Drupal is an open source content managent system which can be expanded, builded and custimized by developing modules and themes. CDM Dataportal module is a drupal module developed for supporting the front end or presentation layer of the EDIT CDM Server. It allows taxonomist to look up for taxa, search taxa and other features. Besides the CDM Dataportal module there are several drupal themes which personalized the layout (colours, images and others) of the CDM Dataportal module results.
On this basis, it can be possible, for example, to have two different taxonomy collections whith differents selected looks thanks to the different drupal themes (each one per collection). However both collections will have the same features (such taxa search) thanks to the CDM Dataportal module.
More documentation about the CDM (Common Data Library) where the CDM dataportal belongs could be found at the following locations:
To activate the datataportal module go to Administer->Site buildin->Modules and at the CDM section select the modules CDM API, CDM Dataportal and CDM Taxon Tree. The other two modules are optional.
Note: If you downloaded Drupal from our download site, the module will be already enabled and ready for use.
To change your default theme just navigate to Administer->Site buildin->Themes where you can select your default theme as well as configured it.
If you are using the CDM Dataportal module, you will need to configure it. Here you will find how to explore and configure the module.
First step to configure the module is making sure your user has access to the settings options of CDM Dataportal module. You can find the configurations options under Administer->Site Configuration->CDM Dataportal. Once you are in the configuration site you will see four different sections:
Drupal's CDM Dataportal module dialogues with the CDM Server asking for taxa data and classification of taxa. The first thing the CDM Dataportal module needs to know is where is the CDM Server located in order to access it. Such parameters are configurable via the general tag of the settings.
The general settings documentation explains itself.
As with CDM Server, CDM Dataportal module also dialogues with a Map Server to generate all the maps displayed on your web site. Drupal needs to know where the map server is located and this parameter as well as others related with the maps appaerance like map legends, map size or map background are configurable via Geo & Map settings. This configuration site explains itself.
The Layout of taxa pages, search results and media files are configurable under Administer->Site Configuration->CDM Dataportal->Layout. Taxa pages contains different sections which can be displayed as tabs or as single taxon page. This sections are Taxon general information (such descriptions or distribution), taxon synonymy, taxon specimens and taxon media. To configure the layout visit the layout settings site and read the documentation for more information.
It is possible to increase the portal time response when serving taxa sites. The mechanism is quite simple. It works caching all taxa sites available in your portal in a way that when a user wants to visit new taxa, the module will not create the new taxon site from scratch. Instead of that the taxon site will be loaded from the cache and therefore will be no dialogue with the CDM Server.
Go to the cache settings site to configure it or learn more about CDM Data Portal cache.