This article covers top Finalsite CMS support reminders for the back-to-school season, including how to contact Support effectively and how to troubleshoot common issues like stale social media feeds and button styling.
💡Quick answers
- What information speeds up a CMS support request? A link to the specific page with the issue rather than the homepage, a screenshot for design concerns, and the Composer page number from the URL bar.
- Why might a Facebook or Instagram feed show old posts? It's usually caused by API limits, cache delays, or missing tokens, and refreshing tokens or checking embed settings typically resolves it.
- What is the correct way to apply button styles in Composer? Use the Class dropdown when editing a link rather than the Styles dropdown, which only previews options without applying them.
- Why are permissions sometimes called "rights" instead of "permissions"? Older, legacy modules like Calendar Manager, Constituent Manager, Group Manager, and Athletics Manager use the term Rights within the Admin Users module's Rights tab.
- How do you avoid formatting issues when pasting text into Composer? Paste as plain text using Ctrl+Shift+V on a PC or Command+Shift+V on a Mac instead of a standard paste, which carries over third-party formatting.
- What is the Locations section in Composer used for? Adjusting banner details in a dynamic, global way across the site instead of editing them page by page, configured in the Locations module and applied through Location elements.
Welcome back!
As the summer days wind down, we know your attention is shifting to the exciting buzz of the back-to-school season! We understand that this can be a wonderfully busy, and sometimes overwhelming, time of year. With that in mind, we wanted to share a few friendly reminders and common FAQs to help us navigate our busiest time of year together!
While response times may be longer than you've become accustomed to, please know that we're working hard to give every request the attention it deserves in a timely fashion. Rely on us as your partners; we’re here to help. From all of us here in Support, wishing you a smooth start to the year!
-CMS Support Team
1. 📝 Contact Support like a pro
When you're reaching out for help, the more context you include, the faster we can assist!
- Always link to the specific page where you're experiencing issues—not just the homepage.
- Include a screenshot, especially for design concerns.
- Reference the Composer page number—it's listed in the URL bar and helps us pinpoint the issue quickly.
- Reminder: We made a change with Emergency Support!
💡 Join us for Live Support during our Office Hours - Sign up here
2. 🖼️ Trouble with social media feeds
If your Facebook or Instagram feed is stuck showing old posts, it could be due to API limits, cache delays, or missing tokens. Refreshing tokens and checking embed settings usually solve it. If in doubt, reach out!
➡️ Why is my Facebook feed showing old posts?
➡️ Why is my Instagram feed not refreshing?
3.🖱️ Apply button styles directly
Styling buttons through the Styles dropdown can be misleading. Instead, use the Class dropdown when editing a link to apply button formatting.
➡️ How to make a button in Composer
4.🔒 Add a new admin user
Welcoming new staff? You’ll need to assign the right permissions, especially if using legacy modules.
Admins are added via the Admin Users module.
➡️ Creating admin users
➡️ The Finalsite Guide to Permissions
5. 🔐 Admin permissions in legacy modules
If your module is one of our older modules, Global permission settings may be a bit harder to find and may be called "rights" instead of "permissions."
➡️ Where to find all permissions
➡️ Navigate to the People Icon > Admin Users module, and then to the Rights Tab in the module itself:
Calendar Manager, Constituent Manager, Group Manager, and Athletics Manager.
6. 🧩 Update your icon panel
Instructions on how to update your icon panel depend upon the way your site was designed. For your specific theme or design, reference your Site Instructions page.
➡️ Learning resources for Finalsite clients > Site Instructions.
7. 📄 Trouble pasting text from a third-party source?
Avoid pasting text directly into Composer without clearing formatting first.
- PC: Ctrl + C to Copy and Ctrl + Shift + V to paste as plain text
- Mac: Command + C to Copy and Command + Shift + V to paste as plain text
➡️ BLOG: Why can't I paste from Word?
8. 🧹 Tidy tables and layouts
Tables can get clunky fast. Use responsive design best practices to keep layouts clean across devices. Our blog’s Extreme Site Makeover covers common table mishaps and how to fix them.
A pre-made, ADA-compliant, and beautifully designed table exists on your Style Guide page.
➡️ Extreme Site Makeover: Tables Edition
9. 🏫 Locations
The Locations section in Composer can be used to adjust the details in your banners in a dynamic, global way instead of adjusting page by page.
- Configure details in the Locations module, then select boxes in the Location element.
- Don't see Locations available in your modules selection? Reach out to your Client Success Manager or email clientsuccess@finalsite.com to let us help!
➡️ Getting started with Locations
10. 🧭 Updating banners
Header banners, left/right navs, and mobile menus each pull content differently.
- Desktop and mobile menus are managed separately.
- Banners often pull from district-wide settings.
- Knowing what’s editable helps speed up changes.
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