "Download the 2024 Annual Report (PDF)" instead of "Click here"

HTML Heading Structure​

  • Use headings in logical order (H1 → H2 → H3)
  • Don't skip heading levels
  • Each page should have only one H1 (usually the page title)
  • Use headings to structure content, not for styling

Alternative Text for Images​

  • Required for all images
  • Describe the content and function of the image
  • Empty alt text (alt="") for decorative images only
  • Keep descriptions concise but informative

Accessible PDFs​

  • Use proper heading structure in source documents
  • Include alt text for images in PDFs
  • Ensure sufficient color contrast
  • Test with screen readers when possible

Brand Compliance & Content Quality​

Brand Assistant Integration​

This site includes the idfive Brand Assistant module for content quality:

  • Real-time Analysis: Content is checked against brand guidelines as you type
  • Terminology Consistency: Helps maintain consistent language across the site
  • Accessibility Compliance: Flags potential accessibility issues
  • Style Guidelines: Ensures content follows established brand voice

Content Best Practices​

  • Write in active voice when possible
  • Use clear, concise language
  • Follow established terminology and style guides
  • Consider your audience when writing
  • Proofread before publishing

Administrative Notes​

Content Workflow​

  1. Draft: Create content in draft status
  2. Review: Have content reviewed by appropriate team members
  3. Publish: Publish content when ready for public viewing
  4. Update: Regular review and updates as needed

User Management​

  • Administrators can create and manage user accounts
  • Assign appropriate roles based on user responsibilities
  • Regular audit of user access and permissions

Maintenance & Support​

  • Ongoing Maintenance Contract: [IF APPLICABLE - LIST TICKETING SYSTEM PROCESS]
  • Technical Support: Contact idfive for technical issues
  • Content Support: [LIST INTERNAL PROCESSES FOR CONTENT QUESTIONS]

Regular Maintenance Tasks​

  • Review and update outdated content
  • Check for broken links regularly
  • Archive expired events and time-sensitive content
  • Monitor site performance and loading times

Common Admin Paths​

  • Content Overview: /admin/content
  • Add New Content: /node/add
  • Media Library: /admin/content/media
  • Menu Management: /admin/structure/menu
  • User Management: /admin/people

Theme-Specific Features​

  • Component Library Integration: Powered by idfive Component Library (ICL)
  • Custom Templates: Located in /themes/custom/idfive_accelerator/templates/
  • Theme Settings: Access via Appearance > Settings > idfive Accelerator

Helpful Drupal Shortcuts​

  • Clear Cache: May be needed after major changes
  • Content Scheduling: Use publication date fields for future publishing
  • Bulk Operations: Use content overview page for bulk actions

Training Completion Checklist​

By the end of this training, users should be able to:

  • Log in to the admin interface successfully
  • Navigate the content management interface
  • Create and edit each content type relevant to their role
  • Upload and manage media files properly
  • Understand menu structure and navigation
  • Apply accessibility best practices
  • Use the Brand Assistant for content quality
  • Understand basic workflow and publishing process
  • Know where to get help and support

Additional Resources​

This training overview should be customized based on specific client needs, user roles, and site functionality. Update sections as needed to reflect the actual site configuration and client requirements.