The Planet online editing system uses a combination of form-based design options, rich-text editing, variable templating and optional style sheet customisations.

 

Profiles

Profiles are respositories of design information, and also represent the prototype page for a given design. Profiles include options to specify virtually every aspect of an HTML page, as well as some constructs which go beyond the specifications for HTML.

 

Thus you can edit all standard HTML tags, but you can also specify default styles for structural components which are part of every Planet Online web page:  header, footer, left column, content and right column.

 

Links

Links are pages you add you your website, and derive their default styling from their parent Profile. Links are also highly customisable, as virtually every inherited style can be over-ridden in the properties of the Link style.

 

You can create groups of link pages which all share the same base style by creating a base profile and making each of your links inherit from that profile. You can then make minor variations to that inherited style in the properties of the link page itself.

 

Variables

Another way of structuring shared information is through te use of variables, which can be placed anywhere in the text of any link or profile. Variables are created using the variable editor, and are referenced by using a standard templating escape format. The ability to use variables give the designer a greater flexibility over the use and re-use of content.

 

Style Sheets and Javascript

Each profile and each link has its own optional style sheet and javascript element. This allows further customisation and fine grain control of all page features. Use of style sheets and Javascript requires appropriate technical skills.

 

Rich Text Editor

All content sections of each page and each link can be edited using the rich text editor. The rich text editor is a plugin which allows easy formatting of text and images and the creation of many more HTML structures such as tables, forms and media inclusions.

 

Image Repositiory

This feature allows you to upload images into a library which can be accessed from the rich text editor. The images can be uploaded in any format and are automatically converted to the configured file format (default is JPG).  The images are stored in a number of different standard sizes, including the original, native size.

 

Image Editor

This feature allows you to perform basic photoshop-style editing filters and transformations on images stored in your image library. You can rotate, sharpen, adjust contrast and add borders.