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Creating a Portal Using the Example Portal
This chapter shows you how to use the Acme Portal to quick start your portal development.
WebLogic Personalization Server includes the Acme Demo Portal, a complete demo portal that is set up for you and ready to run. This demo portal uses the Cloudscape Database Management System (DBMS) to store the Portal Demo data. Use the Acme Demo Portal to quick start your portal development.
Note: The directory name for the Acme Portal is exampleportal. Throughout the documentation "Acme Portal" and "example portal" are used interchangeably.
This topic includes the following sections:
Introducing the Acme Portal
When you install the WebLogic Personalization Server, a complete demo portal is set up for you and ready to run. This ready-made demo portal uses the Cloudscape Database Management System (DBMS) to store the Acme Portal data. The demo is ready to run with the Cloudscape database immediately after you complete the WebLogic Personalization Server installation.
Note: The Cloudscape database is included with WebLogic Server under a limited evaluation license. Because of the limitations of the Cloudscape database, other databases should be considered. The database stores all of the portal framework information needed to support the portal components.
The Acme Portal includes the following:
All of the JSP pages for the Acme Portal are located in the following installed product directory: application/portals/repository.
Starting the Acme Portal
To start the Portal Demo:
Example: http://mybigbox:7501/exampleportal
You can now use the Portal Administration Tool to view the Demo Portal or assemble your own portal, as described in Using the Portal Management Administration Tool.
Notes: Before using the Portal Administration Tool to assemble the Acme Portal, you must install and set up the WebLogic Personalization Server software. For more information, see the Installation Guide.
Building the Acme Portal Components
To create the Acme Portal definition:
If the portal was successfully created, a confirmation message appears in red at the top of the screen. If not, an error message notifies you of the required changes.
Creating Portlets for Your Demo Portal
You create portlets in the administration tool by associating a URL with each portlet component. When a portlet is created, it is not automatically associated with a portal. You must add the portlets to the demo portal later from the portal view-page.
The Acme Portal includes six portlet applications that you can assemble with the Portal Administration Tool.
To create the demo portlets:
If the portlet was successfully created, a confirmation message appears in red at the top of the screen. If not, an error message notifies you of the required changes.
Associating Portlets with Your Demo Portal
After creating a portal, you can associate portlets to it. You can also personalize the portal's layout and color scheme, and make changes to the definition. For more information on editing a portal with the Portal Administration Tool, see Editing Portals in this guide.
You choose which portlets are available to a portal by adding and removing them from the system's list of established portlets. From the narrowed list of portlets you associate with a portal, group and end users further define which portlets they want available and visible on their personalized portal page.
To associate the six portlets you just created with the demo portal:
If the changes were successfully made, a confirmation message appears in red at the top of the screen. If not, an error message notifies you of the required changes.
Editing Your Demo Portal Layout
You can move a portal's associated portlets left and right between columns and up and down within columns depending on the column layout you selected when you created the portal. You can also change the percentage of the portal page that each column occupies in all portals except group portals. Group Administrators and end users can further personalize the portal layout.
To edit the layout of portlets in the demo portal:
To change the column spans of a portal layout:
If the changes were successfully made, a confirmation message appears in red at the top of the screen. If not, an error message notifies you of the required changes.
Editing Your Demo Portal Color Scheme
You can edit the overall appearance of a portal by changing its background color as well as the portlet's component colors, title colors, and border appearance.
To edit the demo portal colors:
Testing Your Demo Portal
Once your portal is operational, you should test it to verify that all the associated portlets are available and visible as you specified them, and that your portal displays the correct color scheme and layout.
Figure 2-1 shows the Acme Portal as it displays with the BEA default color scheme and layout to a registered user named jsmith.
Figure 2-1 Acme Portal
The default portal home page should display all visible portlets and should reflect your default color and layout preferences.
If you have not created a user profile, you can do so by following the registration wizard. If you have created a profile, enter your username and password, and click Sign On.
You can now use the personalization tools to customize the portal's color, layout, and visible portlets.
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