Starlight Portal User Handbook

Summary

Starlight Portal is a rich content management, knowledge management and

collaboration platform designed to meet the demands of the small-medium class
enterprises and organizations.
Starlight Portal is perfect for setting up an enterprise portal (including blog, news and
document features), personal portal or organization portal.
Starlight Portal contains the following parts: accounts, page design, modules,
security settings, skins, blog, news and document.
Starlight Portal contains two licensing options: Open Source License and
Commercial License.

Accounts

Accounts is the base of Starlight Portal and is the base of the security subsystem of
Starlight Portal, to use Starlight Portal well, you have to manage your accounts well first.
Every account in Starlight Portal has a site associated with it. It can be visited
through the url, http://<domain>/<accountname>/default.aspx.
The accounts of Starlight Portal contain two parts: groups and users. There are four
built-in accounts in Starlight Portal: everyone, all, administrators and administrator. The
first three accounts are group accounts and the last one is a user account.
The everyone group contains all of the users of Starlight Portal and anonymous
users.
The all group contains all of the users of Starlight Portal. It differences with the
everyone group that it doesn’t contain the anonymous users.
The administrators is the group of administrators of Starlight Portal.
The administrator is the default administrator of Starlight Portal.

Groups

Group is a collection of users in Starlight Portal. The security subsystem of Starlight

Portal is using the groups and users to set access authorization, so managing your
groups well means you can set access authorization easily.
How to create a group?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/groups.aspx, it shows you all groups of Starlight

Portal.
Note: You have to have the access authorization of “Manage Accounts”.

2. Click the “Create New Group” link, It shows you the page of “Create New
Group”.

3. Input the information of the group, and the members of the group.
4. Click the “Create” link to go back to the Groups page, click the “Create & New
Group” to create another group.
How to edit the properties of a group?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/groups.aspx, it shows you all groups of Starlight

Portal.
Note: You have to have the access authorization of “Manage Accounts”.

2. Click the “Edit” link of the group, It shows you the page of “Edit Group”.

3. Modify the information of the group, and the members of the group.
4. Click the “Update” link to save your changes, click the “Delete” link to delete the
group.
Note: If you choose to delete the group, all information about that group will be
deleted, so make sure you really want to delete it.
How to delete a group?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/groups.aspx, it shows you all groups of Starlight

Portal.
Note: You have to have the access authorization of “Manage Accounts”.

2. Click the “Delete” link of the group.

Note: If you choose to delete the group, all information about that group will be
deleted, so make sure you really want to delete it.

How to join a user into a group?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/groups.aspx, it shows you all groups of Starlight

Portal.
Note: You have to have the access authorization of “Manage Accounts”.

2. Click the “Edit” link of the group, It shows you the page of “Edit Group”.
 3. Input the user account name in the “Members” area.
4. Click the “Update” link to save your changes.

Users

User is a account that can login to the Starlight Portal. The security subsystem of
Starlight Portal is using the groups and users to set access authorization.

How to create a user?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/users.aspx, it shows you all registered users of

Starlight Portal.
Note: You have to have the access authorization of “Manage Accounts”.
 2. Click the “Create New User” link, It shows you the page of “Create New User”.

3. Input the information of the user.

4. Click the “Create” link to go back to the Users page, click the “Create & New
User” to create another user.

How to edit the properties of a user?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/users.aspx, it shows you all registered users of

Starlight Portal.
Note: You have to have the access authorization of “Manage Accounts”.
2. Click the “Edit” link of the user, It shows you the page of “Edit User”.

3. Modify the information of the user. And you can disable a user account here.
4. Click the “Update” link to save your changes, click the “Delete” link to delete the
user.
Note: If you choose to delete the user, all information about that user will be
deleted, so make sure you really want to delete it.
How to delete a user?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/uers.aspx, it shows you all registered users of

Starlight Portal.
Note: You have to have the access authorization of “Manage Accounts”.

2. Click the “Delete” link of the user.

Note: If you choose to delete the user, all information about that user will be
deleted, so make sure you really want to delete it.

How to join a user into a group?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/users.aspx, it shows you all registered users of

Starlight Portal.
Note: You have to have the access authorization of “Manage Accounts”.

2. Click the “Edit” link of the user, It shows you the page of “Edit User”.
 3. Modify the groups of the user
4. Click the “Update” link to save your changes.

Account Settings

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/sitesettings.aspx, it shows you

the account settings page.
 2. You can change logo, site name, skin and blog rss export count here.
3. You can change the css settings of your site by using the custom global
portal.css file.

Page Design

A distinguishing feature of Starlight Portal is the page design. In Starlight Portal, the
layout of all pages can be modified without changing any code while the system is
running.
You can reorganize the layout with just dragging and dropping modules (including
the web modules and custom modules).

How to design the layout of some page?

1. Visit the page you want to design. For example, to design the default page, visit
the url, http://<domain>/<accountname>/default.aspx

2. Click the “Page Design” link on the MainMenu. It shows you the page design
page of the original page.
3. To design your page, you can drag and drop Html Element or Modules into the
red rectangle.
4. To adjust the modules’ behavior, just click the Module Name in the Layout area,
it shows you the module properties.
 5. Modify the module’s properties to what you want. Click “Save Module
Properties” to save your modification.
6. Any page in Starlight Portal can be designed, to design another page, just visit
that page first.

Modules

The modules can be used to organize your web pages. It can be used in any page of
Starlight Portal.
The module contains some properties. You can change the behavior of the module
by changing the value of properties.
There are two kinds of modules in Starlight Portal: web modules and custom
modules. The web modules is static, typically is a user control of asp.net. Starlight Portal
use the web modules to complete the functions. The custom module is dynamic; it can be
created while the website is running. The custom modules can be taken as html source
code block with css controls.
Web Modules

Starlight Portal uses web modules to construct the whole system. To expand the
functions of Starlight Portal, the best way is to build your own web modules.

The web modules list (name, properties, purpose)

Module Name Properties Purpose

Custom Modules

Custom Module is dynamic. It can be created and deleted while Starlight Portal is
running.

How to create custom module?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/custommodules.aspx, It shows

you the page of all custom modules of the account.
2. Click the “Create New Custom Module” link, It shows you the page of “Create
New Custom Module”.
 3. Input the information of the custom module. The css should use the css class
“.Css<ModuleName>”, for example, “.CssIntroduction”, to avoid affect the other
custom modules’ style.
4. You can upload files that the custom module used first. And click the file name, it
will appear in the content area.
5. Click the “Create” link to go back to the custom modules page, click the “Create
& New Custom Module” to create another custom module.
Note: The custom module you created will appear in the module list of the Page
Design page.

How to edit a custom module?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/custommodules.aspx, It shows

you the page of all custom modules of the account.

2. Click the “Edit” link of the custom module, It shows you the page of “Edit
Custom Module”.
 3. Modify the information about the custom module.
4. Click “Update” to save the modification, click “Delete” to delete the custom
module.

How to delete a custom module?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/custommodules.aspx, It shows

you the page of all custom modules of the account.
 2. Click the “Delete” link of the custom module.

Security Settings

The security settings are to provide you to ability of controlling the access
authorization of Starlight Portal.

System Security Settings

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/ systemsecurity.aspx, It shows you the page of

“System Security Settings”.
 2. Input the account name, and choose the permissions.
3. Click the “Create” link to set the access authorization.

Account Security Settings

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/ <accountname>/security.aspx, It shows you the

page of “Account Security Settings”.

2. Input the account name, and choose the permissions.

 3. Click the “Create” link to set the access authorization.

System Settings

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/ systemsettings.aspx, It shows you the page of

“System Settings”.

2. Modify the settings.

3. Click the “Update” link to save your changes.

Skin

Skin is a way to make your web pages’ interface personality.

How to create a set of skin?

1. Design all web pages of some account.

2. Visit http://<domain>/skins.aspx, It shows you the page of “Skins”.
 3. The skin image must be 200*150, and input the account name.
4. Click the “Create” link, the layouts of the selected account will be saved as skin.

How to apply a set of skin?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/sitesettings.aspx, it shows you

the account settings page.
 2. Click the “Choose New Skin” link, it shows you the page of “Choose New Skin”.

3. Select the skin you prefer, click the “Apply Skin” link to use that skin.

Blogs

The blog of Starlight Portal is aimed at enterprise. It means that you can set access
authorization on the posts.
A post can be read by anyone and managed by the publisher if it doesn ’t belong to
any categories.
A post that belongs to a category has the same access authorization with that
category.
How to publish a post?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/newpost.aspx, it shows you the

page of “New Post”.

2. Input the content of the post, and choose the categories.

3. You can upload files that the post used first. And click the file name; it will
appear in the content area.
4. Click “Create” to save the post and go back to the blog page. Click “Create &
New Post” to publish another post.

How to edit a post?

1. Logon first.
2. Click the image before the post title if you have the access authorization to that
post.
Note: you must have the access authorization of that post.
 3. It shows you the page of “Edit Post”.

4. Modify the information of the post.

5. Click “Update” to save your changes. Click “Delete” to delete that post.

How to delete a post?

1. Logon first.
2. Click the image before the post title if you have the access authorization to that
post.
Note: you must have the access authorization of that post.
 3. It shows you the page of “Edit Post”.

4. Click “Delete” to delete that post.

How to manage the categories of the posts?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/blog/categories.aspx, it shows

you the page of “Blog Categories”.
 2. Input the category name and description, and click “Create” to create a new
category.
3. Click “Edit” of the category to do modification, click “Delete” of the category to
delete that category.

How to use the RSS feed loader?

1. Design the page that would have a RSS feed loader. Put a “PostList” web
module onto the page.
2. Click the “PostList”, it shows you the properties of the PostList web module.
 3. Choose the “RssFeed” radio button, and input the rssfeed url and the maxcount.
4. Choose “UseClientScript”, it will use a client javascript loader.
5. Click “Save Module Properties” to save your modification.

How to set the access authorization of the

post categories?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/blog/categorysecurity.aspx, it

shows you the “Security Settings for blog categories”.
 2. Choose a category first, and the security settings of the category will be shown.
3. Input the account name and choose the permissions for it, and click “Create” to
save it.

News

The news of Starlight Portal is aimed at enterprise. It means that you can set access
authorization on the news entries.
A news entry can be read by anyone and managed by the administrator of the
account if it doesn’t belong to any categories.
A news entry that belongs to a category has the same access authorization with that
category.

How to publish a news entry?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/ publishnews.aspx, it shows you

the page of “Publish News”.
 2. Input the information of the news entry.
3. You can upload files that the news entry used first. And click the file name; it will
appear in the content area.
4. Click “Create” to save the information, click “Create & Publish New” to publish a
new entry.

How to edit a news entry?

1. Logon first.
2. Click the image before the news title if you have the access authorization to that
entry.
Note: you must have the access authorization of that news entry.
 3. It shows you the page of “Edit News”.

4. Modify the information of the news.

5. Click “Update” to save your changes. Click “Delete” to delete that news entry.

How to delete the news entry?

1. Logon first.
2. Click the image before the news title if you have the access authorization to that
 entry.
Note: you must have the access authorization of that news entry.

3. It shows you the page of “Edit News”.

4. Click “Delete” to delete that news entry.

How to manage the categories of the news?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/news/categories.aspx, it shows

 you the page of “NewsCategories”.

2. Input the category name and description, and click “Create” to create a new
category.
3. Click “Edit” of the category to do modification, click “Delete” of the category to
delete that category.

How to set the access authorization of the

entry categories?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/news/categorysecurity.aspx, it

shows you the “Security Settings for news categories”.
 2. Choose a category first, and the security settings of the category will be shown.
3. Input the account name and choose the permissions for it, and click “Create” to
save it.

Document

How to create a folder?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/newfolder.aspx, it shows you the

page of “Create New Folder”.

2. Input the folder name and description.

3. Click “Create” to create the new folder, Click “Create & New Folder” to create
another folder.
How to edit the properties of the folder?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/docs.aspx, it shows you the

page of “Documents”.

2. Click the “Edit properties” link, it shows you the page of “Edit Folder”.

3. Modify the information about the folder.

4. Click “Update” to save your changes. Click “Delete” to delete the folder.
Note: the sub folders and files will be deleted if you delete a folder.

How to delete a folder?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/docs.aspx, it shows you the

page of “Documents”.

2. Click the “Delete” link to delete the folder.

Note: the sub folders and files will be deleted if you delete a folder.

How to upload a file into a folder?

1. Navigate to the folder you will upload a file.

 2. Click the “Upload file” link on the menu.

3. It shows you the page of “Upload file”.

4. Browse the file system to select a file to upload.

5. Click “Upload” to upload the selected file. Click “Upload & Continue” to upload
another file.

How to edit the properties of the file?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/docs.aspx, it shows you the

page of “Documents”.

2. Click the “Edit properties” link, it shows you the page of “Edit File Property”.
 3. Modify the properties of the file.
4. Browse the file system to select a file to reupload and replace the original file.
5. Click “Update” to save the changes.
6. Click “Lock this file” to lock the file.
7. Click “Delete” to delete the file.

How to reupload a file?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/docs.aspx, it shows you the

page of “Documents”.

2. Click the “Edit properties” link, it shows you the page of “Edit File Property”.

3. Browse the file system to select a file to reupload and replace the original file.
4. Click “Update” to save the changes.
How to delete the file?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/docs.aspx, it shows you the

page of “Documents”.

2. Click the “Delete” link to delete the file.

How to lock a file?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/docs.aspx, it shows you the

page of “Documents”.

2. Click the “Edit properties” link, it shows you the page of “Edit File Property”.

3. Click “Lock this file” to lock the file.

4. Click “Update” to save the changes.

How to unlock a file?

1. Visit the page http://<domain>/<accountname>/docs.aspx, it shows you the

 page of “Documents”.

2. Click the “Edit properties” link, it shows you the page of “Edit File Property”.

3. Click “Unlock this file” to lock the file.

Note: Only the user who locked the file can unlock a file.
4. Click “Update” to save the changes.