Modify website page appearance
When the Merlin Web application is first installed, it lacks many of the menus and navigation tools necessary to access the installed features. An Administrator must customize the pages using the Webpage Personalization tools.
The Website contains a rich set of personalization tools that can be used to change page appearances for all users. Individual users can also use the tools to change the appearance of pages they see.
The tools available on the website are:
1. Browse View: This selection exits edit mode and displays the web page without any editing tools.
2. Design View: This selection reveals the various Web Parts that make up the web page The Web Parts and their relative positions are shown below.
3. Edit View: The edit view allows customization of specific web components. When in edit view, each web page component will reveal a menu box in the upper right (see above figure). Clicking on this menu box will reveal a choice of minimize (hide the component), delete (remove the component), or edit (change component attributes).
Selecting Edit will reveal an interface allowing a component to be modified:
a. Title: This field determines the name of the component. The component name is visible in Edit mode or when a chrome type is applied.
b. Chrome Type: This drop-down box allows a chrome style to be applied to components. The chrome style displays component titles and small controls allowing a user to minimize or delete a component. The default state for Merlin Web is Chrome Type = none.
c. Direction: The direction field determines whether components are left-justified or right-justified.
d. Height: This value determines the height of the component. A blank field indicates that the component’s natural value is used.
e. Width: This value determines the width of the component. A blank field indicates that the component’s natural value is used.
f. Hidden: when checked, the selected component will not appear on the page.
g. Chrome State: This drop-down box allows a user to specify whether a component appears in normal (expanded) state, or minimized state, with only the title bar visible.
h. Zone: This drop-down box can be used to move components to different Web Zones.
i. Zone Index: This field is used if a Web Zone has multiple components to determine the order and placing of components in that zone.
4. Catalog View: Catalog view reveals a list of web parts that can be placed on the web page. Using the Catalog View, a user can choose a component, select a Web Zone from the drop-down box, and hit save to lock in the change.
5. Switch Scope: This control toggles between User mode and Shared mode. While in User Mode, all changes made to the web page will only be visible to the user making the changes. Shared Mode enables a user to make changes that will be visible to all users who view the web page.