University Computer Centre
Creating websites with TUCAL

Authoring and Layout System TUCAL

To create and maintain websites in the corporate design of the TU Chemnitz, we recommend using the authoring and layout system TUCAL.

Basic structure of a TU website Basic structure of a TU website

How it works

  • For a group of documents, e. g. web pages of a professorship or a project, you define the contents of the frame (content menu on the left, header, navigation and footer - see dimmed area around the red frame) once. This will happen in a web form.
  • You create and maintain the contents with an HTML Editor in the browser. PHP scripts are also possible.
  • The layout system (PHP script with CSS files) takes care of creating the complete website (frame + content).

Advantages:

  • By using the layout system, the author can concentrate on the content, as the design (the "frame") is created from the specifications.
  • Changes to the corporate design and adaptations to new standards or browsers are handled by the layout system – the web author does not have to become active.

Technical realisation at a glance

content page
<?php require_once('config.inc'); seite(__FILE__); ?>
<h1>Page heading</h1> …

Every document starts with this line. It can be followed by normal HTML text or PHP code. The easiest way to create and change these files is to use the authoring system. More info…
 
config.inc  

In the config.inc file you define the appearance of the frame (content menu left, header, navigation, footer).
The config.inc file only needs to be created once for a group of documents. To maintain this file, we recommend the authoring system. More info…
 
layout system  

The layout system creates the frame from the specifications in the config.inc file and includes the content page.
 
Finished document
Example page URZ		   This is how the page created by the layout system looks in a web browser.

Quick start: Creating new web pages

  1. Open the web file manager WFM in the web browser: https://wfm.hrz.tu-chemnitz.de/wfm/
    If necessary, log in to the Web Trust Center with your user ID and password.
  2. "Click" your way to the corresponding folder in the web space. Create a new one if necessary: Below the file list you will find the input field "Neuer Ordner" (new folder), confirm with the button "Anlegen" (create).
  3. Create the frame definition:
    View in WFM
    • At the bottom: Create new config.inc file with the option "TU Corp. Design: Rahmen" (frame)
    • Fill in the form based on the existing planned structure Navigation, menu, author, etc.
    • Save
    • Click on pencil icon to make changes
    • Details see frame
  4. Create a file for each content page:
    View in WFM
    • New file: Name as defined in menu above, use option "TU Corp. Design: Inhalt" (content)
    • Create or insert the content in the HTML editor. The operation largely corresponds to a word processor.
    • Save
    • Web view by clicking on world icon
    • Changes via click on pencil icon
Screenshot TUCAL

Quick start: Changing web pages

To change the content of web pages, click on "For authors" in the footer. If this is not visible, you must first log in by clicking on "Login" in the header or footer. If you have permission, you can now edit and save the content in the HTML editor.

Please note that every saved change is immediately visible to other people as well.

For structural changes, such as adding, changing or removing menu items and associated web pages, proceed as follows:

  1. Click on "For Authors" → the HTML editor opens.
  2. Click on pencil icon behind the field "Rahmen:" (frame) → the editor for the frame definition opens. If this is not possible: Search for the file with the frame definition: Click on reload icon to open the folder view, search for the associated config.inc file and click on pencil icon behind it.
  3. Change the frame definition in the editor under "Menü-Leiste" (menu bar). You can create and change files for new points by clicking on pencil icon.