Personalizations

Using personalizations, you can select which content is available for which users. Personalization can be set at the page, page section, content element, form and Content Repository level. Visitors' data can also be displayed on a content item.

Maintaining data in the profile and recording the visitor's behavior allows offering information targeted for that visitor. Once a visitor's area(s) of interest are identified, you can display content that is targeted toward their interests. This also provides the website visitor with a better experience.

For complete information on how to personalize content in XperienCentral, see Personalizing Content.

To access the Personalize panel, navigate to Configuration > Personalize.

In This Topic

Overview

Personalizing content makes the following possible:

• User registration with advanced filters/preferences in a personal profile that are maintained with a login name and password.
• Showing specific content that fits a user's profile.
• Making page parts conditional by, for example, showing an image or a paragraph only if the visitor is logged in.
• Blocking specific pages for certain visitors.
• Showing information from the session on the website (e.g., Welcome <username>).
• Partially completing forms by inserting known data.
• Storing personal information on the server.
• Generating forums and community discussions based on the user's profile.
• E-mailing newsletters based on the user's profile.

The personalization function does not necessarily require visitors to log in, however this can have an effect on the content that is available to them. For example, on an airline website, all users can search for flight information, but in order to book a flight, they must be logged in.

To personalize content, you must perform the following steps:

1. Create the XSLT expressions that trigger personalized content.
2. Personalize the content elements to show the targeted content.
3. Personalize one or more content items.
4. Test the personalizations.

An Editor can add personalization quickly and easily while editing an content item in the Editor. For complete information about personalizing content, see the XperienCentral online help for the Editor (Help > Visitor Segmentation > Personalize).

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Creating XSLT Expressions

XSLT expressions define the conditions in which specific content is shown to a website visitor as part of a personalization. To create an XSLT expression, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to Configuration > Personalize.
2. Click the "XSLT Expressions" tab.
3. Select <New expression> from the "Select" menu.

4. Define the following properties:
   
   

   Property	Description
   Category	The category (if any) to which this expression belongs.
   Available	Specifies whether this expression is available for use.
   Type	The options are: Condition: XPATH expression that generates TRUE. Choose: The same as 'Condition' but with a redirect to another page if the expression generates FALSE. The login page is the default. Select: An XPATH expression that retrieves information from an XML structure. XSL: An XSL template, for all other options.
   Show links	Selecting "Yes" displays a protected page on the menu. For users with insufficient rights, this has no effect. The visitor will be redirected to the login page and will be able to access the desired page if he or she logs in.
   XSLT	XSLT code (for type "XSL") or XPATH expression (for other types). Examples: Condition /root/system/user/gender = '1' (Verify that the visitor is male.) Choose count(/root/system/user/username) > 0 and (/root/system/user/username) = 'administrator' (First, verify that the 'username' tag exists and then that the user is the administrator.) Select /root/system/user/firstname (Retrieve the first name.) XSL <xsl:value-of select="/root/system/user/firstname"/> <xsl:text > </xsl:text> <xsl:value-of select="/root/system/user/lastname"/> (Retrieve first name + space + last name.)
   Assigned to	If this expression is used in one or more presentation models, the models are listed here.
   Test XSLT	Tests the XSLT code to ensure that it is correct.

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Combining Expressions in Personalizations

Combinations of expressions can be created. You can specify whether the combination should be complete (with an AND operator) or if at least one of the expressions should conform (with an OR operator). A test is done to determine whether the total XSLT expression's syntax is correct.

Define the following properties:

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Usage

The Usage tab shows which XSLT expressions and personalization models are assigned to pages and page sections. The page to which the currently selected expression or model is assigned also appears. When you click a page title in the list, XperienCentral navigates to that page or page section in the Editor.

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Categories

On the Categories tab you can create categories to which you can assign personalizations and expressions. This makes it easier to organize your personalizations and expressions into groups. The categories also appear in the "Select Personalizations" panel when an editor is personalizing content, which makes it easy to quickly locate the personalization they are looking for.

To create personalization categories, follow these steps:

1. Click the "Categories" tab.
2. Select "<new category>" from the "Select" drop-down list.
3. Enter the name of the new category in the "Category Name" field.
4. Click [Apply]. For example
   
   
   
   
   The new category is added. For example:
   
   
   

Categories in the Select Personalizations Panel

When a user is personalizing content in the Editor, they have the option to see all available personalizations or to select the specific category in which the personalization is placed (if categories are used). For example:

Once the category is selected, the available personalizations can be selected from the "Personalization" drop-down list.

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