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Logging into the CMS

This is an overview of the log in process and how the workspace inside Cascade is setup.  Information on how to find assets and move throughout the Cascade system.
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Recommended browsers

The CMS is a Web-based application accessed through a Web browser. The Cascade CMS supports most major browsers: Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari. (At this time, Internet Explorer is NOT recommended because small anomalies are being reported.  IE will still work, but it may not be quite as easy to do things as in other browsers.  We have also had reports that some things do not work correctly with Chrome). We have not done enough testing in IE 11 or Edge browsers. For optimum compatibility, make sure to use a reasonably current version of your browser of choice so that all features of the CMS work correctly.

BOLD = recommended browsers

Logging in

Login screen

  1. Using your Web browser, go to upstate.edu/cascade
  2. Log in using these credentials:
    • Username: your Upstate username (the first part of your email address - type in all lowercase)
    • Password: Your MyAccount "Single-Sign-On" password.
  3. The main Web CMS window appears.

The Dashboard

The Dashboard

The central pane of the screen, your Workspace, will display whatever you are working on. When you first login, this Workspace is populated with your Dashboard.

The Dashboard begins with the section entitled History.  This section shows the last 10 items that you have worked on or viewed.  New Content Wizards is underneath the History, and this is where you will find a list of Content Wizards (also known as Asset Factories) that allow you to create pages, bring in images and files, and other assets. You can also access the same list of Asset Factories, by selecting New > Upstate > tab in the Menu Bar.

On your Dashboard, you'll also see section for Content To Review, Stale Content, Messages, Drafts, Locked Assets, and Workflows. Messages, Workflows, Locks and Drafts are available as tabs at the top of the Dashboard as well. Clicking on one of these Dashboard Tabs will enable you to view a more comprehensive listing of each category.

In the top right you will see two buttons: Add Widget and Reset Dashboard. The Add Widget button allows you to customize your dashboard by adding, removing and configuring the various widgets. Reset Dashboard rests it to the factory defaults, which are what is displayed in the above screenshot. There is also a Learn More Button in the upper right of the Dashboard which provides access to Hannon Hill's online knowledge base. This button is always available at the top of the Workspace to provide contextual help depending on what is currently displayed in the Workspace.

Cascade Workspace Overview

When you log in, you will see the Home Area. The Home Area consists of the Header, the Menu Bar, the Asset Tree and the Workspace, currently occupied by the Dashboard.  If you are responsible for more than one site, you will need to select the correct site in the drop-down menu area (in the Header, in the screen shot below, it says "Training").

Once you have selected a site to work with using the drop-down menu, the home page will look something like this:

The Workspace

The Header

The Menu bar

The Header is always available at the top of CMS screen; it offers the following options:  

  1. Cascade Server logo: Clicking on the logo brings the user to the main Dashboard page.
  2. Drop-down menu: Shows the sites inside upstate.edu that are currently in Cascade.
  3. Add Content: Menu of options to CREATE or UPLOAD items in Cascade.
  4. Site Content: Shows base view of all assets in your site.
  5. My Content: Provides a menu of links to often used features in your dashboard and history.
  6. Search: Search feature to quickly find assets.
  7. Identity: Show information on your account, image, settings and logout.
  8. Menu: View a few items such as publish queue and sites list.

Asset Tree

The Asset TreeThe Asset Tree, located in the left side bar, displays the folder structure of your site. Clicking on the gray tab between the two sections can collapse the asset tree. If you do not see the Asset Tree, click the red arrow.

The Asset Tree folder structure includes all of the assets that make a web site: Web pages, folders, images, PDF's and other document files.

You will always see "Base Folder" at the top. Click on the name of a folder to expand it and view its contents. The site is made up of:

  • Folders: Every page on your site must live in a folder. Every folder must have a "home page" named index.
  • Pages: These are the actual Web pages that are displayed on your site.
  • Files/images: You can upload files and images to place on Web pages.

To access any of these components, click on the name. This will bring up the page or file in View mode.

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