A closer look at the Drupal side of our Northeastern University Libraries website redesign//Drupal build. Presented by Lisa Sawin to the Rice University Library Drupal Group on June 5, 2012.

1. Drupal: A Glimpse
at Northeastern
University Libraries
Website

2. Who is iFactory?
• Based in Boston
• Interactive design and development company with over 20
years experience
• Division of RDW Group, full-service communications agency
• Designers, strategic consultants, information architects,
usability experts, developers
• Higher ed profiles include:
colleges & universities | public & private | large & small
undergraduate & graduate
ivy league to community colleges | across the country

3. Where to find us
www.ifactory.com
blog: interactivity.ifactory.com
Find us as iFactoryBoston:

4. What you’ll learn today:
• Configuring some aspects of the Drupal admin to
enable a wide variety of users to create content
• Customizing display of complex content
types, including using javascript blinds to show/hide
information
• Setting up a variety of views for different ways to
list, filter and sort content
• Tagging to enable highlighting content which otherwise
does not get enough attention
• Using the Field Permissions module to deliver fine-
grained customization of content delivery

5. Your presenter
Lisa Sawin
Solutions Architect for iFactory
Lisa has 10 years experience in software and web application
design. As a Solutions Architect for iFactory, Lisa's role is to be the
technical voice on projects, from the initial client meetings through
planning, construction and delivery of the final site. She is
experienced in developing Drupal and WordPress sites for a wide
variety of clients in various verticals, from libraries to higher ed to
small businesses.

6. Higher Ed Websites
• Often have a variety of content creators
• Content is often added without being screened
• Content can be very complex
• Users may need a variety ways to access this
complex information
• Site may have a lot of information users don’t
even know they would be interested in
• Different users may need different views of the
same content

7. Higher Ed Websites
• Often have a variety of content creators
• Content is often added without being screened
• Content can be very complex
• Users may need a variety ways to access this
complex information
• Site may have a lot of information users don’t
even know they would be interested in
• Different users may need different views of the
same content

8. Higher Ed Websites
• Often have a variety of content creators
• Content is often added without being screened
• Content can be very complex
• Users may need a variety ways to access this
complex information
• Site may have a lot of information users don’t
even know they would be interested in
• Different users may need different views of the
same content

9. Higher Ed Websites
• Often have a variety of content creators
• Content is often added without being screened
• Content can be very complex
• Users may need a variety ways to access this
complex information
• Site may have a lot of information users don’t
even know they would be interested in
• Different users may need different views of the
same content

10. Higher Ed Websites
• Often have a variety of content creators
• Content is often added without being screened
• Content can be very complex
• Users may need a variety ways to access this
complex information
• Site may have a lot of information users don’t
even know they would be interested in
• Different users may need different views of the
same content

11. Higher Ed Websites
• Often have a variety of content creators
• Content is often added without being screened
• Content can be very complex
• Users may need a variety ways to access this
complex information
• Site may have a lot of information users don’t
even know they would be interested in
• Different users may need different views of the
same content

12. Higher Ed Websites
• Often have a variety of content creators
• Content is often added without being screened
• Content can be very complex
• Users may need a variety ways to access this
complex information
• Site may have a lot of information users don’t
even know they would be interested in
• Different users may need different views of the
same content

13. Drupal Strengths &
Weaknesses
• Admin users have a lot of power
• Admin user interface can be overwhelming
• Many contributed modules available to help
• Extensible by custom modules, too

14. Drupal Strengths &
Weaknesses
• Admin users have a lot of power
• Admin user interface can be overwhelming
• Many contributed modules available to help
• Extensible by custom modules, too

15. Drupal Strengths &
Weaknesses
• Admin users have a lot of power
• Admin user interface can be overwhelming
• Many contributed modules available to help
• Extensible by custom modules, too

16. Drupal Strengths &
Weaknesses
• Admin users have a lot of power
• Admin user interface can be overwhelming
• Many contributed modules available to help
• Extensible by custom modules, too

17. Drupal Strengths &
Weaknesses
• Admin users have a lot of power
• Admin user interface can be overwhelming
• Many contributed modules available to help
• Extensible by custom modules, too

18. Customizing Admin
Features layouts increase freedom
• Constrained page
while maintaining unified look & feel
• Only give content creators the tools you’d like
them to use
• Image styles constrain images to fit layout
• Use combination of contrib and custom
modules to constrain WYSIWYG tools

19. Customizing Admin
Features layouts increase freedom
• Constrained page
while maintaining unified look & feel
• Only give content creators the tools you’d like
them to use
• Image styles constrain images to fit layout
• Use combination of contrib and custom
modules to constrain WYSIWYG tools

21. Customizing Admin
Features layouts increase freedom
• Constrained page
while maintaining unified look & feel
• Only give content creators the tools you’d like
them to use
• Image styles constrain images to fit layout
• Use combination of contrib and custom
modules to constrain WYSIWYG tools

22. Customizing Admin
Features layouts increase freedom
• Constrained page
while maintaining unified look & feel
• Only give content creators the tools you’d like
them to use
• Image styles constrain images to fit layout
• Use combination of contrib and custom
modules to constrain WYSIWYG tools

23. Customizing Admin
Features layouts increase freedom
• Constrained page
while maintaining unified look & feel
• Only give content creators the tools you’d like
them to use
• Image styles constrain images to fit layout
• Use combination of contrib and custom
modules to constrain WYSIWYG tools

27. Contrib + custom = just right
• CKEditor gives us control over WYSIWYG
options per text format
• Better formats can restrict a user’s ability to
change text format
• A custom module adds the missing puzzle
piece to restrict WYSIWYG options
• http://drupal.org/node/1192062

28. Contrib + custom = just right
• CKEditor gives us control over WYSIWYG
options per text format
• Better formats can restrict a user’s ability to
change text format
• A custom module adds the missing puzzle
piece to restrict WYSIWYG options
• http://drupal.org/node/1192062

31. Contrib + custom = just right
• CKEditor gives us control over WYSIWYG
options per text format
• Better formats can restrict a user’s ability to
change text format
• A custom module adds the missing puzzle
piece to restrict WYSIWYG options
• http://drupal.org/node/1192062

33. Contrib + custom = just right
• CKEditor gives us control over WYSIWYG
options per text format
• Better formats can restrict a user’s ability to
change text format
• A custom module adds the missing puzzle
piece to restrict WYSIWYG options
• http://drupal.org/node/1192062

35. Contrib + custom = just right
• CKEditor gives us control over
WYSIWYG options per text format
• Better formats can restrict a user’s ability
to change text format
• A custom module adds the missing puzzle
piece to restrict WYSIWYG options
• http://drupal.org/node/1192062

36. Mitigate risk, increase
freedom
• Remove the option to “break” the site
• Encourage content creators by giving them an
easy-to-use interface

37. Mitigate risk, increase
freedom
• Remove the option to “break” the site
• Encourage content creators by giving them an
easy-to-use interface

38. Mitigate risk, increase
freedom
• Remove the option to “break” the site
• Encourage content creators by giving them an
easy-to-use interface

39. Complex content
• Databases, services, software, courses, etc
• Lots of associated information
• Users may be confused about what these
content types really are

40. Complex content
• Databases, services, software, courses, etc
• Lots of associated information
• Users may be confused about what these
content types really are

41. Complex content
• Databases, services, software, courses, etc
• Lots of associated information
• Users may be confused about what these
content types really are

42. Complex content
• Databases, services, software, courses, etc
• Lots of associated information
• Users may be confused about what these
content types really are

43. Thoughtful presentation
is key
• Consistent, structured layout
• Understandable terms
• Expected interactions: a link should do what
the users expect it to do
• Graphic design: use of color, font, spacing

44. Thoughtful presentation
is key
• Consistent, structured layout
• Understandable terms
• Expected interactions: a link should do what
the users expect it to do
• Graphic design: use of color, font, spacing

45. Thoughtful presentation
is key
• Consistent, structured layout
• Understandable terms
• Expected interactions: a link should do what
the users expect it to do
• Graphic design: use of color, font, spacing

46. Thoughtful presentation
is key
• Consistent, structured layout
• Understandable terms
• Expected interactions: a link should do what
the users expect it to do
• Graphic design: use of color, font, spacing

47. Thoughtful presentation
is key
• Consistent, structured layout
• Understandable terms
• Expected interactions: a link should do what
the users expect it to do
• Graphic design: use of color, font, spacing

49. Creatively remove
excess info
• Blinds to hide some of the content
• Icons
• Link intuitively

50. Creatively remove
excess info
• Blinds to hide some of the content
• Icons
• Link intuitively

51. Creatively remove
excess info
• Blinds to hide some of the content
• Icons
• Link intuitively

52. Creatively remove
excess info
• Blinds to hide some of the content
• Icons
• Link intuitively

53. Use a variety of list
styles
• A-Z index
• Exposed filters
• Break down into menu items

54. Use a variety of list
styles
• A-Z index
• Exposed filters
• Break down into menu items

55. Use a variety of list
styles
• A-Z index
• Exposed filters
• Break down into menu items

56. Use a variety of list
styles
• A-Z index
• Exposed filters
• Break down into menu items

57. Related content blocks
• Sitewide vocabulary to connect content
• Blocks to display on single node pages
• Context to place blocks

60. Related content blocks
• Sitewide vocabulary to connect content
• Blocks to display on single node pages
• Context to place blocks

62. Related content blocks
• Sitewide vocabulary to connect content
• Blocks to display on single node pages
• Context to place blocks

63. Related content blocks
• Sitewide vocabulary to connect content
• Blocks to display on single node pages
• Context to place blocks

67. Altering site content for
users
• Field Permissions for displaying individual
fields for specific roles
• Context module handles display of blocks
on a per-role or per-section basis
• Custom context conditions for block
presentation based on page views

68. Altering site content for
users
• Field Permissions for displaying individual
fields for specific roles
• Context module handles display of blocks
on a per-role or per-section basis
• Custom context conditions for block
presentation based on page views

71. Altering site content for
users
• Field Permissions for displaying individual
fields for specific roles
• Context module handles display of blocks
on a per-role or per-section basis
• Custom context conditions for block
presentation based on page views

72. Altering site content for
users
• Field Permissions for displaying individual
fields for specific roles
• Context module handles display of blocks
on a per-role or per-section basis
• Custom context conditions for block
presentation based on page views

73. Higher Ed Websites
• Use the power of Drupal to help your content
creators feel empowered to keep content up-to-date
• Present complex content thoughtfully to make it
easier to for users to understand and find what they
need
• Target information to users, so they only see what
they need
• Harness serendipitous discovery to show content to
user who may not even know they were interested

74. Higher Ed Websites
• Use the power of Drupal to help your content
creators feel empowered to keep content up-to-date
• Present complex content thoughtfully to make it
easier to for users to understand and find what they
need
• Target information to users, so they only see what
they need
• Harness serendipitous discovery to show content to
user who may not even know they were interested

75. Higher Ed Websites
• Use the power of Drupal to help your content
creators feel empowered to keep content up-to-date
• Present complex content thoughtfully to make it
easier to for users to understand and find what they
need
• Target information to users, so they only see what
they need
• Harness serendipitous discovery to show content to
user who may not even know they were interested

76. Higher Ed Websites
• Use the power of Drupal to help your content
creators feel empowered to keep content up-to-date
• Present complex content thoughtfully to make it
easier to for users to understand and find what they
need
• Target information to users, so they only see what
they need
• Harness serendipitous discovery to show content to
user who may not even know they were interested

77. Higher Ed Websites
• Use the power of Drupal to help your content
creators feel empowered to keep content up-to-date
• Present complex content thoughtfully to make it
easier to for users to understand and find what they
need
• Target information to users, so they only see what
they need
• Harness serendipitous discovery to show content to
user who may not even know they were interested

78. www.ifactory.com
interactivity.ifactory.com
info@ifactory.com
617.426.8600
Find us as iFactoryBoston: