On this page...
Headings
Basic Pages should include hierarchical Heading structure. You can find Heading styles listed under the 'Paragraph' dropdown in the toolbar. Content writers can select the Heading level for a highlighted portion of text.
Heading hierarchy
H2 headings indicate major topics within the overall page topic. H3 headings indicate subtopics contained under an H2 heading. H4 headings indicate subtopics contained under an H3 heading and so forth for H5 and H6 headings. Headings should be in a hierarchical order - H1, H2, H3, H4, H5. In the content editor, you can view and hover over each of the bolded words to confirm H4 follows an H3 and not immediately after an H1 or H2.
Back to topBold and italics
Bold and italic text should never be used to indicate headings. Bold text should be used to emphasize specific information the user needs to know. Use italics for sources of information or titles of complete works, such as books, films, journals, or music pieces.
Back to topBulleted and numbered lists
Bulleted lists and numbered lists must have more than one item. The list format is only used for items that are related to each other.
Valid list examples:
- Peaches
- Oranges
- Pears
- Grapes
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Colorado
Invalid list examples:
- Friday, March 21, 2025
- This is a paragraph of some text about U.S. History. Donec sit amet dui ipsum. Nullam quis elit vel dui fi nibus elementum eget vel ex.This is a paragraph of some text about U.S. History. Donec sit amet dui ipsum. Nullam quis elit vel dui fi nibus elementum eget vel ex.
- This is a second paragraph about mathematics. Fusce fringilla turpis ut neque suscipit, sit amet eleifend lacus dignissim.
Block quotes
A block quote is a quotation formatted as a separate block of text, indented from the left margin and placed on a new line. When using the block quote styling from the WSYWIG menu, you do not need to add quotation marks. Do not use block quote just for indentation.
Back to topSunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather." - John Ruskin
Images
Images can be added to the Media Library and embedded in Basic Pages. Size and display options include full-screen, small left-justified, small centered, and small right-justified. Text will wrap around the small sized images.
Full screen image
To embed a full screen image, click the Insert from Media Library icon in the WYSIWYG toolbar. Select the desired image and embed. This will embed a full screen image.
Small left-justified image
To embed a small left-justified image, click the Insert from Media Library icon in the WYSIWYG toolbar.
Select the desired image and embed. This will embed a full-screen image. You'll need to click on the image to change its size and alignment. Clicking the image will open a pop-up menu. Select Small from the size choices and the Left alignment choice.
Once embedded in the page, the image can be positioned by dragging and dropping where desired within the content.
Small centered image
To embed a small, centered image, click the Insert from Media Library icon in the WYSIWYG toolbar. Select the desired image and embed. This will embed a full-screen image. You'll need to click on the image to change its size and alignment.
Clicking the image will open up a pop-up menu. Select Small from the size choices and the Centered alignment choice.
Once embedded in the page, the image can be positioned by dragging and dropping where desired within the content.
Small right-justified image
To embed a small right-justified image, click the Insert from Media Library icon in the WYSIWYG toolbar. Select the desired image and embed. This will embed a full-screen image. You'll need to click on the image to change its size and alignment.
Clicking the image will open up a pop-up menu. Select Small from the size choices and the Right the right alignment choice.
Once embedded in the page, the image can be positioned by dragging and dropping where desired within the content.
Back to topRemote videos
Remote videos can be added to the Media Library and embedded in Basic Pages. Size and display options include full-screen, small left-justified, small centered, and small right-justified. Text will wrap around the small sized video embeds.
Full screen remote video
To embed a full screen video, click the Insert from Media Library icon in the WYSIWYG toolbar. Select the desired remote video and embed. Once embedded in the page, the remote video can be positioned by dragging and dropping where desired within the content.
Small left-justified remote video
To embed a small left-justified video, click the Insert from Media Library icon in the WYSIWYG toolbar. Select the desired remote video and embed. This will embed a full-screen video. You'll need to click on the video to change its size and alignment.
Clicking the video will open up a pop-up menu. Select Small from the size choices and the Left alignment choice.
Once embedded in the page, the remote video can be positioned by dragging and dropping where desired within the content.
Back to top
Small centered remote video
To embed a small, centered image, click the Insert from Media Library icon in the WYSIWYG toolbar. Select the desired image and embed. This will embed a full screen image, and you'll need to click on the video to change its size and alignment.
Clicking the video will open a pop-up menu. Select Small from the size choices and Centered from the alignment choices.
Once embedded in the page, the remote video can be positioned by dragging and dropping where desired within the content.
Small right-justified remote video
To embed a small right-justified image, click the Insert from Media Library icon in the WYSIWYG toolbar. Select the desired image and embed. This will embed a full-screen image, and you'll need to click on the video to change its size and alignment.
Clicking the video will open a pop-up menu. Select Small from the size choices and Right from the alignment choices.
Once embedded in the page, the remote video can be positioned by dragging and dropping where desired within the content.
Back to topTables
Tables can be added to the page content. Tables are a great way to display information in an easy-to-read format. To embed a table, select the Table button from the editor's menu. For example:
| Purchaser | Apples | Oranges |
|---|---|---|
| Bob | 5 | 3 |
| Abigail | 4 | 13 |
Additional guidance on adding tables
Accordion
Accordions are a great way to display information by topic when the user may only need select information. To create the Accordion, select Content > Add Micro-content > Accordion from the Drupal menu.
Once you've created the Accordion, you can embed it into a Basic Page by clicking on the Insert from Component Library icon on the WYSIWYG toolbar and selecting Accordion. This will open up a dialogue box so that you can select the desired Accordion from the Library or create a new one.
Automatic List
Automatic Lists are a great way to add Contacts, How-Do-I Pages, Basic Pages, Events, Locations, Documents, or News that are updated frequently or have a large number of items. To create an Automatic List, select Content > Add Microcontent > Automatic List from the Drupal menu.
Automatic Lists can be filtered by topic, type, area served, and/or Division/Section.
Once you've created the Accordion, you can embed it into a Basic Page by clicking on the Insert from Component Library button in the text editor menu and selecting Automatic List. This will open up a dialogue box so that you can select the desired Automatic List from the Library or create a new one.
Back to topContact
Embedding a Contact into a Basic Page is a great way to help users connect with vital personnel who can provide assistance or information as needed. To create a Contact, select Content > Add Microcontent > Contact from the Drupal menu.
Once you've created the Accordion, you can embed it into a Basic Page by clicking on the Insert from Component Library button in the text editor menu and selecting Contact. This will open up a dialogue box so that you can select the desired Contact from the Library or create a new one.
For example, if I wanted users to contact Nikki Flores when they had a question about creating content on their new site, I would embed a Contact.
Back to topLink Collection list
A Link Collection List is a great way to present a collection of related links that won't be updated frequently. To create the Link Collection List, select Content > Add Microcontent > Link Collection List from the Drupal menu.
Once you've created a Link Collection List, you can embed it into a Basic Page by clicking on the Insert from Component Library button in the text editor menu and selecting Link Collection List. This will open up a dialogue box so that you can select the desired Link Collection List from the Library or create a new one.
For example, the following Link Collection List provides users with a collection of resources related to creating websites.
Back to topPromo
A Promo is a great way to emphasize or highlight content that you want users to visit. A promo can feature a News Page, a Landing Page, a How Do I Page, a Location, a Contact, or Event. To create the Link Collection List, select Content > Add Microcontent > Promo from the Drupal menu.
Once you've created a Promo, you can embed it into a Basic Page by clicking on the Insert from Component Library button in the text editor menu and selecting Promo. This will open up a dialogue box so that you can select the desired Promo from the Library or create a new one.
For example, the following Promo highlights information about the progress of the Governor's Digital Transformation Initiative.
Iowa agencies move onto the updated platform
Sites are converting on a regular basis to a unified platform, sharing architecture, colors and styles, and approach.
Statistics
A Statistics microcontent block is a great way to highlight your agency's achievements and contribution to the success of all Iowans. To create the Link Collection List, select Content > Add Microcontent > Statistics from the Drupal menu.
Once you've created a Statistics block, you can embed it into a Basic Page by clicking on the Insert from Component Library button in the text editor menu and selecting Statistics. This will open up a dialogue box so that you can select the desired Statistics from the Library or create a new one.
For example, the following Statistics block highlights the number of sites that have been updated to the new platform. Keep in mind that this information does not auto-update, so someone will need to manually update the Statistics block once new sites have been migrated to the new platform.
Back to top