Sitecore

SMU's Web Content Authoring System


Getting Started

Signing In

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 Sitecore is available to only authorized SMU faculty, staff, and students.

Login Procedure for Sitecore 10

The login process has changed slightly since the introduction of Sitecore 10. Please refer to the below instructions and video for more information.

  1. You will need to be on the SMU network to access Sitecore. This can be from a VPN connection or while on PerunaNet or connect via ethernet. Just click the Sign In button above, and you’ll be redirected to the new Sitecore Identity Server. Click the “Login with SMU email address” button.
    Sitecore 10 Sign-in Screen
  2. At the new Microsoft prompt, enter your SMU email. This is your current email but with the 'smu.edu' domain. ex. cuser@smu.edu. Since SSO is enabled, if you are already logged into SMU services, you may automatically be directed to Sitecore.
    Microsoft Sign In
  3. If you are not already logged into an SSO service, you will be asked to sign into SMU Azure AD (idp.smu.edu) with your SMU account & password. Do not bookmark this page.
    Microsoft Azure Active Directory
  4. If you have not authenticated with the Duo Two-Factor Authentication in a while, you will be prompted to do so.
    Check for Duo Push notification
  5. On your mobile device, Approve the Duo push.
    Duo's Push Notification
  6. Duo Security will ask if you want to trust the current browser. If you are on a public computer, select the "No" option. If you are on your personal workstation, you can select "Yes."
    Duo's 'Trust this browser' notification
  7. You will then be redirected to the Microsoft Asure sign-in. If you want to reduce the number of logins, you can select "Yes" to "Stay signed in?"
    Microsoft Azure's 'Stay signed in' notification
  8. Once you've signed into Sitecore for the first time after the upgrade, the icons should be similar to the ones shown below, you will want to confirm your permissions.Sitecore Experience Editor Dashboard

 

Access Your Content

Your site can be edited within the Content Editor. For more information about editing your site, please see Using Sitecore on the SMU Wiki.

Getting Help & Support

There are many ways to get help with Sitecore. For most basic "how to" questions, we encourage all of our users to contact IT Help Desk or use the Sitecore Knowledge Base on the SMU Wiki. For training and tutorials, please visit the Training On-Demand page. We also have several opportunities for Sitecore in-person trainings and webinars per year on our IT Training page.

Sitecore Basics Video Tutorial

Documentation and Training

Sitecore Guides

Video Tutorials

Training

  • Additional training and webinars can be found on the OIT Training page.
  • One-on-one training is available for editors who have already attended a training class and need extra assistance.

FAQs for Sitecore

Your supervisor or Web Lead will need to request access on your behalf.

There are many ways to get help with Sitecore. For most basic "how to" questions, we encourage all of our users to contact IT Help Desk or use the Sitecore Knowledge Base on the SMU Wiki. For training and tutorials, please visit the Training On-Demand page. We also have several opportunities for Sitecore in-person trainings and webinars per year on our IT Training page.

  • Copy the text from the original source (text file, email, Web site, etc.)
  • Paste into a Microsoft Word document using the Paste Special command under the Edit Menu or use the keystroke combination Control+Command+V (Mac), or Control+Alt+V (PC)
  • In the dialog box select Unformatted or Plain text
  • Recopy the unformatted text from the Word doc
  • Open the Body copy editor on the page that you want to paste the text
  • Click to place your cursor where you want in the text to be pasted
  • Paste into the window

Sitecore assigns the same meaning to the words “lock”, “edit” and “check out”.

To unlock a page follow one of the methods:

  • Method #1: In the Content section, click Lock and Edit at the top of the page
  • Method #2: Go to Ribbon>Review>click edit

To unlock one or more pages at once follow these steps:

  1. Go to Ribbon>review>click My Items
  2. The My Items window lists the pages that are currently checked out
  3. Select the page to unlock and click the Unlock button at the bottom left of the window or click the Unlock All button to check in all of the pages simultaneously
  4. Click the Close button at the bottom right of the window to close the My Items window

Unpublishing a page will prevent it from displaying on the website. Conversely, because it was not deleted, republishing a page will display it on the site. Note that if a parent page contains a “+” next to it in the Content Tree, the pages contained beneath it will also be hidden.

Hide a page on the website:

  1. Select the page to be hidden
  2. In the Content section, click Lock and Edit at the top of the page
  3. Go to Ribbon>Publish>Restrictions group> Change
  4. The Publishing Settings widow will display
  5. Click the Item tab near the top left of the window
  6. Click the check box labeled Publishable (this will uncheck or deselect the box)
  7. Click the OK at the bottom right of the window
  8. Publish the page
  9. Several warning messages will display within the Warning section of the Content Tab:
    • “This items will never be published because its “Publishable option is disabled.”
    • If published new, the selected version will not be visible on the Web site.

You can find more Sitecore Editing FAQs and Sitecore Technical FAQs on the SMU wiki.

If you still do not see an answer to your question, please contact the IT Help Desk at 214-768-HELP.