In our last newsletter of the year, we highlight how to link to internal pages, new safeguards to prevent content from being accidentally deleted, how to create a table with sorted data, how to identify gaps in your language coverage and the style tip of the month. Furthermore, read about the /info site highlights of 2017.

Linking to internal pages

When adding a link on a page leading to another page on the /info site you must always create them as a "token" or with the internal link format [node:1234:url]. If you just add the full URL in the hyperlink field, users not browsing the site in English won't be automatically directed to the target page in their language. Also, the link can easily break if someone changes the title of the target page. With the internal link format you ensure that the link never breaks and that the language concept works.

Insert internal links - guidelines

Deletion of nodes now prohibited

To avoid the accidental deletion of content, we have prohibited the deletion of nodes. That means if you don't need a node any longer, you have to change its status to 'Archived' instead.

Policy template updated

We have updated the policy content type with a new design. This content type allows you to create high-level policies and sub-policies down to the lowest level, meaning that it combines the features currently in the policy area content type with the policy content type. Therefore the policy area content type will soon be deleted and all pages converted into the new policy design. 

See an example here: the public procurement policy page, which is using the new template.

Step by step guide to the policy content type

Create a table with sorted data

You can now create a table which can be sorted according to the data in its columns. The table will be displayed with up and down arrows in each column. With these, front end users can sort your data according to any of the columns. 

Step-by-step guide to creating a table with sortable data

See what visitors are looking for but not finding in their language

Europa Analytics provides a tool (Piwik) which can give you a report on the number of users who visit pages which are not translated in their preferred language.

You can use this data to help you decide which pages you should prioritise when planning translations, based on user needs, and into which languages.

Using Piwik to see gaps in your language coverage

Highlights of 2017

14 thematic classes updated

With your help, we updated landing pages and navigation down to level 3 for 12 classes

• Business, Economy, Euro
• Live, work, travel in the EU
• Law
• About the European Commission
• Funding, Tenders
• Research and innovation
• Energy, Climate change, Environment
• Strategy
• Education
• Aid, Development cooperation, Fundamental rights
• Food, farming, fisheries
• EU regional and urban development

We also updated the landing pages for 'Jobs at the European Commission' and 'Statistics'.

'News, events and publications' have not been updated as they are part of a horizontal class.

Justice and consumer content transformed

The content of the websites 'justice' and 'consumers' is now entirely available on the /info site. The old websites will be archived soon.

228 people trained on the CMS

We gave 228 people training on how to use the Drupal content management system for the /info site. The trainings covered general templates, techniques for advanced users, as well as specific templates such as the consultation content type.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and we are looking forward to new highlights in 2018!

Instructions for content contributors