Frequently Asked Questions about Plone and our website.

This is a listing of all the common questions that users have sent it regarding our website.

» What is Plone?

Plone is an open source content management tool that is designed to help manage a website.

» How is it different from the usual website setup?

Unlike other tools, Plone can:

• Automatically generate navigation elements
• Make content searchable and indexable
• Keep track of users, their permissions and security settings.

» How can I start using Plone?

You can log in to Plone with your email username and password. Once you are log in, you will see your Name on the dark green row underneath the top navigation shown in the figure below

» Plone is not allowing me to log in, why?

It could be that you haven't activated your email account. Activate your email account by going to the Webmail section of our website (http://www.sunyrockland.edu/contact/webmail). If you still having trouble logging in, contact the Help Desk at (845) 574 - 4283.

» Do we still create pages?

No, we are creating "Articles." Articles are like pages but they are dynamically generated by Plone. All you have to do is to give Plone all necessary information that you want to show up and Plone will do the rest.

» Any rules?

Yes, we have created rules in order for our website to be more consistent with each other. The rules can be found on the Web Help section of our website (http://www.sunyrockland.edu/help/web/rules-for-website-creation/). You must remember, you have to follow the rules or your access will be revoked.

» Do you have tutorials on how to create stuff in plone?

Yes we do. We have created a couple of tutorials that can be found at the Help section of the RCC Website (www.sunyrockland.edu/help).

» I still need help in creating my article, what should I do?

Go to our Online Ticketing System and fill out the request form. The form can be found on the Information Technology Department website. (http://www.sunyrockland.edu/about/departments/information-technology/IT-request-form/online-request-form)

» My colleague has a different editor, why?

We have three different editors that are available to plone users.

1. Basic HTML textarea editor: this editor is basically for those who know HTML coding. Sort of like a Notepad where you have to type all the tags to create an article.
2. Kupu: editor that has the standard buttons to help you in creating your article
   
3. FCKeditor: editor that has more buttons and styles that you can use in creating your article.
   

»How do I choose my editor?

1. Go to Preferences
2. Choose Personal Preferences
3. Scroll down until you see Content Editor
4. Choose the editor you want on the drop down menu
5. Click Save

» Can I add images?

You are only allowed to add an image. The image has to fit within the 700 x 300 dimension. If you multiple images that you want to display, think about creating a montage. Also, if you added the image, make sure you have permission to do so.

» I don't have any idea what kind of image to add or how to fit the image into the required dimensions, can someone add it for me?

Yes, I can assist you with the image. If you have your own image, please send it to me and I'll add it to your article. You must always remember that you need permission from the owner of the photograph before you can use it on our site. Permission must be in writing and cannot be just word of mouth.

» Once I have created my article, what should I do next?

You have to Published the article in order for it to be part of the left navigation as well as be searchable by our Search System. To published your article:

1. Click on "Public Draft" located on the right most corner of the light green row. This will open a drop down menu.
   
2. Click on Publish and you will see that the work public draft will become Published.

» I want to edit my article but the Edit tab won't show up, why?

Did you unpublished your work? If not, then you should unpublished the article before you will be able to edit the article. To unpublished your article, click on "Published" located on the right most corner of the light green row and choose "Retract." You should now be able to see the Edit tab.

» My screen looks weird?

It could be just Plone didn't load up properly. Try refreshing the page by hitting F4 and see if your display normalizes. If not, contact the Help Desk.

» My department is not on the site?

It could be:

1. On the old site, your department wasn't maintain. Else, there was no reason to migrate the old site to the new site.
2. Your department was newly created.
3. There was no sense in creating an internal site for your department because you had an external site.

If you want to recreate/move your site to our server, fill out a request on our Online Ticketing System.

» How long do I have to wait before I can get access to my site?

It will depend on how busy I am and how many higher priority projects I have on my plate. As a Chinese saying states "Patience is a virtue."

» I just created an article or I just edited an article and save it. But why is it not showing on the left navigation?

You must remember that in order for the article to show up, you have to Publish it.

» I am trying to edit an article but it won't even allow me to unpublished the article, why?

You do not have editing rights to the article. Contact the owner of the department and asked them to give you editing rights to the article. I have a created a tutorial for granting access and can be found in the Help Section of the website (http://www.sunyrockland.edu/help/web). Please do not contact me as I won't give you access to an article unless I get a prior written approval from the owner of the article so it is best if you just asked them to give you access.

» Can you change the navigation so it only shows my own navigation?

We are still working on how to make the navigation to show up only the certain folder. Please come back here for updates regarding the navigation.

» What do I need to do to add my department on the top navigation?

Send in a request and we will be determine whether it should be on the top navigation.

» How to add email address to my article?

It depends on the editor you are using.

1. Basic editor :Move your cursor to the line where you want to add your email address and type: <a href="mailto:jsmith@sunyrockland.edu">Email </a>
2. Kupu:
   1. Highlight the word that you want to your user to click for your email
      
   2. Click on External Link ¹. This will open a window called External Link Erase the word "http://" on the box under the "Link the highlighted text to this URL:" and type in "mailto:jsmith@sunryockland.edu" (without the quotation marks)². Click ok³.
      
   3. You will see that the word "here" is linked.
      
3. FCK Editor:
   1. Same step 1 as the Kupu.
   2. Click on "Insert Link" button, it is depicted by a globe and a chain link¹. This will open a Link window. Change the link type to E-Mail² and type in your email address on the E-Mail Address box³. Click Ok⁴.
      
   3. You will see that the word "here" is linked
      

»I'm using Netscape to update my department site. Can I use other browsers?

Yes you can. You can use other browsers to update your site. Better yet, open your site using different browsers as some codes or styling won't apply to some browsers.

» I need to find a department but I cannot find it.

You have two ways to locate what you are looking for:

1. Use the A-Z Index which can be found on the top right of the main website.
2. Use our search function, just type in the name and the search function will locate every article that has word you typed in.

»I'm looking for a form, where can I find it?

You can go to the Forms directory of our website. It has the listing of most of the forms available per department
(http://www.sunyrockland.edu/rcc-forms). If the form is not listed on the forms directory, try going to the department's site and see if the form is available online. It is possible that the form is not available online hence, you have to contact the department for information on how to get the form.

» I want to suggest a course, how to I go about it?

Contact the appropriate department to which the course/subject pertains. If you are not sure, you may contact the Records/Registrar at (845) 574-4328

» How do I access my online class?

Contact the Office of Distance Learning for information on how to access your online courses (www.sunyrockland.edu/go/distance-learning).

»I'm having problem signing in to my account (Webmail, WebAdvisor)?

• Make sure you have activated your account either through Webmail or WebAdvisor.
• Make sure your username and password is correct.

If you are still having problems signing in, please call the Help Desk at 574-4386.

»I forgot my Login Name and Password?

You can retrieve your user name and password by going to the WebMail section of our site and clicking on Find my Login Name

»I was looking for my email but I could not find it?

There are two ways to get to Webmail. The first one would be going to our homepage and clicking on the Webmail button located at the top right of the page. The second way would be typing webmail.sunyrockland.edu on your browser's address bar.

»I'm want to check my grades?

Go to WebAdvisor and sign in with your email username and password (WebAdvisor).

»I want to check the schedule of classes.

Go to WebAdvisor and sign in with your email username and password (WebAdvisor). Go to Registration and click on Search for Sections.

»I want to register for classes online but it won't let me, why?

You probably don't have clearance to register online and you need to talk to your Advisor to get cleared to register online. Also, you won't be able to register prior to your registration date. If you are still having problems, contact the Registrar at (845) 574 - 4328 or go to their website for more information about online registration (http://www.sunyrockland.edu/prospective-students/registrar).

»I want to print my schedule of classes.

Go to WebAdvisor and sign in with your email username and password (WebAdvisor). Go to Academic Profile and click on My Class Schedule.

»I want to drop a class.

For information on how to drop classes, please call the Registrar Office at (845) 574 - 4328

»I want to know the requirements of my program per semester.

Some departments have posted their program requirements per semester on their department's website (Academics - Academic Departments). If not, contact the academic department to find out the requirements.

»How to I know if the college is closed or there is a delayed opening due to inclement weather?

Please visit the college's Snow Delay and Cancellation Policy. You may also call the Snow Emergency Hotline at (845) 574 - 4034.

»Is there a job listing in RCC?

If you are a RCC student, you can visit the Career Services Center located in the Technology Center, Room 8220 or go online at www.sunyrockland.edu/go/career. The center provides assistance to students in career choices, internship placement and job opportunities.

If you are from the community and interested in working for the college, visit the Human Resources Department at www.sunyrockland.edu/go/hrd for a listing of available job positions in the college.

»I want to use the gym facility

Please visit the Family Recreation Services site at www.sunyrockland.edu/community/family-recreation for pool and weight room hours.

NOTE: Students are free to use the gym facility as long as they are enrolled for 6 credits or more.

If you didn't find the answer you are looking for, please email the question by clicking here