• Cofax Navigation
• Importing Files
• Searching for Articles
• Ordering a Section
• Creating or Editing a Section
• Creating or editing an article

Creating or editing an article

The Articles screen can be reached in one of three ways:

• Arriving at it directly from the Editor's Tools log in screen
• Via the Import File screen
• Via the Search screen

However you've reached the Articles tab, there are just a few required fields to fill out before saving the article. Of course, filling in the optional fields will make the article much more interesting to the reader, with links to other stories and the addition of graphics.

When you're done filling in the required fields and any of the optional you choose to use, simply click the Save Article icon and you'll have added your new article to your site's content.

Required Fields

Note: If you arrived at the Articles screen in edit mode (via the Search screen), changing any of the required fields will result in a new article being created based on the old one. You cannot change any of these fields and end up with the same article.

Code , also called "File Name" or "Slug", will be used in URLs to identify an article along with publication, date, and section. For example, to have a URL equaling /content/inquirer/2002/03/01/myfile.htm you will have typed a "Code" of "myfile" here.

Publication Date will determine on what date this article will be found. It helps to identify the uniqueness of an article.

Section will determine the 'main' mapping code of an article. Along with "Code", "Publication", and "Publication Date", it determines the uniqueness of an article.

Publication is already filled in for you and indicates what publication an article is in. An article's publication designation cannot be changed.

Item ID is assigned to the story upon story creation. The Item ID remains static throughout the life of the story regardless of version. It can be used to call for a story you are constantly updating, such as weather.

Optional Fields

The Disable check boxes allow you to 'disable' an article's display through the CDS on two different layers - the article story page itself by checking "article" and section front digests by checking "section".

The Delete definitively article check box allows you to permanently delete an article from the database. This box should be used with care.

Initial rank will determine an article's ranking on a section front, if that section has not been re-ordered using the " Order Section " tab.

Article Type identifies an article with an "article type"'. These can be particular columnists, or other kinds of article types that have been created in the " Edit Article Type " screen. Article Types stay consistent to an article no matter what section or "Mapping Code" an article has been mapped to.

Mapping Codes are additional sections/categories you want an article to be related to and to be shown in. You can map an article to an unlimited number of sections. Three more slots at a time will open up on the form if you use all that are available on the form by default. (You'll have to save and re-edit the article for this to happen.) The Rank field will determine where in that section/category an article will appear. Simply check the Remove from map check box to delete an article's relationship to a mapping code.

Title is the main title that accompanies a story.

Subtitle is a secondary title to accompany a story.

Web Headline is an additional field you can use for headlines in your display.

Lead appears on story digests below headlines. It should consist of the first paragraph of the body or at least the first few sentences. This should be repeated in the body.

Lead In is the first sentence or teaser from the Lead, if used.

Byline is the byline you wish to accompany an article.

Body is the body text of the article itself, which should include the lead if desired.

Adding Graphics to Your Article (optional)

First, select what type of image you are trying to add from the Select Type pulldown. Currently, there are two types of graphics: article images and section images. An article image will be displayed (when called by a package tag) in a article template. Similarly, a section image will be displayed (when called by a package tag) in a section template.

Next, click the Browse button and select a graphic to upload from your hard drive.

Finally, type a caption in the Caption field. A caption is the text that will be displayed below the graphic (when called by a package tag.)

Adding Links to Your Article (optional)

You can add or edit related links assigned to an article in the Related Links section. Clicking the Search Cofax button will take you to the Search Article screen. On that page you can enter search terms to find the article you'd like to link to. If there are results returned there will be a "Link Article" link within that article's field. Merely click the link and you'll be taken back to the Create Article screen with your link filled in for you. The Text box will be the text filled in the "Title" box when that article was created.

Like Mapping Codes above, if all available slots are taken, simply save and re-edit the article and more will be made available.