Using the CMS

Accessing the CMS

Once you've completed the OAuth setup (covered in the Deployment cluster), you can access the CMS at:

https://your-site.netlify.app/admin/

You'll be prompted to log in with GitHub. After authenticating, you'll see the CMS dashboard.

The CMS Interface

The interface has three main areas:

1. Sidebar: Lists your content collections (Clusters, Lessons, Pages, Settings)
2. Content List: Shows all items in the selected collection
3. Editor: The form where you edit content

Creating a New Lesson

Let's walk through creating a new lesson:

Step 1: Select the Lessons Collection

Click "Lessons" in the sidebar. You'll see a list of all existing lessons.

Step 2: Click "New Lesson"

This opens a blank editor with fields for:

• Title: The lesson name
• Slug: URL identifier (auto-generated from title, but editable)
• Cluster: Dropdown to select which cluster this belongs to
• Order: Position within the cluster
• Description: Brief summary for previews
• And more fields for objectives, concepts, assignments, etc.

Step 3: Fill In Required Fields

At minimum, every lesson needs:

Field	Example
Title	"Understanding Markdown"
Slug	understanding-markdown
Cluster	Select from dropdown
Order	3 (unique within the cluster)
Description	"Learn the basics of Markdown formatting."

Step 4: Add Content

The main body editor supports Markdown with a visual preview. You can:

• Use the toolbar for formatting (bold, italic, links)
• Switch between "Rich Text" and "Markdown" modes
• Preview how it will look on the site

Step 5: Publish

Click the "Publish" button. The CMS will:

1. Create a commit with your new lesson
2. Push it to your GitHub repository
3. Trigger a Netlify rebuild

Your new lesson will be live in 1-2 minutes.

Editing Existing Content

To edit existing content:

1. Click on any item in the content list
2. Make your changes in the editor
3. Click "Publish" to save

Each edit creates a new commit, so you can always see (and revert) the history in GitHub.

Creating Clusters

Creating a cluster follows the same pattern:

1. Select "Clusters" in the sidebar
2. Click "New Cluster"
3. Fill in Title, Slug, Order, Description
4. Add optional body text
5. Publish

Important: Create the cluster before creating lessons that belong to it. The Lesson editor's Cluster dropdown only shows existing clusters.

Tips for Effective CMS Use

Use Descriptive Slugs

Slugs become URLs. Instead of auto-generated slugs like lesson-1, use meaningful ones like introduction-to-rhetoric.

Keep Order Numbers Sequential

Within each cluster, use sequential order numbers (1, 2, 3...). Gaps are fine, but avoid duplicates—the build will fail.

Preview Before Publishing

The CMS shows a preview, but you can also:

1. Publish to a draft branch (if configured)
2. Check the Netlify deploy preview
3. Review on your live site after publishing

Use the Rich Text Editor for Complex Formatting

For lists, links, and basic formatting, the Rich Text mode is easier. Switch to Markdown mode when you need:

• Code blocks
• Complex nested structures
• Direct control over formatting

What If Something Goes Wrong?

Build Fails After Publishing

Check Netlify's deploy logs. Common causes:

• Duplicate order numbers
• Missing required fields
• Cluster reference that doesn't exist

Need to Revert a Change?

Every CMS edit is a git commit. In GitHub:

1. Go to your repository
2. Click "Commits"
3. Find the commit to revert
4. Use "Revert" to undo it

CMS Won't Load?

• Check that OAuth is properly configured
• Try logging out and back in
• Clear browser cache

Next Steps

The CMS is great for quick edits and creating new content. For longer writing sessions or working offline, you might prefer local editing with Obsidian—covered in the next lesson.