Sidebar

The sidebar is located in the area below your left navigation. Adding sidebar content can be done a few different ways.

(See samples of each type of sidebar content on the left sidebar of this page.)

Types of Sidebars content types include:

  1. Sidebar Contact Info Block
  2. Sidebar Text with Photo Block
  3. RSS Feed Block
  4. Folder Sidebar Block
  5. Editor
  6. Call to Action Buttons
  7. Announcements

Sidebar Blocks

Four of the Sidebar content types are created from blocks: Sidebar Contact Info Block, Sidebar Text with Photo Block, RSS Feed Block and Folder Sidebar Block. To use a sidebar block on a page, you must first create the block. 

Sidebar Contact Info Block

The Sidebar Contact Info Block is used to display contact information with optional social media links. To create a new block, click + Add Content from the top black menu bar, then select Sidebar Contact Info Block.

Add Content button

New Sidebar Block

  1. XHTML/Data Definition Block Name (previously System Name): contact-info is the default system name. We recommend leaving this name unless you have multiple contact info blocks that need differentiation.
  2. Heading: Enter a Headline. Use Initial Caps. Examples: Department of Communications or Contact Us.
  3. Text Line: Enter your text. Example: Brandeis University
  4. Use the green plus icon ( + ) to add more Text Lines. Example: For the following text, you would need four Text Lines.
    Brandeis University
    MS136
    415 South Street
    Waltham, MA 02454
  5. Once you add a second Text Line field, you will see options to move content (using the up/down arrows) or delete content using the red delete ( x ) icon.
    Multiple line text content for sidebar
  6. Check the box next to Add Social Links to add your social media URLs. (optional)
    Add social media links to sidebar

You do not need a link for every platform. In the example below, only Facebook and YouTube links will appear:

Sidebar example

  1. Click the three dots ("kabob" menu) next to Preview Draft at the top right. Then, click Check Content & Submit to save your page. The spelling/link checker window will appear. If the checks find any issues, you will need to review those issues (by expanding the lists under Results). You will not be able to submit your block until you have reviewed the list of issues found. Once you have reviewed and corrected any issues (if necessary), click the blue check mark to finish submitting your block. Your block is not saved until you click this checkmark, even if you have no spelling or link errors.

Note: You will not see a preview of your formatted block. Add your block to a page to view it.

Sidebar Text with Photo Block

The Sidebar Text with Photo Block is a flexible content area with a headline, purple horizontal Swiss bar and text (can include formatted text like links). To create a new block, click + Add Content from the top black menu bar, then select Sidebar Text with Photo Block.

Add Content button

Sidebar Text with Photo Block

  1. XHTML/Data Definition Block Name (previously "System Name"): sidebar-callout is the default block name. You may keep this name or edit it. If you edit it, please only use lowercase letters and separate words with hyphens.

  2. Heading: Add your Headline. Example: Did You Know?

  3. Add Image: If you want an image to appear, check this box. Your image dimensions must be 960 px x 640 px. If you add an image, you must add Alt Text to describe your image. This text will be read to people who cannot see the image.

  4. Text: Enter and format your text. Be sure the text in the Editor is formatted as Paragraph text.

  5. Link Text: This creates a formatted text link (in ALL CAPS) below the text you enter above. If you are using an Internal Link, click Choose File, Page, or Link. In the Chooser Panel, you can select a recent internal page, or browse for an internal page. If you are using an External Link, enter the URL, including the http://.

  6. Click the three dots ("kabob" menu) next to Preview Draft at the top right. Then, click Check Content & Submit to save your page. The spelling/link checker window will appear. If the checks find any issues, you will need to review those issues (by expanding the lists under Results). You will not be able to submit your page until you have reviewed the list of issues found. Once you have reviewed and corrected any issues (if necessary), click the blue check mark to finish submitting your page. Your page is not saved until you click this checkmark, even if you have no spelling or link errors.

Note: You will not see a preview of your formatted block. Add your block to a page to view it.

RSS Feed Block

The RSS Feed Block displays titles and links from an RSS feed, such as a blog. To create a new RSS Feed Block, email cmshelp@brandeis.edu and a member of the Web Team will assist you.

Folder Sidebar Block 

The Folder Sidebar Block is used to create the same sidebar content for all pages within a specific folder. To create a new block, navigate to the folder where you would like the Folder Sidebar Block block to be located. It is important to add the block to the folder that houses the pages where you will be adding the sidebar. Click + Add Content from the top black menu bar, then select Folder Sidebar Block.

Screenshot of folder sidebar block content type selection within the Brandeis CMSScreenshot of XHTML/Data Definition Block Name (previously System Name (folder-sidebar) and checked Override Site Setup box

  1. XHTML/Data Definition Block Name (previously System Name): Leave folder-sidebar. The block will not work if you change this name.
  2. Override Site Setup: Check the “Yes” box in the Folder Setup Block to override site setup.
  3. To choose a sidebar type and add content to your block, begin at step three of "Adding Sidebar Content to a Page."
  4. Once you are finished, click the three dots ("kabob" menu) next to Preview Draft at the top right. Then, click Check Content & Submit to save your page. The spelling/link checker window will appear. If the checks find any issues, you will need to review those issues (by expanding the lists under Results). You will not be able to submit your block until you have reviewed the list of issues found. Once you have reviewed and corrected any issues (if necessary), click the blue check mark to finish submitting your block. Your block is not saved until you click this checkmark, even if you have no spelling or link errors. Now, once published, all the pages in that folder that do not have 'override site and folder set up' in the Sidebar section checked off will display the content added in the Folder Sidebar Block.

Note: You will not see a preview of your formatted block. To view your block, navigate to any of the pages within the folder where you added the Folder Sidebar Block.

Adding Sidebar Content to a Page

You can set up sidebar content so that all pages on your site have the same content, or you can have different content on each page. To set up all pages with the same content, you will follow the steps for the site-setup block for your site. To add or edit sidebar content to a single page, follow the steps below.

  1. Navigate to your page and click Edit.
  2. Scroll down to the Sidebar section. Check the box next to Override Site Setup.
  3. Click the > Group button to expand the content.

Check Override Site Setup box

You will see six radio buttons with types of sidebar content: Editor, Call to Action Buttons, Sidebar Text with Photo Block, Sidebar Contact Info Block, RSS Feed and Announcement.

Editor

Enter and format your content directly in the WYSIWYG editor.

Sidebar WYSIWYG editor

To add another Sidebar type, click the green plus icon ( + ) in the top right part of the screen.

Once you add a second Sidebar type, you will see options to move content (using the up/down arrows) or delete content using the red delete ( x ) icon.

Use the arrows to move sidebar content up and down

Call to Action Buttons

Create clickable button(s). Buttons will be automatically formatted with black text in ALL CAPS. Buttons will be white with a black border.

Call to Action Button sidebar content

Button Text: This is the text that will appear within your button. Keep your Button Text brief and descriptive. Do not use any variation of the phrase “Click Here.”

Examples:

  • Application Materials Due May 1
  • Explore Our Programs
  • Make an Appointment

Link Type: Internal/External Link: If you are using an Internal Link, click Choose File, Page, or Link. In the Chooser Panel, you can select a recent internal page, or browse for an internal page. If you are using an External Link, enter the URL, including the http://.

Note: If you do not enter a URL, your button will appear but it will not be clickable.

  • To add a new Call to Action button, click the green plus icon (+) in the light blue bar to the right of the words Call to Action Button (not in the blue bar which says Group).
  • To add a new sidebar item, click the green plus icon ( + ) in the light blue bar to the right of the words Group (not in the blue bar which says Call to Action Button).

Once you add a second Sidebar type, you will see options to move content (using the up/down arrows) or delete content using the red delete ( x ) icon.

Use the plus sign to add another sidebar content block

Sidebar Text with Photo Block

Search or browse for a Sidebar Text with Photo Block you have already created.

Sidebar Text with Photo Block

To add a new sidebar item, click the green plus icon ( + ) in the light blue bar to the right of the words Group.

Once you add a second Sidebar type, you will see options to move content (using the up/down arrows) or delete content using the red delete ( x ) icon.

add, move or delete buttons

Sidebar Contact Info Block

Search or browse for a Sidebar Contact Info Block you have already created.

Add a Sidebar Contact Info Block

To add a new sidebar item, click the green plus icon ( + ) in the light blue bar to the right of the words Group.

Once you add a second Sidebar type, you will see options to move content (using the up/down arrows) or delete content using the red delete ( x ) icon.

add, move or delete buttons

RSS Feed

Search or browse for a RSS Feed block that the Web Team has created for you.

RSS block fields

Heading: Add your Headline. Example: "Economics Department Blog"

Max News to Display: Enter a number of titles you want to appear in the sidebar. We recommend 3 to 5.

Link Type: This creates a formatted text link (in ALL CAPS) below the text you enter above. If you are using an Internal Link, click Choose File, Page, or Link. In the Chooser Panel, you can select a recent internal page, or browse for an internal page. If you are using an External Link, enter the URL, including the http://

To add another Sidebar type, click the green plus icon ( + ) in the top right part of the screen.

Once you add a second Sidebar type, you will see options to move content (using the up/down arrows) or delete content using the red delete ( x ) icon.

add, move or delete buttons

Announcements

The Announcement sidebar content type will display the titles of indexed Announcements from the main Announcements Content Type.

sidebar announcements

Heading: Add your Headline. Example: "Recent Job Postings"

Announcement Page: Browse to the folder on your site where your Announcements Content Types are located. Select any asset in the folder.

Max News to Display: Enter a number of titles you want to appear in the sidebar. We recommend 3 to 5.

Link Type: This creates a formatted text link (in ALL CAPS) below the text you enter above. To have the link go to your main Announcements page, select Internal Link and the Chooser Panel will open to allow you to Search or Browse for the index page in your Announcements folder.