Creating a New Basic Page

Basic Pages are used for most content on colgate.edu. They offer flexible layout options for creating everything from simple informational pages to more engaging pages with images, cards, accordions, videos, and other content components.

If you’re unsure whether a Basic Page is right for your content, see What Type of Content Do I Need?

Note: Only users with the Content Creator permission can create a new Basic Page. If you don’t have this permission, contact University Communications at website@colgate.edu for assistance.

Get Started

1. Log in to Drupal.
2. Select Workbench from the Drupal toolbar, then select Create content.
3. Select Basic Page to open the page editor.

Details

Title

Enter a clear, descriptive title for your page. The title appears in several places, including:

• At the top of the published page, unless overridden by the Hero Title.
• In the browser tab.
• In search results.

Keep titles concise and descriptive so visitors can quickly understand what the page is about.

Body

Use the Body field to introduce your page and provide context for the content that follows. A short overview using the Lead-in text style can help visitors understand the page’s purpose.

Use Sections to build and organize the rest of your page.

For help with formatting and layout, see Using the Text Editor and What Can I Add to My Page?

Summary

Select Edit Summary to add a short description of your page. This summary may appear in search engine results.

See Metadata and Search Engine Optimization for more information.

Hero

The Hero controls how the title and supporting media appear at the top of your page, below the main navigation. Choose the style that best supports your content.

Default

Displays the page title without a hero image. This is a good choice for straightforward informational pages.

Basic

Displays a full-width image behind the page title. A hero image is optional and isn’t necessary for every page.

To add an image:

1. Select Add Media.
2. Choose an existing image from the Media Library or upload a new one.
3. If uploading, provide a descriptive file name and appropriate alternative text.
4. Save and insert the image.

Alternative text should briefly describe meaningful information conveyed by the image for visitors who cannot see it.

Video

Displays a looping, b-roll video behind the page title. The Video Hero includes several options:

• Hero Logo (optional): Adds a wordmark or icon over the video. Include appropriate alternative text.
• Hero Image (required): Displays when the video is paused or cannot play.
• Hero Video (required): Select an existing video from the Media Library or upload a new one.
• Hero Links (optional): Adds a small number of call-to-action links beneath the page title.

For Hero Links, enter or select the destination URL and provide clear, descriptive link text.

Side by Side

Displays a 50/50 layout with the page title on a maroon background alongside a landscape image. This style works best when paired with Hero Text.

Choose high-quality media that works well with the selected layout. Keep important visual elements away from the edges where cropping may occur.

Campus Resources & Services Sidebar

The Campus Resources & Services Sidebar lets you add links to related pages within the Campus Resources & Services section of the website.

See Adding Campus Resources & Services Links for instructions.

Advanced

The Hide Navigation option allows you to hide the In This Section navigation that normally appears on the page.

In most cases, leave this navigation visible to help visitors explore related content.

Sections

Sections are where you’ll build most of your page content. They allow you to organize text, images, cards, accordions, and other components into flexible layouts.

You can add multiple Sections and arrange them in the order that best supports your content.

See What Can I Add to My Page? for an overview of the available components and how to use them.

Access Groups

Access Groups determine which offices and departments can edit and maintain your page. They do not affect who can view the published content.

1. Select the appropriate office or department from the dropdown.
2. Select Add another item if additional groups need editing access.

Choose only the groups responsible for maintaining the content. Accurate assignments also help keep editors’ Workbenches focused on the pages relevant to them.

See Access Groups for more information.

Page Settings

Page Settings appear on the right side of the editor and control publishing, navigation, URLs, and other administrative information. Many of these settings can be left unchanged unless your page requires something specific.

Revision Log Message

Optional. Add a short note describing the changes you’ve made. Revision messages help editors understand what changed when reviewing a page’s history.

Save Status

Controls where your page is in the publishing process. Depending on your permissions, options may include:

• Draft: Saves your work without publishing the changes.
• Needs Review: Submits completed changes for review and publication.
• Published: Makes the approved content available on the live website.
• Unpublished: Removes content from public view without deleting it.

See Publishing & Managing Content for more information.

Menu Settings

Menu Settings determine where your page appears in the website’s navigation and hierarchy.

Select Provide a menu link when the page should appear in site navigation.

Menu Link Title

By default, Drupal uses the page title in navigation. Enter a different Menu Link Title only when shorter or alternative wording is needed.

Description

Add an optional description for the menu link.

Parent Link

Determines where your page belongs within the website’s hierarchy.

Main Navigation is selected by default. Choose the appropriate area of the website, then continue through the available options until you reach the page that should serve as the parent.

If you’re unsure where your page belongs, review the navigation of a similar page, refer to your department’s site map, or contact University Communications at website@colgate.edu.

Weight

Controls the order of pages that share the same parent in navigation. Pages with lower weights appear before pages with higher weights.

See Changing the Order of Menu Items for more information.

Meta

Typically, no changes are needed.

Contains additional information about the page that may be used by search engines or when sharing links.

URL Alias

Typically, no changes are needed.

Drupal automatically generates the page’s web address. Only change this setting when a specific URL is required.

Authoring Information

Typically, no changes are needed.

Contains information about who created the page and when it was created.

Promotion Options

Typically, no changes are needed.

These options are not currently used for most Colgate pages and should generally be left unchanged.

Saving Your Page

When you’re finished editing, choose the appropriate status from Page Settings before saving.

Save as Draft

Use Draft when you’re still working on the page or want to return to it later.

1. Under Page Settings, select Draft.
2. Select Save at the top of the page.

Draft changes are saved in Drupal but are not published to the live website.

Submit for Review

Use Needs Review when your page is complete and ready for publication.

1. Under Page Settings, select Needs Review.
2. Select Save at the top of the page.

Your page will be submitted for review by University Communications.

For additional information, see Publishing & Managing Content.