Welcome to ForMinistry Web_builder Tips

Using Your Text Options - Part 1

This is part 1 of 2 in a series on using the text options available through the Text Editing Tool. You can see this tip (and others) online, or go straight to the archives.

For more page design tips, go to the WWWD section of web_builder.

Introduction

ForMinistry's Web Builder offers a great text building and editing function. The text area itself is set up as a simple word processor, so you can make changes and edits just as you do with your own computer's word processor.

This tool also includes a number of different features that will enhance each text item. They are located in the Text Edit window as you scroll down past the main text input area. Features such as teasers, text parts, and display options help to set up how each text item is viewed on your website. These web_builder tips will focus on these functions to help you use them effectively.

For more online help with these functions, go to our Quickhelp site.

The Teaser Function

A teaser is a way to display a text item when you don’t want to publish all of the text on the first page. Readers will see only the text of the teaser, along with a link to the rest of the copy if they want to read further (by clicking on more).

This function is a useful feature when you don't want to create a new page for ever single text item you want to put up. For instance, if you have a "Sermon Archive Page," You can just place each of the teasers on it, and they will link to their respective sermons.

  1. In the Edit This Text window, scroll down to Teasers.
  2. Enter the text for the teaser you want people to read.
  3. Click on Save and Update when finished.
  4. On your page, click on Options. You will see two options: Display Text and Display Teaser.
  5. Click on Display Teaser. (If you only want to show the text, click on Display Text.)

Alternatively:

  1. Click on Other where you want to place your text teaser.
  2. Under Text, choose Display Teaser.
  3. If you are creating a brand new item, click on Add text to your website. If it's already in your Content Manager, click on Use text already online.
  4. The text edit window will appear - after making changes, click on Save and Update. Your page will refresh with the teaser shown.

Note: When displaying your item as a teaser, the main text will show up on it's own "page." This page is self-generated through the ForMinistry tool, so in reality it's not a real page added to your website. When you take off the teaser from the page it's on, the page that contains the main text will be gone as well. So in essence, the "page" acts as a holder, nothing more.


Text Parts

If you would like your text item to be seen in a series of pages, you can split your item up so that each page will be seen separately. This is used when a text item is either to large to fit on a page or it takes alot of scrolling down to get to the end.

Text parts are great for items such as long articles, statements of faith, directory information, notes, web logs, etc. To create your text item to be viewed on seperate pages:

  1. In the Edit This Text window, go down to the Text Parts section (shown above).
  2. Click the check box next to Put each part on its own page?
  3. (Optional) Create a title for Part One (Part One will include everything that is in the text area).
  4. Click on Save and Update.
  5. Click on Add Text for Part Two, and add text in the main text area (and optional title).
  6. When finished, click on Save and Update.
  7. Repeat for successive pages.

At the top of each page, you will see links to each page number.

You can also just keep your text item in seperate parts (for your own benefit), and show your text item on one page by unclicking the box next to Put each part on its own page? By doing so, this text item will be seen as one whole, while still being in seperate parts for editing purposes.

 

Stay Tuned for Next Week's Tip...

We'll be covering Text display options, Copyright information, and much more...


Until next time...


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