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Your ability to do things on CarlSites is dictated to a large degree by the limits of your imagination. That said, there are some technical requirements and limitations that you should be aware of and might want to review.
Install a Web Application in Your Space
CarlSites makes it very simple to install certain Web applications in your Web space. Here are some examples of applications that you can easily install within the sites.carleton.edu web hosting interface:
- WordPress: WordPress is a simple-to-use blogging application. The tool also comes with a huge array of plugins & themes to allow you to create virtually any kind of website imaginable. Review our WordPress documentation for more information.
- Omeka: Omeka is an open-source web application that can be used to create and display online digital collections and archives. Review our Omeka documentation for more information.
- Scalar: Scalar is a content management system with the idea of creating non-linear books on the web. Review our Scalar documentation for more information.
These are just a few of many open-source applications that are available to you in your CarlSites web space.
Run a Stable Site On Your Space
Additionally, a CarlSite can simply be grounded to a “static site” without the need for web applications. A static site is a site that is made up of webpages using HTML, CSS, and Javascript. This can be different from a dynamic site, which may use a web application that uses a database or backend Content Management System (CMS) to connect your website to pages,
Static sites are great for when you want stable content on your site, for your users. On the other hand, if you would like a site that is built using server side language to “dynamically” display content on-the-fly based on the user, then installing a web application may be the better option. For more information on static sites and dynamic sites, contact Academic Technology by emailing at@carleton.edu
Create Subdomains and Folders
When owning a cPanel, you’ve received a domain name that you can actually subdivide and organize anyway you like. One easy way to organize your domain is to create subdomains, in which you can then install other applications. Additionally, you can also set up subfolders for your site (subfolders can also have their own applications installed in them).
Here’s an example of how you might organize your site (using the subdomain vs. the subfolder approach)
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Subdomain Approach
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Subfolder Approach
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yourdomain.com (“root”)
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Install WordPress as your “main site”
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yourdomain.com (“root”)
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course1.yourdomain.com
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Install a second WordPress instance for a course you’re taking
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yourdomain.com/course1
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photos.yourdomain.com
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Install ZenPhoto for a public photo gallery of your photo
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yourdomain.com/photos
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docs.yourdomain.com
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Install MediaWiki for a club you belong to that wants to collaboratively edit its by laws
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yourdomain.com/docs
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files.yourdomain.com
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Install OwnCloud so you can access your files on your laptop and at work
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yourdomain.com/file
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This is just an example of a way to organize your site and then use different sections to do different things. There is no one solution to this challenge, and what you do should be driven by what makes sense to you. To start, you may just want to install one thing at the “root” of your domain, and then let the rest evolve as you get to know more about what’s possible.
Map Your Domain (or a Subdomain)
If you already have a digital presence that you’d like to pull into your CarlSites space, domain mapping is an option you may wish to explore. This allows you to assign your domain (or a subdomain) to another service. Some services that work with domain mapping are:
When you map a domain, users who visit your URL will automatically see your space on one of these services. It’s a great way to incorporate your activity elsewhere into your domain, and it might be a good first step if you’ve already established a presence elsewhere and just want to point your new domain to that space. Contact at@carleton.edu if you need assistance setting this up.
Leaving Carleton
There are a few reasons that could lead you to consider exporting your website content from CarlSites. Perhaps you’re leaving the College, or maybe you’re just wanting to use your data on another hosting environment. Whatever the case, you have a couple options. Please see Leaving Carleton - Your Personal/Class Websites for more information.
Refer to this article if you would like to export your WordPress content when you leave Carleton college.
Questions?
If you have any questions or would like to know more, submit a ticket and an Academic Technologist can help you.
Acknowledgement
Created by Paul Claudel Izabayo '25, 12/1/22. Last updated by Mauricio I. Reyes Villanueva ‘25, 01/16/24