Frequently-asked questions about YaleInfo
- What is YaleInfo?
- Who can use YaleInfo?
- What is the URL for the YaleInfo portal?
- What are the Web browser versions and settings that are required to use YaleInfo?
- Does the portal have an automatic “timeout?”
- How do log in and log out work?
- What are tabs, pages, and portlets?
- How do I remove a tab?
- How do I customize my personal YaleInfo page?
- What are Announcements and how can I customize them?
- Who created and manages the YaleInfo portal?
- What happened to the old YaleInfo design?
- I use a different portal (e.g. my.yahoo, YaleStation). Can I view YaleInfo content with my other portal?
What is YaleInfo?
YaleInfo is a portal Web site that features campus announcements, up-to-date news, RSS feeds, Google maps, links to Yale's most useful Web resources, and more. While Yale's home page site (the "Blue Pages") are designed to be used by anyone seeking information about Yale, YaleInfo was created with the specific needs of Yale students, faculty, and staff in mind. You can personalize YaleInfo to display the information and services that are most useful to you in your role at Yale.
Who can use YaleInfo?
Only Yale students, faculty, and staff who have a Yale NetID and password can login to YaleInfo for personalized content. Anyone can see and use the guest YaleInfo page and see useful navigation links, news and official announcements, and the local weather.
What is the URL for the YaleInfo portal?
The URL for YaleInfo is: http://www.yale.edu/yaleinfo
What are the Web browser versions and settings that are required to use YaleInfo?
We recommend that you use the most current version of Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari when using YaleInfo. You must enable JavaScript and browser cookies in your Web browser “options” or “preferences” section for full portal functionality. The JavaScript and cookies features are turned on by default in most Web browsers. If you have disabled either JavaScript or cookies in your browser, please see your browser “options” or “preferences” section to re-enable those features before logging into YaleInfo. YaleInfo is not compatible with very outdated browsers like Internet Explorer 5 or Netscape 4.
Does the portal have an automatic “timeout?”
Once you have logged into YaleInfo your session will automatically expire after two hours of inactivity.
How do log in and log out work?
The Central Authentication System (CAS) was designed so that users can log in once and access most NetID and password-protected applications. YaleInfo uses this system for login and logout. When you use the yellow “Sign in with CAS” button on the guest page, you will be prompted to log into CAS and will then be redirected to your personal YaleInfo page. When you click on the orange “Logout of CAS” you will automatically be logged out of YaleInfo and CAS as well.
What are tabs, pages, and portlets?
Tabs, pages, and portlets are the working units of the YaleInfo portal. See the "YaleInfo anatomy" page for the locations of major YaleInfo components.
Pages and page tabs
You can configure your YaleInfo portal with one or more pages. Each page in YaleInfo has a named tab at the top of the page. The tabs allow you to quickly switch pages. You can easily rename a page by double-clicking on the tab at the top of the page, and you can add new pages by clicking on “Add a Tab” link in upper right corner of all YaleInfo pages.
Removing tabs
Note: Some tabs and pages are required in YaleInfo and cannot be removed. To remove a tab (and all the content portlets associated with the page):- Click on the tab you wish to remove to go to that page.
- Move your cursor over the tab to activate the drop-down menu, as shown below.
- Choose "Delete tab" from the bottom of the drop-down menu. If you do not see the "Delete tab" option, it means that the page cannot be removed from YaleInfo.
Portlets
Each YaleInfo page typically contains multiple “portlets” - the little rectangular boxes of content arrayed in columns on the page. A portlet holds one type of information from a particular source. Portlets work a bit like windows, with controls in the upper right hand corner to maximize, minimize, or close the portlet. YaleInfo offers dozens of different portlets that can be added to your personal YaleInfo layout.
Think of YaleInfo pages as a way to organize related groups of portlets (news, links, tools, library information). For more about using pages and portlets, see the “Using YaleInfo” section of the menu to the left.
How do I customize my personal YaleInfo pages?
Once you have logged into YaleInfo, click on the “Add Portlets” or “Edit Page” links in the upper right-hand corner of the header. “Add Portlets” gives you a list of existing portlets by category. Portlets that you add will appear on your current YaleInfo page. “Edit Page” allows you to change the number of columns and column widths for your current page.
The tab for the current page you are on has a drop-down menu that allows you to change the order of your tabs, and options for adjusting the number of columns used in the page layout:
Use the "Add Content to This Tab" link in the upper right of any page to add content portlets to your current page:
What are Announcements?
The Announcements portlet is a powerful tool that allows users to receive information from various YaleInfo groups they are affiliated with. This can include campus-wide, departmental, or student organization information. For more information about how to post your own announcements or subscribe to student announcements, please refer to the Announcements portlet page.
Who created and manages the YaleInfo portal?
The YaleInfo portal is powered by the open-source uPortal technology developed by the JA-SIG consortium of colleges, universities, and commercial partners. Our YaleInfo Portal Team is made up of ITS staff from the Technology & Planning and Web Services departments of Information Technology Services (ITS). If you have questions or comments about YaleInfo, you can always contact the YaleInfo Portal Team by using the “Feedback” link at the top center of all YaleInfo pages.
I also use another portal (e.g. my.yahoo, iGoogle, YaleStation). Can I view YaleInfo content with my other portal?
In many cases, yes. While you can't add a secure Yale portlet like SIS, or Recent Email to a general public portal like iGoogle, you may be able to view the content of YaleInfo portlets which use RSS (“Really Simple Syndication”) feeds, like Yale University News from the Office of Public Affairs or Yale Global Online Magazine. See this page for help with configuring your RSS news feeds. You can use those same Yale RSS URLs in your my.yahoo, YaleStation, or Google portal pages.
Last modified: Monday, 28-Sep-2009 07:11:50 EDT. (pl)
