Add Menu Items in Contributor (Such as HOME, User Instructions)

[Smajil]

I am trying to find a way how to add a link somewhere on top of the page so that when a user is in an application
and wants to back out to the main page ( application list page) that they can do that via Home link.
Thanks,
Smajil

[cbrandt]

For everything after 7.3:

The main files to customise the Contributor web pages are "planning40.asp", "planning20.htm" and the related stylesheet file "planning40.css". If you know html you will be able to see how they work.

PLEASE consider:
1. Make a backup of the files or the whole contributor folder before you do any changes.
2. All changes will be lost when you upgrade to a new SP, MR or version. You have to redo them. Keep that in mind when you think about how much effort you want to put in there.

For an easy link back from the application screen to the main page open the planning20.htm andinsert the following line in the ââ,¬Å"function formatOutput()ââ,¬Â section (Look for the Help and Introduction links to figure out where to place the line):

s += '<td nowrap class="MenuText"><a href="../contributor" target="_parent" title="Click here to return to main menu">Main Menu</a></td>';

That should do it.
Regards
Carsten

[ykud]

I'd add that link in Contributor Help Text of apllication. Just to avoid the problem of redoing those changes after every software update.

[Smajil]

Thanks cbrandt

You are right about loosing those links with doing MR1. We had those links put in by a consultant when we originally installed Cognos and now when we upgraded to MR1 we lost the links.
I will try following your advice, will let you know how it went.
Thanks again for a quick answer,
Smajil

[andrewbho]

The new best practice is to post links in Cognos Connection that way you don't have to display all of your applications and you can have more than 1 app open at a time.  The menu list of applications is something that was never meant to be used for Production purposes but only as a way to show developers a list of applications that exist in the PAD.  This may not be a big deal to some, but when you have to manage more than 100+ applications, it's one less thing you have to deal with.

[Smajil]

Just to report back I did make the changes in "planning20.htm"  only and it worked!
Thanks again Carsten,
Smajil

[Smajil]

The new best practice is to post links in Cognos Connection that way you don't have to display all of your applications and you can have more than 1 app open at a time.Ã,  The menu list of applications is something that was never meant to be used for Production purposes but only as a way to show developers a list of applications that exist in the PAD.Ã,  This may not be a big deal to some, but when you have to manage more than 100+ applications, it's one less thing you have to deal with.

This is an interesting idea.
I wonder how do you link up particular applications from the Planning to the Cognos Connection

[cbrandt]

You simply create a hyperlink like: "http://webserver/cognos/contributor/planning02.asp?AppId=tutorialtogo"

[Smajil]

Got it.
This solves the too many applications listed !!! ;D

[andrewbho]

The best thing for you to do is to migrate to Cognos Connection.  It will be the standard.