Log in to Cascade: https://bowdoin.cascadecms.com/home.act.
In the site chooser, search for (or navigate to) the "Profiles Blocks" site. Note that this is a separate site from the Faculty and Staff Profiles site.
If you do not have access to the profile blocks site, please reach out to Communications to schedule a quick training.
Feature Summary
Profile blocks are blocks that can highlight people, places, and things. They can display an image, title, customizable category fields, and expanded content within an accordion; nearly all of these fields are optional, so they are quite flexible. Profile blocks are available on academic, administrative, core, and museum pages.
Blocks are managed in one central location—the "Profile Blocks" site—to encourage sharing these assets across sites.
Blocks do not need to be published; in fact, you won't even see the "Publish" button as an option within the Profile Blocks site. In order for your profile block to appear on bowdoin.edu, you will have to apply your block(s) to a page in your site and publish the page on which your block has been added.
For example, you may have a page on alumni in your site where you want to add a new profile block. If you change an alumna's name in one of those blocks, you would need to correct her name in the block and then go publish the "Alumni" page in your site. In other words, nothing will be reflected on the live site until you publish the page the block is on.
Create a New Profile Block
To add a new profile block, click the "Add Content" button on the navigation bar. Select "Profile Block."
The block editor view will pop up.
Replace the default value in the "XHTML/Data Definition Block Name" field with something more descriptive. Note that this system name is not visible anywhere, as this block cannot be published as a standalone page, but naming your block descriptively will help you keep your folder organized.
Add in the title or name of your block—the only other required field—and submit.
Edit a Profile Block
To Edit: Click on your profile block. Click "Edit."
To Save: As you edit your profile block, your changes will auto-save; however, for best results, periodically save your work. To do so, click on "Preview Draft," followed by "Submit," and "Submit" again.
To Submit: Click Preview Draft > Submit > Submit.
Here are the available fields in a profile block:
XHTML/Data Definition Block Name: To keep things organized, consider using a consistent naming format (gradyear-lastname, for example). This block name will not surface on your website pages, but naming conventions will help you keep things sorted. Block names should be short, all lowercase, and free of special characters and spaces.
Placement Folder: If your office already has a folder, please navigate to your office's folder or make sure to drag your block into this folder when you're done. If your office does not yet have its own folder, please create one and put your block(s) inside that folder. This is a shared site across many different site editors.
Image File: Upload your image here. Note that you can upload your image to this site OR within your department/office site. Either way will work, but you will need to make sure to publish any associated block images separately.
Alternative Text: If you added an image, make sure you include alternative text describing it.
Name: Use this field for the name that will display on your block.
Last Name: You can leave this field blank; the full name of your block can go in the "Name" field. This field has been preserved for legacy content.
Type: Alumni or Custom. The "Alumni" block is a legacy feature that has been preserved so that previously created blocks do not lose their content. It has fewer features, fields, and options. If you're creating a new block, select Custom.
Category: Optional field that will let you provide additional context to your block—e.g., Class Year, Hometown, Major, Advisor, etc. Text will be bold.
Text: Text relevant to the specified category.
Summary: Optional text that appears beneath your photo.
Expanded Content? Yes or No. If Yes is selected, you will have the option to add content that will be revealed in an accordion.
Row > Text: Here, you can add your expanded content using the WYSIWYG and Media Type uploader.
Delete a Profile Block
In the "Profile Blocks" site, navigate to the relevant profile block.
Right-click on the block. Select "Delete" from the menu of options.
The block will go into the Trash Can.
Note: you will need to re-publish any page on which the profile block appeared for it to go away. For example, if someone asks you to take their profile block down, you will need to first delete the block, then republish your department's "Alumni and Careers" page.