Support » Basics » Getting started
Getting started
Follow the simple list of steps on this page to check your software and settings and quickly get started with basic website editing tasks.
We recommend that you keep this page open in a separate browser tab (or window) while you step through the instructions and navigate other web pages.
1. Check your web browser
The website manager requires the latest version of Firefox (for Windows/Mac/Linux).
Note: Internet Explorer 6 (or earlier) will not work properly with the manager. IE7 or IE8 may work but we do not provide support for them. Other browsers may also work although we do support them.
Please make sure you are running the latest browser version this can be checked via "Help / About...". If necessary, please upgrade your browser before proceeding.
2. Login to the website manager
The manager login page for your website will be found at: www.yourdomain.com/manager/
Login using the username and password that were given to you. Login details are case-sensitive so type them carefully (or simply copy and paste them).
Note: If you enter an incorrect login too many times you will be blocked from further login attempts and you will have to wait 60 minutes for your account to be automatically unblocked.
3. Change your password
Once you have logged in for the first time, you should immediately change your password.
This is done by clicking on the "Change Password" link next to your username at the top right of the manager window.
4. Password security
It is important to use a unique, 'strong' password for all your logins. A strong password is one that is at least 8 characters, consisting of a random mixture of numbers, upper case letters, and lower-case letters.
Use a mnemonic (memory technique) to remember such passwords or write them down and keep them safe. Do not store them in unencrypted files or disclose them to anyone. Change them regularly.
You can quickly generate random passwords by viewing/refreshing the following web page:
Another alternative is to use a password management software application such as KeePass (free and open source) or RoboForm (commercial program) to generate strong passwords and securely store all of your login details. These programs can automatically enter your login details into login forms, which is a very handy feature for those of us that need to login to lots of different websites and applications on a daily basis.
It is important to change your passwords regularly - at least every two-three months, depending on the importance of the login and how safely you have stored it.
Note: If manager users do not use strong passwords or do not maintain adequate password and computing security, the client's hosting service is at risk of being illegally accessed and potentially misused by third parties. If this happens, the affected site will be suspended and the client takes full responsibility for any damage, loss of data or downtime, including the cost of any misused bandwidth.
4. The document 'tree'
The document tree is the primary means of navigating your website structure within the manager interface.
Learn about:
- Document tree basics
- Sorting the tree*
*Navigation menus on websites are usually configured to display menu items sorted by ascending menu index. However, the default sort order in the manager is often different from this. It can be helpful to set the manager doc tree to the same sort order so that it matches your live site.
5. Open a document for editing
To open an existing document for editing:
- In the document tree, click on the document icon (or right-click on the doc title).
- Click on Edit document.
6. Working with text
Learn how to:
- Maximise the editing area
- Format paragraph text
- Apply sub-headings
- Create an ordered (numbered) or unordered (bullet) list
- Clear formatting from text
7. Working with images
Learn how to:
- Insert an image into a web page
- Float an image to the right or left of text
8. Working with links
Learn how to:
9. Safely copy and paste text from other documents
Pasting text into a document from another source may cause page or layout display problems, but these can be easily avoided.
Please read the following help page carefully before you do any copying and pasting:
That's it for now!
Check the online help pages whenever you have a question and please let us know if you don't find the answer to any question, or if you spot any mistakes.