Step 1: Decide on a redirection strategy
If you have transformed a static HTML site, read the guidelines on Redirects, backups, removal of transformed HTML sites.
If you have transformed another type of site other than HTML, contact Comm Europa Management well in advance
Step 2: Chose a launch date
Check that no major events are happening on your preferred launch day. This includes
- platform releases
- ec.europa.eu/info releases
- important events which might require content updates
Furthermore, a launch should not be scheduled on a Friday.
Once you have set the launch date, also watch out for any changes or delay of releases. Best to inform your Account / Class manager as they can also keep an eye on the release calendar.
Step 3: Double-check your pages
- Are files correctly included in the pages: Either in the documents section or underneath the relative paragraph as a 'teaser' (never add them as links)? → Add a file node to a page
- Do all draft nodes contain content or links to other websites (legacy links)?
- Do all links work and lead users to real URLs and not node URLs such as https://ec.europa.eu/info/node/1234? → Page#Insertinternallink
- Have you removed any jargon, such as euro area → eurozone, Member States → EU countries, or third countries → non-EU countries? → Jargon and clear writing alternatives
- Are all pages validated?
Step 4: Launch day
Timing
Best to start the launch in the morning in case there are any issues.
Order
1. Files and publications
Publish all files and publications first. The order does not matter.
You can use the bulk publishing via https://ec.europa.eu/info/admin/content_en.
Note that bulk publishing only works for nodes, which have never been published and not for already published nodes with new drafts.
2. Pages – Publish top-down
It is recommended to launch top-down so that URLs are not affected.
That means you publish in this order:
- Landing page of your new section
- All pages below the landing page
- Next level pages
- Etc.
If you decide to publish the pages bottom-up, be aware that the CMS may change the URL alias and/or the breadcrumb. For example, if the parent page is not yet published, it may not appear in the URL alias, and will definitely not appear in the breadcrumb.
For the same reason do not schedule the publication of the pages, unless you schedule it according to the order above.
The disadvantage of working top-down, though, is that the highest-level pages will be empty as long as their children pages are not yet published. Therefore, try to finalise the launch within 2 hours and make sure to involve as many people in the launch as necessary.
If you want to use scheduled publishing, please test first the behaviour of the URLs aliases in the playground.
Step 5: Double-check the launched pages
Log out of the CMS back-end and click though all pages and test all links to check that nothing has been forgotten. Best to do this test in multiple browsers, such as Internet explorer, Firefox, Chrome.
Step 6: Delete or archive your old website or section
See Archiving for more information.
Step 7: Activate redirections
- Inform Comm Europa management about the launch and ask them to activate the redirection
- Test the redirects
Contact and support
If you require further assistance, please contact:
European Commission
DG Communication
Unit B.3
Europa Web Communication