Web templating system (pantheon)

For a demonstration, take a look at our portfolio page, or the snippets demo site (internal only).

Our templating system is a central service that produces and provides the back-end infrastructure for websites at Kent. The system is an ever expanding and developing framework which provides a range of tools to develop and publish websites.

Unsure if you have the University Web Templating System? Check to see if your site is on the preview server: preview-www.kent.ac.uk/yoursitename. If you don’t then use our contact form to request your site be moved into the service.

Do you have the latest template/theme? Check your site on the preview server: preview-www.kent.ac.uk/yoursitename. If the warning box does not say pantheon or the name of your site request an upgrade

About

Apply to use Pantheon

Elements of the system

  1. A back-end engine which enables all other elements to work.
  2. Various themes, which give any Kent website its look and feel.
  3. A toolkit of formatting and layout tools that shape the content of a site.
  4. A publishing tool that allows authors to create the pages using the previous elements, like Dreamweaver.
  5. Further facilities that can be linked to websites, such as the Kent Academic Repository, live media streaming, blogs or knowledge bases.

How it works

The University of Kent website is formed of several key elements that work together to produce what you see when you visit the site: Pantheon, themes, the snippets and a publishing tool like Dreamweaver.

Pantheon

The first element is the Pantheon templating engine. This provides the other elements with the codebase necessary for them to function, and thus forms the foundation of all Kent websites.

Theme

Sitting on top of Pantheon is the departmental theme, which renders the code provided by Pantheon into what we see when we view the site through our browser. The latest theme is called Chronos, which can be seen in use throughout the University of Kent site and departmental pages. However, it is also possible for derivative themes to be commissioned that can lend a unique identity to a particular Kent site, while retaining the overall look and feel of the University of Kent brand. See our portfolio for examples of our themes and derivitive themes within Pantheon.

Snippets

On top of the departmental theme sit the snippets, a toolkit of dynamic ready-made building blocks that allow publishers to layout and format content in the way that most suits their particular audience. If you would like to see the snippets in action, why not take a look at our snippets demo site. (Internal only)

Publishing

Finally, Pantheon, themes and the snippets use either Dreamweaver or Contribute as the publishing tool, and are designed so that pages can be easily created and edited with no previous knowledge of HTML required.

What do you get?

  • A template engine which provides validated, accessible, and fast loading web pages designed to make full use of Dreamweaver and ease of use for publishers with no need to enter code view and all formatting and layout performed in design view. No knowledge of HTML is assumed and pages can be easily created or edited to produce interesting and dynamic websites.
  • A large set of formatting and design tools (called snippets) to provide a toolset for publishers to make creative, interesting, and individual websites. This includes formatting tools like tabbed pages, tables, galleries, media players, and design elements to automatically build well featured web pages. The range can be seen on the Chronos demo site.(Internal only)
  • Regular centralised updates to improve or add features and maintain accessibility and usability standards and driven by departmental feedback and requests. Additions are constantly also made to the toolkit.
  • Comprehensive website statistics using SiteStat or Google analytics.
  • Printer-friendly pages with referenced links.
  • Automatic page title and metadata creation based on the page content.
  • Built in search optimising the site for use with the Google search engine.
  • Use of preview and live servers. Departments build and test their sites on a preview server before committing the changes to the world viewable live server.
  • Access to the telephone and email support service to offer guidance to the web authors using the template.
  • Full onsite setup and familiarisation sessions with your website, using dreamweaver and snippets, and web best practice.
  • Onsite support visits.
  • Full documentation and assistance in our Web Knowledge base.