Chapter 8. Useful portal customizations

 

This chapter covers:

  • 8.1 Introduction 229
  • 8.2 Making common tasks accessible 230
  • 8.3 Versioned personalization data 234
  • 8.4 Creating an area for tool zones 243
  • 8.5 Adding a CatalogZone dialog 247
  • 8.6 Summary 255

8.1. Introduction

In the world of applications development, we walk a fine line between the desire to implement cool new features and the need to supply applications that are easy to use. I know from my own experiences with Rapid Application Development (RAD), it can be easy to lose sight of the big picture when tempted by the dizzying array of cool new features and options at our disposal. Because of this, projects often veer off course when a developer pipes up with an idea like, “Let’s just add one of these clever gadgets to the application.” By the time the application is deployed, so many “little gadgets” have been randomly added that the application is downright unwieldy. Almost as common—and equally as difficult to use—is the application with few or no features at all. With this type of application, users lack the tools and features they require to interact with the application and therefore invent their own methods of performing common tasks.

8.2. Making common tasks accessible

8.3. Versioned personalization data

8.4. Creating an area for tool zones

8.5. Adding a CatalogZone dialog

8.6. Summary