Providing Access to Live Catalog(s)/Handbook(s)
Curriculum Strategy Catalogs and Handbooks have unique URL’s. Each year when a new Catalog or Handbook is created, the URL is different than it was the previous year. For this reason, consider what is the most efficient way to share current catalog(s) and/or handbooks(s) with viewers. Regardless of the option selected, here are some important things to remember:
- Keep the Catalog and Handbook naming convention consistent year after year
- Create some internal process documentation to define who is responsible for updating any links that may have changed, how, and when those changes should be made
- Whenever an item is relabeled (Rename) or moved, the path of the item changes. If you set-up an API that pulls content based on the path or if you have links to specific pages on your website, the links will need to be updated each year as the path of an item does change, unless you use the “Current” method indicated below.
Accessing Links to Catalog and/or Handbooks: Where to Embed Them
Options for embedding links to Catalogs/handbooks
- Embed the links to each specific catalog/handbooks directly to a webpage (usually provided to a webmaster who manages the page)
- Embed a link to the All Catalogs Page of the system: (domain.smartcatlogiq.com)- This allows you to have one static link on your website that is managed by the System Admin who controls what catalogs (current and archived) and handbooks are available
Things to Consider:
- System Admins have control of when the link is available for current catalogs/handbooks since they update the links to any Current Catalogs and/ or Archived Catalogs and Handbooks that are linked on this page
- The All Catalog Page helps organize all of your catalog/ handbook links on a single page for easy access and control
- The URL to this page never changes so it can remain a static link on your website, thus requiring no changes by the Web Master
- An institutional redirect (such as domain.edu/catalog redirecting to domain.smartcatalogiq.com) can be a good way to easily direct users from an institution URL to the All Catalogs page. (This decision should be made with your IT department as the hosting of a custom domain needs to be done on the institution end - CS does not support these implementations.)
- It is an additional click in the navigation of a user. Individual lands first on the All Catalogs page and then clicks on catalog or handbook links
Managing Catalog Links: Creating Static Links
Since the path of a Catalog/ Handbook or specific page changes each time you create a new catalog, you may want to consider creating a static URL to prevent the need to update links.
Curriculum Strategy has two options for creating a static URL: Current Redirect or Current Calendar Year.
Things to Consider:
- System Administrators update the link from year to year to identify which catalog/handbook is current, thus the URL on your website remains constant meaning no action items for your web master
- You can still use the All Catalogs landing page to share these static links
- Both options do require you to either redirect or relabel the catalog or handbook to ensure access.
How to Find Your Catalog(s)/Handbook(s) URL
Part 1:
Locate the Catalog URLon the All Catalogs page. Copy and paste that URL engage.smartcatalogiq.com
Part 2:
Highlight the Catalog or Handbook item
Click the Hamburger stack in the upper left hand corner
Select Item Properties
In the Item properties box, locate the Item Path. Copy the portion that begins with the calendar year for your catalog/handbook
Finally Assemble the complete URL: