This section offers some handy tips to make your time in the PBS LearningMedia CMS more efficient and effective. Please make the most of these as you work in the tool - they can be very helpful!
Go directly to the resource
When viewing a resource or collection on pbslearningmedia.org, click the THIS RESOURCE feature located to the right of the Admin button in the upper left side of the screen on each resource to view the resource in the CMS.
| Resource | Collection |
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Follow the workflow
Probably the biggest time saver when working in the CMS is following the simple workflow that remains the core of the PBS LearningMedia content contribution process:
- Add all of your media
- Create your asset(s)
- Create your resource(s)
Adhering to this workflow keeps all of your material organized and establishes a path that is easy to trace back at any time. This process ensures that all of your content is in the system and, remember, you only need to look to your content project to find everything.
Associated filenames
When creating media files, assets, and resources, give each associated file the same name. Doing this keeps your file structure organized and makes it clear which files belong together. For example, in your content project you want to create one resource about dogs in Alaska. The naming convention should go as follows:
- Video media: Dogs-in-Alaska.mp4
- Asset: Clip-Name-Media-Type (example: dogs-in-alaska-game)
- Resource: Clip Name | Episode/Series Name (example: Dogs in Alaska | Our Dog World)
Keep two browser windows open
As you approach the end of the content contribution process and your resource is ready to publish, keep two browser windows open:
- One browser viewing the CMS (https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/admin/cms/)
- One browser with your published resource on www.pbslearningmedia.org
As soon as you publish your resource, review it on www.pbslearningmedia.org. The moment you see something that needs to be modified, switch back to the browser with the CMS open and click Unpublish. This removes your resource from public view so you can make necessary changes before anyone sees it. Publish and review again until the resource displays the way you want it to.
Adding dates
When adding the Available from, Expiration, and Publication dates to your assets and resources, save time by clicking the Today link and then manually modify the date.
Click the is primary checkbox
When creating an asset, be sure to designate at least one asset as primary by checking the "Is primary" checkbox. Even if you are including an alternate language video in addition to the primary video, you must still check the "is primary" checkbox next to the primary asset. Failing to mark an asset as primary will result in an error.
Make a date
For every asset and resource, assign a date in the Available from date and Expiration date fields. Date fields can be found under the Additional Metadata section for Resources and under the Ownership and Rights section for Assets. Failing to assign these dates can result in an error. Remember, the expiration date must be later than the available from date.
| Asset | Resource |
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Strip away text formatting using Notepad or TextEdit
Strip away any formatted text by copying and pasting text into either Notepad (PC) or TextEdit (Mac).
Programs such as Notepad (PC) and TextEdit (Mac) strip away all formatting and ensure that your text appears correctly on the page. Copy the text from your outside source and paste it into either Notepad or TextEdit. Copy the text from there and paste it into the PBS LearningMedia admin tool, where you can add any desired formatting.