CommonSpot Training Site

This page is designed to help content contributors learn to use some of CommonSpot's basic features.  Here you will find Flash tutorials, pdf's, and other resources to help you learn to use CommonSpot. Please read through this site to get a better understanding of this program. If you are interested in moving your site to CommonSpot, please email Adam Palcich at app35@cornell.edu.

What is CommonSpot?

CommonSpot is a browser-based content management system that allows contributors to make changes on their websites without any special software or skills.  To make changes on a page, simply go to that page, log in, and make the changes through a built-in text editor.  The editor will allow you to work in an environment similar to Microsoft Word and you can still switch to HTML mode for advanced control over layout and styling.

There are often many ways to accomplish the same thing using CommonSpot's interface. This site will only concentrate on the core necessities of using CommonSpot. Feel free to advance your learning by reading the manuals and experimenting in our playground.

The Playground

The quickest way to learn CommonSpot is to just use it. So, please, feel free to log in to our CommonSpot Playground and try it for yourself. Don't know what to do? Watch the tutorials located on this page first and read the information below about templates. The Playground is meant for you to use, so, please, use it. NOTE: The CommonSpot interface uses pop-up windows, and it may be necessary to disable your pop-up blocker.
Username: aad_guest Password: password

• The Playground
• The Playground Navigation Template | Learn how CommonSpot Templates Work

Reference Manual

The manual is meant to be used as a comprehensive reference and not as a training guide. Please see the tutorials for training.

• Reference Manual (*.pdf)

Tutorials/Demonstrations

The following tutorials require the use of Macromedia Flash. Feel free to pause, rewind, and fast-forward the tutorials to learn at your own pace.  The files may be large due to their complexity, so please be patient while loading them.

Tutorial 1: Logging in and Making a Simple Change
	This tutorial will show you how to log in and make a simple change in CommonSpot. Launch Tutorial
Tutorial 2: Creating a New Page
	This tutorial will show you how to create a new page in CommonSpot. Please review CommonSpot Templates first. Launch Tutorial
Tutorial 3: Working with the Navigation Template
	This tutorial will show you how to modify the navigation template. Please review CommonSpot Templates first. Launch Tutorial
Tutorial 4: Working with Images
	This tutorial will show you how to upload and add images to your web pages. Launch Tutorial

Understanding CommonSpot Templates

Base Template CommonSpot uses templates like a pile of transparencies for an overhead projector. At the bottom of the pile is the base template. The base template includes all the features that must remain consistent from site to site, such as the Cornell banner, the footer, etc. Under normal circumstances, you will never need to modify the base template once it is set up.
Navigation Template The next "transparency" in the pile is the navigation template. The navigation template consists of the navigation and content that will appear on every page of the site. Because the navigation template is overlaid on the base template, it inherits the look and feel of the base template. From this point on, every page you develop should be based on the navigation template so you will only have to update your navigation once to make a site-wide change.
Site Pages Once it is set up, you can create the rest of your pages off of the navigation template. These pages are the "top transparencies" so to speak. They inherit everything below them, specifically the navigation template which inherits the base template. It is here you will add page specific text and images. This top level is what the end-user will see. Once you've added a page, don't forget to link to it in your navigation template.