03 Publishing Channels
- Jason Jason
- Andrew Petro
Publishing a channel is the process of making new content available for users to subscribe to and view in their layout. Generally a channel will be given some input documents, and then uPortal will render those in their layout. uPortal channels can accept a wide variety of document types as input for channel rendering.
- Select the Channel Manager icon in the header to access the Channel Manager channel. Only users with access to channel management will see this icon in their header.
- Next, select whether you wish to edit an already existing channel, or to create a new one:
The top of the Channel Manager shows the 'Workflow' for creating and editing channels. Exactly what options are listed in this workflow may depend slightly on what type of channel (chosen in the first option) you have selected to view or create. The workflow designats a suggested way to work on a channel. Selecting any heading will immediately take you to that spot in the workflow.
Figure 2.9: Channel Manager - Workflow Diagram
Below is a list of the workflow elements that are consistent throughout all channel types. Followed by the specific resource needs by each individual channel type.
Channel Type
The Channel Type defines the type of input that is used to populate the channel. For example, an RSS channel will use an RSS document as input, where as an Image channel will need some image format such as JPEG, GIF or PNG.
Figure 2.10: Channel Manager - Channel Type Options
Each different channel type has settings used to describe the location and types of resources needed for it. These are specialized to the channel type. After these are defined, some further settings are needed that are common to all channel types.
See 11 Channel Types and their Use for discussion of the available channel types.
General Settings
The general settings define the name for the channel.
Figure 2.11: Channel Manager - General Settings
- Channel Title - The Channel Title is the name of the channel that will appear in the header of the channel, "Word of the Day," when it renders in uPortal.
- Channel Name - The Channel Name is how the name of the channel will appear in the content subscriber channel.
- Channel Functional Name - The Channel Functional Name is used when searching for the channel using java or web services. This name should be unique to avoid conflicting results
- Channel Description - A description of the channel that renders in the channel manager when editing channels.
- Channel Timeout - The amount of time in milliseconds that is allotted for the channel to render before it cancels the action.
- Channel Secure - A checkbox that determines if the channel renders in a secured setting, such as HTTPS.
Channel Controls
Each Channel has three optional controls that can be added to it at the time the channel was written. If any of these controls are developed, then the appropriate button(s) will appear on the channel.
Controls |
Description |
|---|---|
Editable |
An editable channel has extra information that is supplied to it by the user, such as a zip code for determining weather. This information is supplied by the user at the time they originally subscribe to the channel. The 'Editable' button will allow the user to change the settings for the channel. |
Has Help |
Some channels are rather complicated, or have many setting and options for their use. One common example of this is the webmail channel. These channels will have a help dialogue written about them to help the user learn about its full function. |
Has About |
Similar to the 'Help' feature, 'About' will provide extra information about the channel to the user. Rather than information about the function of the channel, however, the 'About' feature will tell the user about the development of the channel, such as who made it and when. |
Figure 2.15: Channel Manager - Channel Controls
Categories
The category selection screen is where you decide the categories in which the new channel will be listed during content subscription. Below the 'Members' heading are all of the possible categories for this channel. To chose the categories for the new channel:
- Select the checkbox for each of the categories where you wish this channel to be listed.
- Choose the 'Select Marked' button to submit the checked categories. Figure 2.16: Channel Manager - Select Categories A
- The list of categories will refresh to show the selected options.
- If you are satisfied with the current selections, the chose the 'Next' button at the bottom to continue. Otherwise, repeat steps 1 and 2, or
- Select the checkbox of a currently selected category below the 'Selected Groups:' headng and then choose the 'Deselect' button to remove that category from the list.
Figure 2.17: Channel Manager - Select Categories B
Groups
The 'Groups' is a restriction setting for the new channel that defines who will be able to subscribe to it. Selecting the groups restrictions functions similar to selecting the categories.
Figure 2.18: Channel Manager - Select Groups A
Figure 2.19: Channel Manager - Select Groups B
Review
The 'Review' is a list of the settings for this channel. Each of the 'value' listings is a link that will go directly to the part of the channel workflow where that setting can be changed. Selecting the 'Finished' button at the bottom of the page will save these settings and publish the channel.
Figure 2.20: Channel Manager - Review