How to create a portal

A guide in four steps on how to create the portal using the offered set of tools. Detailed instructions for each step are available in the attached manual.

Step 1: Creating a blank website

The first step is the installation of the portal itself, which consists of copying files to a target server.

However, the installed portal displays blank content, and is therefore not operational. It only provides a framework for displaying, assessment, and comparison of different objects. To achieve the full functionality, it's necessary to fill it with data (Step 2) and set it up (Step 3).

instruction guide   download web kit

Step 2: Acquisition and processing of data

After installing the blank website, it is necessary to define a set of objects to be evaluated, and a set of data to be displayed on the portal for these objects. Subsequently, it is necessary to integrate these objects and data into some structure, to make the navigation on the website more user friendly.

This step includes the actual collection and processing of the defined set of data. It usually applies that if the data of the objects come from different sources, they have different structures (e.g. object names) and processing them into a suitable form may require great effort.

To familiarize yourself with the data storage and structures, you can download a sample set of assessed objects and data.

instruction guide   download sample datasets

Step 3: Setting up the website

After installing the blank website, collecting and processing the data that should be displayed on the portal, it's necessary to set up the website to correctly display the data, but also to correctly utilize navigation and the entire user interface.

The set up consists of multiple points. The first is filling the tables with data and the data structure from Step 2. The second is filling the tables directly related to this data and their structure. The third point is defining all text displayed on the portal in the target language. The fourth point is the overall portal settings, such as displaying or not displaying certain user interface elements. The last, the fifth point, is the optional creation of user files, mostly pictures of individual objects.

To familiarize yourself with the settings and texts, you can download a sample of settings adopted form the existing portal.

download sample settings

Step 4: Using the website

A portal created with this tool offers many options how to display the data stored in the database and work with them.

The guide describes and explains the essential elements of the user interface, the method for creating rankings and comparisons of multiple objects.

instruction guide

Created portals

See what portals have been created using this tool
and be inspired.

show all portals
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This project was supported by a grant from the Foundation Open Society Institute in cooperation with the Think Tank Fund of the Open Society Foundations and by a grant from the National Endowment for Democracy.

This project is run by INEKO Institute which is a non-governmental non-profit organization established in support of economic and social reforms which aim to remove barriers to the long-term positive development of the Slovak economy and society. INEKO is not responsible for the full functionality of portals created by INEKO or third parties, or for the accuracy of data displayed on the created portals.