I've received a few inquiries in the last couple of days regarding the use of "random" in some Site Builder assets (notably, the Spotlight Stories). The option allows the page to display a random story each time that page is called.

The question I get is 'why, then, does the same story often show up,' and how 'can you (Dave) fix it.'

Let's take a look at how the function actually works before I make any comments on why we do it the way we do.

WARNING - TINY BIT OF MATH AHEAD

Basically, a random function will pull a number from between 1 and whatever limit you assign....

Site Builder codes--those asterisk encased numbers strewn about the system--just got an upgrade! You can still use them the way you always have: insert a code, such as *file1234* into any text field in Site Builder 3, and the code gets converted to the file or a link to the file!

Now, you can also put file codes, page codes and survey codes into the link popup of the text editor.

The link editor popup. Highlight the text you want to link and click the chain link button on the text editor toolbar to add a link!

We've just implemented a new feature in Site Builder 3 that allows you to bulk edit the dimensions of images in a File Group. I know, I know. Another feature? More goodies from WAT?

Folks, you deserve it.

When you select "Image Gallery" in a File Group's edit page, you've had the option to select "Reduced Display Size for Slides." Now, you will also see a drop down allowing you to select one width for ALL of your images!

A few caveats. First, this will only work for File Groups that contain only images. If Site Builder detects a non-image file, it will turn away in sadness and not show the dropdown. Second, this will not make small images bigger unless we have a bigger original on file already. Lastly,...

In June of 2009, shortly after the ANR Statewide Conference, I received the go-ahead to build Site Builder 3. I had submitted a proposal in December of 2008, but resources were slim at the time and the project was put aside. The energy created by the conference was enough to bump the new Site Builder up in priority, allowing me them necessary time to build it.

Creating an entire content management system from scratch is no small task. It took about four months of fairly intensive work to get to a beta stage, and then another three or so months of fine-tuning to get it ready for division-wide release.

So how did it all begin? And, did we end up where we thought we'd be? First, there was the proposal from 2008 (below). We...

Normally, I don't write opinion pieces. When I post something to this blog, it's usually about a new and completely majestic addition to one of our many systems. Not today, so I understand if you are already disappointed.

As mentioned in the last post, I've been doing a TON of Site Builder training throughout the division, more than we've ever done before, and I've noticed that the trainings have changed quite a bit in the four years I've been doing them. What started as a "click here to make this happen" approach to Site Building has become a "consider this approach" to disseminating your content.

I spend more and more time engaging the audience in a conversation about *how* to create...