Getting Started with Drupal

← Return to the Drupal 10 User Guide

Lets begin by learning how to login to Drupal, then move onto the learning about how of the Drupal console works, and finally end with how publishing works.

1.1 Logging Into Drupal

You only need a web browser to use Drupal. You do not need to download or install any special software. Access to specific websites and profiles on the Swarthmore College website are dependent on your individual user permissions.

1. To login to Drupal, type swarthmore.edu/user into the web browser of your choice.
2. Login using your network username and password credentials.
3. After logging in, you will be redirected to your Drupal Account Information page.

Tip

You'll know you've successfully logged into Drupal when you see My Sites and your name appear in the black menu bar at the top of the browser window.

Figure: The Drupal toolbar after a successful login.

1.2 How the Drupal Console Works

Clicking on your name will open a submenu below the black menu bar with a Log Out option. You can use this to logout of Drupal when you are done editing content in the system.

Figure: The Drupal toolbar showing the logout button

1.2.1 My Sites

Clicking My Sites will open a submenu below the black menu bar that has two options:

1. View My Sites - lists all the websites that you currently have permission to edit.
2. View My Profiles - lists all the profiles that you currently have permission to edit.

Figure: The View My Sites page lists the websites you have permission to edit.

1.2.2 View My Sites

Clicking the View My Sites link will display a list all the websites that you currently have permission to edit. It will also indicate if the website is currently published.

1. Websites | Profiles - lets you toggle between websites or profiles.
2. Search - allows you to search the list of websites. This tool helpful if you have access to multiple websites.
3. Title | Website Published - Displays the site(s) that you have have access to edit. Clicking the site name will take you directly to the website so that you can begin editing it. Website Published displays if the website is currently published or not.

Figure: The View My Sites page lists the websites you have permission to edit.

Drupal Training

You must complete Drupal training before being given editing access to any website.

If you have questions about user permissions, please contact web-update@swarthmore.edu.

1.2.3 View My Profiles

View My Profiles lists all the Drupal profiles that you have permission to edit. It also indicates whether each profile is currently published. Selecting a name from the list will take you directly to that person's profile so you can begin editing it.

Most Drupal users will only have permission to edit their own profile. Some departments, however, grant shared access so designated staff members can manage profiles on behalf of others. This is commonly used by administrative assistants who maintain faculty profile information, such as office hours and contact details.

1. Websites | Profiles — Switches between the websites and profiles lists.
2. Search — Searches the list of profiles. This is especially useful if you have permission to edit multiple profiles.
3. Name | Profile Page Published — Displays the profiles you have permission to edit. Selecting a name opens that profile for editing. The list also indicates whether each profile page is currently published.

Tip

Most Drupal editors will only have permission to edit their own profile unless shared access has been configured for their department.

Figure: The View My Profiles page lists the Drupal profiles you have permission to edit.

1.2.4 Toolbar Controls

The upper-right corner of the Drupal toolbar contains two controls that let you customize your editing experience.

1. Toggle Contextual Links — Turns Drupal's in-context editing mode on or off. When enabled, edit icons appear next to editable content throughout the page.
2. Toggle Menu Bar Orientation — Switches the Drupal administration toolbar between a horizontal layout across the top of the page and a vertical layout along the left side.

Figure: The Drupal toolbar includes controls for enabling contextual editing and changing the toolbar layout.

1.2.5 Toggle Contextual Links

The Toggle Contextual Links button enables Drupal's in-context editing mode. When turned on, pencil icons appear next to editable content throughout the page, allowing you to jump directly to the editor for a section or component without first navigating through the menu bar.

This feature is especially useful when making small changes because it lets you edit content directly where it appears on the page.

Tip

Contextual links are only visible to users with permission to edit the page. Website visitors will never see these edit icons.

Figure: When contextual links are enabled, edit icons appear next to editable content throughout the page.

1.2.6 Toggle Menu Bar Orientation

The Toggle Menu Bar Orientation button changes how the Drupal administration toolbar is displayed.

• Horizontal — Displays the toolbar across the top of the browser window. This is the default layout.
• Vertical — Displays the toolbar in a collapsible panel along the left side of the browser window. Some editors prefer this layout because it provides more vertical space for editing.

You can switch between the two layouts at any time. Drupal remembers your preference for future editing sessions.

Horizontal Toolbar

Figure: The default horizontal toolbar layout.

Vertical Toolbar

Figure: The optional vertical toolbar layout.

1.3 How Publishing Works

Every page in Drupal exists in one of three publishing states: Published, Draft, or Unpublished. Understanding these states is important because they determine who can view your content.

• Published — The page is live and publicly accessible. Visitors can view the page using its URL.
• Draft — A working copy that is only visible to Drupal editors. Drafts allow you and your collaborators to make changes without affecting the live website. When the page is ready, change its state to Published and save it to make the changes public.
• Unpublished — The page is hidden from public view but remains in Drupal. Unpublishing does not delete the page. It can be edited and republished later. Visitors who attempt to access an unpublished page will receive an Access Forbidden message.

Before You Unpublish

• Unpublishing does not delete a page. If you need a page permanently removed from Drupal, contact the Web Team.
• Never unpublish your site's homepage.
• Avoid unpublishing pages that have child pages or other dependencies unless you understand the impact on your site.

1.3.1 The Publishing Console

All Drupal publishing is managed in the editor’s right column. Going from top to bottom in the right column:

1. Last Saved / Author - This section will tell you when the last time this page was updated and who the original creator of the page was.
2. Revision Log Message - This section allows you to add notes or comments (to each saved version) that only you and other Drupal editors can see. This can be helpful when there are multiple editors making changes to same page as it lets you and your team keep track of changes.
3. Change To - This drop down lets you manage the page state/publishing (published, draft, unpublish)
4. Menu Settings - This advanced feature lets you add a page directly to your navigation.

Save or Cancel is located outside the right column and to the right of the page title.

1. Save / Cancel - You can click SAVE to commit your changes to the system or CANCEL if you do not wish to save your changes.

There are two option after you’ve made changes. You can save as a draft or you can publish the page.

You can also unpublish a page. Unpublishing a page does not remove it from Drupal, but it does remove it from public view. If you unpublish a page please contact web-update@swarthmore.edu, or submit a ticket so we can adjust search engine results.

1. Draft - To create a draft (or update an existing draft), simply select Draft in the drop down, and then click Save.
2. Published - To make your webpage (or current draft) the new live version, select Published in the drop down, and then click Save.