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Getting Started

About Cascade

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Western uses a centrally-managed Web Content Management System (WCMS), Hannon Hill's Cascade CMS, to manage and publish website content. Cascade CMS helps to ensure that information is accurate, relevant, current, consistent and easily shared among Western websites. The user-friendly interface allows individuals who manage or contribute to websites to create and edit content more easily with no need to purchase your own software.

Cascade CMS is centrally-supported and is available to any unit at Western, excluding affiliated colleges, interested in using the current Western templates designed by Western Communications. 

There are no costs involved in using Cascade. Using Cascade to build and maintain your website is free and WTS provides training and support to any area that wishes to move their web site into Cascade.

Because Cascade CMS is a web application, you are able to create, edit and publish content from any computer that is connected to the internet and has a web browser installed.

Benefits of Using Cascade

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Standard Look and Feel

  • your pages will have the standard Western look and feel which will benefit everyone who visits Western via the web and needs to navigate through a variety of departments

Use your favourite operating system and browser

  • works with both Windows and Macintosh systems and any browser
  • no client-side installation is required
  • no cost is incurred by the unit/department/faculty for software, training or support
  • accessible from anywhere in the world that you have a computer, browser and internet connection

Push technology you control

  • Cascade pushes the files to the web server when you choose
  • content on the web server is unaffected by edits until it is published
  • when Cascade is scheduled for maintenance or down for any reason your web pages remain live and unaffected

Who Can Use Cascade?

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Cascade can be used by any faculty, department or unit on campus, excluding affiliated colleges.

  • Web pages can be published to either the Western web server (http://www.uwo.ca/department name) or to a departmental web server that you maintain.  Free Western web server space is available to any academic or administrative department on campus.  New site requests are created using the most current Western website design created by Western Communications.

Are there any charges for using Cascade?

  • There is no charge for the use of Cascade to create, publish and maintain web pages.  

Can PHP, ColdFusion, Javascript and RSS feeds be used in Cascade?

  • Yes, Western Communications is enhancing the new Western design template to include the use of PHP, ColdFusion, Javascript and RSS feeds.  NOTE: PHP cannot be used on the Western web server.

Ready to create your Cascade site?

Request a new Cascade site

If you are ready to create a new website in Cascade make sure that you have the following information ready:

  • Western Idenities for anyone needing to create, edit or publish your new website
  • the name and email address of the person who will primarily be responsible for the site (i.e. the site manager)
  • basic information about the site including a brief description, a site map, which web server the site will publish to and the public facing name of the website

When you have compiled the above information:

Are you a new user editing an existing site?

Ask a question about editing an existing site

If you are a new Cascade user that will be editing an existing Cascade site:

Make sure that you have requested access through the designated site manager for your site.  Once you have access please:

  • Review the documentation available at https://wts.uwo.ca/cascade
  • Questions about how to use Cascade for editing your site can be asked by either calling the WTS Helpdesk at 519 661-3800 or by submiting a Service Desk ticket at https://westernu.atlassian.net/servicedesk. Once you have created a ticket, you will receive email alerts as we work with you to answer your question.