Announcements Database: Adding Announcements to a Page

Before you can display your announcements on a page, you need to set up your announcements in the Announcements Database. If you have not yet done that, please review Announcements Database: Getting Started first. 

To add announcements to a page, you need to add an Announcements tool to a page. There is an announcements tool for the main body and also the right side. They are very similar, except that the right side bar tool is narrower, to fit your right side bar. 

To Add an Announcements Tool to the Main Body:

1. In Site Manager, go to the page where you want to add the tool. 
2. Click "Select a Tool to Add" where you would like the new tool to be located.
3. Select "Announcements" under "Data Output" from the drop down menu. 
4. This will take you to the properties page for your new announcements tool.
• Announcements Categories: Select which categories you want to show in this tool. 
• Display RSS Graphic: Select if you want an RSS Graphic to be included on the page.
• RSS Title for this Feed: If you would like to customize the name of the RSS feed, enter that here. 
• Display Expandable Content: If you want your announcements to be displayed as expandable, with the text cut off after 120 characters, select "yes". If you want the full text be displayed in the tool, select "no". We recommend using the expandable content if you have many long announcements and want to make it easier for your users to browse them all.
• If no announcements are found, display this text: In this editor, you can customize the text that displays if you do not have any announcements. The default text is "There are currently no announcements.". 
5. Once you have filled out all of the fields, click "Add Announcements Listing".

To Add an Announcements Tool to the Right Side Bar:

1. In Site Manager, go to the page where you want to add the tool. 
2. At the top of the page, select the "Right Side" tab. 
3. Click "Select a Tool to Add" where you would like the new tool to be located.
4. Select "Announcements" under "Data Output" from the drop down menu. 
5. This will take you to the properties page for your new announcements tool.
• Announcements Categories: Select which categories you want to show in this tool. 
• Display RSS Graphic: Select if you want an RSS Graphic to be included on the page.
• RSS Title for this Feed: If you would like to customize the name of the RSS feed, enter that here. 
• Display Expandable Content: If you want your announcements to be displayed as expandable, with the text cut off after 120 characters, select "yes". If you want the full text be displayed in the tool, select "no". We recommend using the expandable content if you have many long announcements and want to make it easier for your users to browse them all.
• If no announcements are found, display this text: In this editor, you can customize the text that displays if you do not have any announcements. The default text is "There are currently no announcements.". 
6. Once you have filled out all of the fields, click "Add Announcements Listing."