Welcome to WebTools 101
So many applications; but where to start?
That's why we created this page: to give you the 411 on each of our applications. You'll get a brief overview of each tool in the toolbox and links to examples of how other Illinois professionals are using these tools. Dig in!
(Note: This information is repeated in each tool with the corresponding link. AND there's a Click for Help link at the top of every page that will add pertinent comments to every field and section)
Have a recent example you'd like to share with us for this page? Send it to jmcmahon@illinois.edu.
Blogs
The Blog gives you better blogging power and more spontaneous user interaction. An alternative to your current third-party blog, we give you greater control and better fine-tuning capabilities on locally controlled servers for better support.
Blog setup is where you will create and keep the list of your blogs. You can also see blogs created by your unit and department (see tabs). You can manage and create content for your blogs on the separate link. Just click the pencil icon in order to add posts and add files. You can post and approve or deny comments and additional posts as well.
EXAMPLES
Office of Sustainability: From Here to Copenhagen
Discussion Boards
The Discussion Board creates a conversation list of topics set up by you. Similar to the Blog, the Discussion Board allows you to initiate a topic and commentary and invites users to view, comment and share the content.
Discussion Board setup is where you will create and keep the list of your discussion posts. You can also see discussions created by your unit and department (see tabs) and have the option to include it in the DB Directory Listing. You manage the content of your posts and control the comments here. You can edit your posts: add copy, images and files; approve or deny comments; and send out new posts to subscribers.
EXAMPLES
Academic Professionals: Glossary of Campus Acronyms
Mother and Dads Association Message Board
Engineering: Railroad Engineering
Calendars
Calendar setup allows you to create new calendars or change settings for existing calendars.
There are three types of calendars:
• Use the Event calendar to post individual events;
• Use the Master calendar to combine groups of calendars.
• Use the Resource calendar to post events that do not overlap on a given date or time.
Use Manage to add and edit events. Be sure to fill in the required "*" information. Email events as an enewsletter, individually or in groups, with this tab. Choose your events from a calendar, apply formatting (skin and layout), choose your groups, even personalize it...and send it out.
EXAMPLES
Department of Computer Science
Aerospace Engineering Event Calendar
Beckman Institute for Advance Science and Technology
List Builder
List Builder is a display device with variable options. Traditionally designed to build lists or "components," you can now create slideshows, rotating text, navigation and more.
Just drop the generated javascript include into your website and you can edit the content without accessing the html.
To manage your List, add items (images, files, links, copy) with the option to publish right away, schedule or save for later. Be sure to choose an item type (your choice) for the default. Email items as an enewsletter, individually or in groups, with this tab. Choose your events from your lists, apply formatting (skin and layout), choose your groups, even personalize it...and send it out.
EXAMPLES
ILLINOIS website: A Minute With ...
College of Veternary Medicine Images
Public Affairs: Announcements and highlights
Forms
Form Builder lets you create forms that match your own materials: reservations, applications, checkouts, registrations...university-related business only please. If you're not sure about how to set up your form, check out our Sample Form on the Prebuilt tab to get you started.
Generate reports for your form anytime: available in both Excel and PDF format. Generated in real-time, these reports can be pulled while still live, but will need to be regenerated once the form has been stopped for complete reporting.
EXAMPLES
Campus Rec Sports Equipment Checkout
Illinois Directory Dept Information Change Form
Department of Political Science Email Subscription
Surveys
Survey Builder helps you submit queries to support your university-related business and get measurable results. You can create public, internal, private and secured surveys.
Generate reports for your form anytime: available in both Excel and PDF format. Generated in real-time, these reports can be pulled while still live, but will need to be regenerated once the form has been stopped for complete reporting.
Public Affairs Notice:
Surveys ARE anonymous. Netids WILL NOT be included in the report and WILL NOT be supplied out when requested. If you wish to collect netids use the Form Builder and set Security to "Secured".
IRB Notice:
Avoid research delays: check to see if your on-line survey requires approval from the campus
Institutional Review Board.
EXAMPLES
College of Education HRE Research/Evaluation Consent Form
Advisory Committee on Teacher Education
Email+
Email+ gives you different newsletter formats as well as text messages options. The Create button lets you choose a content format: choose from three one-column layouts as well as a two-column option. IE users can copy content from Word and drop it into the text editor. Advanced users who have Dreamweaver, or knowledge of html and inline styling, have additional options.
EXAMPLES
Department of Chemistry Newsletter
Asian Education Media Service News
News Bureau: Illinois in the News
Marketing Internship Cooperative
eCards
Step up your invitations, announcements and notices with these attractive eCards." Just add a title, content and signature and send it out to your preferred groups. Several options are available in campus-related colors and images...just for you. Want something special? Contact the Web Services staff and we will work with you to create your own version.
EXAMPLES
Group Manager
Make your world easier with the Group Manager. Save emails adresses for communications, permissions and privileges, groups, and more. Once you create your group, you can add, delete, search, subscribe and unsubscribe at your fingertips. This is a MUST HAVE for anyone who works with large groups and scheduling.
Short URL
Shorten your key-time with ShortURL. Take your longest URL and shorten it as much as you can, with the appropriate campus "go" designation. Grab yours before it gets taken.
EXAMPLES
Campus General Calendar: go.illinois.edu/generalcalendar
Advancement Portal: go.illinois.edu/advancelink
News from the Soybean Press: go.illinois.edu/soybeanpress
Raven eBook for Molecular and Cellular Biology 150: go.illinois.edu/raven150
File Manager
File Manager is a must for anyone who works on the web but has no access to a server for posting images, files and associated docs online.
Upload your files in File Manager and you have a distinct URL for displaying the files that make your web information truly "live."
EXAMPLES
Skin Designer
Skin Designer creates the "look" or skin that frames your message, your WebTools files and even your web pages.
Choose from our campus-related options or create your own skin to match your website or online presence. Need help with your skin? Just use the Contact Us link and we will help you set up the skin that is just right for you.
EXAMPLES
