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A File is considered to be any sequence of bits stored on the server's database as a single unit. For the purposes of Cascade Server, files are typically created by external programs and imported for use in Cascade.

Images, PDF documents, and text files are some common examples of files used in Cascade Server. Only text files are editable inside the system.

Characteristics of Files in Cascade

A File is considered to be any sequence of bits stored on the server's database as a single unit. Images, PDF documents, and text files are some common examples of files used in Cascade Server.

Files are created by applications and conform to a particular file format (associated with a file extension). A file is characterized by its filename, file extension, file size etc. Files can be uploaded and managed either directly with Cascade Server, or by creating an Asset and selecting the file override option. When file override is used, that asset’s content is overwritten with the contents of the selected file.

File Types Supported by Cascade

Cascade Server supports uploading of any files. Administrators may choose to edit the list of supported file types by defining them in the system options. Additionally, the system provides for custom metadata fields and workflows for different file types.

Uploading (creating) Files in Cascade

File Upload is an option available when creating or editing files, templates, stylesheets and XML blocks. File Upload allows a user to select a file to upload from their hard drive, which will then be used to fill in the content of that asset. When creating an asset, if no name has been specified, the name of the file from the hard drive will be inherited.

This is especially useful when working with large pieces of text or markup - sometimes the content may simply be too large or cumbersome to edit in the web interface. File Upload allows users to take that content, edit it on a local machine using any text or markup editor, save changes and then upload those changes back into the system.

Uploading a new File or Image in Cascade is simple. After Selecting New -> Default -> File from the top navigation window, a user must type in the desired file name (remember the file name being uploaded is retained if no name is specified), select the file to upload via the File Choose icon and selecting the desired file to upload, and clicking Submit.

Please Note - When using File Upload on an existing asset in the system, that asset's content will be overwritten using the content from the uploaded file.

Uploading Zip Archives in Cascade

Cascade makes it easy for users to upload a new Zip Archive. The steps are basically the same as when uploading an image or pdf file, except instead of going to New -> Default -> File from the top navigation window, go to Tools -> Import -> Zip Archive.

Then browse to select the Zip Archive you want to upload, and choose the folder in Cascade to place it in.

Image Handling in Cascade

Images are treated like any other asset, and are stored as such. They can be placed in a default image repository, or they can be stored with other relevant content, at the discretion of the administrator. The system provides for custom workflows, access rights, and image manipulation tools.

Uploading an image is done through the asset factory, using the same method used for creating other content items. This method also ensures that the appropriate metadata is included with the image, making it search engine friendly, and 508 compliant for persons with disabilities.

WCMS-managed images can be inserted into a page via the WYSIWYG editor by clicking on the Insert Image icon. In addition, users with the appropriate access rights may upload images directly via the WYSIWYG editor.

Inserting an Image Using the WYSIWYG Editor

You can insert an image that is located in one of the website directories (in the left asset tree) or one that is on your computer’s hard drive. If the image file is on the computer’s hard drive, it must first be uploaded to a website directory before being inserted into a page. Inserting the image into a page is done using the WYSIWYG editor.

Uploading (Creating) Files in Cascade

Images, PDF documents, and text files are some common examples of files used in Cascade Server. Only text files are editable inside the system.

To upload a new file:

1. From the top navigation menu, select New -> Default -> File.

2. Type in the File Name (The file name being uploaded will be retained if no file name is input).

3. Select the file to upload by clicking the File Chooser icon next to the File Override field. Navigate to and select the file to upload and click Submit.

4. Choose the folder in which the file should reside by clicking the Folder Chooser icon. Navigate to and select the desired folder and click Submit.

5. If the file you are uploading is a ZIP Archive, go to Tools -> Import -> Zip Archive outside of this process.

6. Check the Rewriting box to select whether or not to rewrite the text files as hyperlinks.

7. Check the Indexing and Publish boxes to include this file when indexing and publishing. Indexing is used for sitemaps and other navigational features. The publishing feature allows the user to keep a content piece or file unpublished until checked.

8. Check the Spell Check box to enable the spell check feature; in the case of a file, the Spell Check feature will check spelling for all metadata fields.

9. Check the Workflow box in order to Bypass the Workflow process (leave it unchecked to ensure it does go through a workflow).

10. Enter any Comments about the new file as necessary.

11. Show the Metadata options and edit them as necessary.

12. Click Submit to save your newly uploaded file.

Uploading Multiple Files at Once 

Multiple images can be uploaded at a single time via the Zip archive importer as well as using SOAP-based web services.

Uploading Files By Importing a Zip Archive 

An archive is a file that contains other files packaged together. There are many formats that are used to package files in such a manner, the most widely known are probably the ZIP file format (cross-platform) and the Stuffit file format (Mac only). There are many other archive file formats as well. An archive allows a computer user to organize and transfer files easily. For example, Cascade Server allows the user to upload a ZIP archive into the system and then unzip it. This is very useful when uploading content for integration: instead of uploading each HTML file and image individually using the File Override option, they can be packaged into one file, uploaded once, and then the system will unpack it as if each file were transferred individually.

To Upload a new Zip Archive:

1. Use the top navigation menu to go to: Tools -> Import -> Zip Archive.

2. Click Browse to select the Zip Archive you’d like to upload.

3. Choose the Folder in which to place the Zip Archive.

4. Press Submit.

Inserting Files and Images in Cascade

Insert WCMS-Managed Images Using the WYSIWYG Editor 

You can insert an image that is located in one of the website directories (in the left asset tree) or one that is on the computer’s hard drive. If the image file is on the computer’s hard drive, it must first be uploaded to a website directory before being inserted into a page. Inserting the image into a page is done using the WYSIWYG editor.

To insert an image:

1. Locate the page in which you want to insert an image, and select Edit from the action bar.

2. Once in the WYSIWYG editor, click your mouse where the image will be inserted so the cursor is visible.

3. Click the Insert Image icon.

4. Using the image chooser, locate the image within the folder where it resides.

5. Preview the image and set its properties (see below).

6. Click Submit to complete the insertion of the image into the page.

7. Click Submit, in the WYSIWYG editor, to save the inserted image in the page.

Image Properties: (which can be accessed by simply right-clicking the image you’ve inserted)

• Image Location - This shows the directory and name of the image.

• Alternate Text - This text will appear when a cursor rolls over an image.

• Alignment - This will align the image within the WYSIWYG editor.

• Border Thickness - This will adjust the thickness of the image’s border.

• Horizontal Padding - This gives the amount of space between the left and right sides of the content area and the image.

• Vertical Padding - This gives the amount of space between the top and bottom sides of the content area and the image

Certain image properties, such as size, may be adjusted within the WYSIWYG itself. Simply click on the image and drag the border to shrink or enlarge. Please note, however, that this method of resizing will not alter the file size or resolution and therefore should only be reserved for minor adjustments.

More On Files for Administrators and Managers (Installation and Set-up Related)

File Details 

The CMS enables the LDAP-enabled enterprise to effectively integrate already-established user-group relationships into the system user-group information architecture.

This integration is two-fold. The LDAP migration tool allows the integrator to set up and automate:

1. Migration of users and groups from LDAP installation into the CMS

2. Real-time authentication of users brought in from the LDAP installation.

Sample File Details 

A sample LDAP configuration file is provided with the default install. This sample file can be found in

• %INSTALL_DIR%/server/default/deploy/program.ear/ldap/ldap-config.xml

and to be recognized by the CMS, it must be placed in the base directory. This is the same directory into which the License.dat file must also be placed.

The file itself must be valid XML. The root element is <ldap-synchronization-configuration> which itself has three sub-elements:

• <options>

• <schedule>

• <policies>

Restricting File Types With Asset Factories (File Limit Plug-In) 

This plug-in allows administrators to place restrictions on the size and type of file created using a specific asset factory.

If a user, for example, creates or uploads a new file using an asset factory, this plug-in checks to see if the file extension is .doc and that the file size is no larger than 1MB. If either of these conditions are not satisfied, then the asset is not created and a message is displayed to the user explaining why.

To activate this plug-in:

1. In the Administration area select Asset Factories.

2. Select a current asset factory, or create a new one by selecting “New Asset Factory”.

4. On the “Plugins” tab, select “File Limit Plugin” from the “Add Plugin” drop down. Click the green plus sign to add the plug-in.

3. Add one or both of the following parameters:
   
   Size – Setting this value will require that files created by this asset factory not be larger than this size (in kilobytes).
   
   Filename Regex – Setting this value will require files created by this asset factory to match this regular expression.

Limiting File Names (Friendly File Name Plug-In) 

This plug-in limits the system name of file assets to a-z, A-Z, 0-9 and underscores, periods, and hyphens. Because this plug-in is deprecated, we recommend using the file limit plugin in its place.

To activate this plug-in:

1. In the Administration area select Asset Factories.
2. Select a current asset factory, or create a new one by selecting “New Asset Factory”.

4. On the “Plugins” tab, select “Friendly File Plugin” from the “Add Plugin” drop down. Click the green plus sign to add the plug-in.

3. This plug-in takes no parameters.

Configuration File Management 

Cascade Server 5 brings along with it the added convenience of managing configuration files directly from the application instead of managing files on the server.

To manage configuration files:

1. Navigate to Tools -> System -> Update Configuration

2. This will bring you to the Configuration Management Screen

3. Select the configuration file you would like to update:

· LDAP

· Product License

· Image Editor License and Configuration

· Publish Trigger Configuration

· Custom Authentication Configuration

4. Copy the contents of the new configuration file and click Submit.

5. The system will check the new file contents to ensure it is valid before overwriting any existing file.

The content supplied for each of these configurations will correspond exactly to the content of the license or configuration file used in previous versions of Cascade Server.

PLEASE NOTE - If Cascade Server 5 boots for the first time and a License file could not be detected, before you will be able to login, you must update the Product License configuration with the contents of your License.dat file.

Importing Static Files in Cascade

The integrate folder utility is a useful tool designed to import legacy content. More specifically, its function is to import the main content region of a page and specific metadata values into the Cascade Server database. If you look look at the example files located in our demo.zip file, you will see that a main content region has been notated with the following dreamweaver comment tags: <!-- #BeginEditable "main" --> and <!-- #EndEditable -->. As the Integrate Folder utility parses through the files, it will extract the content contained within this region and place it in the Cascade Server database. If no main content region has been specified, the Integrate Folder utility will import everything within the opening and closing <body> tags. In addition, the integrate folder utility will also extract the following metadata values: Display Name, Title, Summary, Teaser, Keywords, and Description. Once this process has finished the new template can be applied.

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