This screencast continues where last week’s left off by demonstrating how to edit an existing item type. This is useful for customizing your installation so that it can best fulfill your project’s needs.

Edit away!

Do you ever find that the default item types and metafields for your Omeka installation are too limiting? If so, you can learn how to add your own in this week’s screencast.

For those of you in the US, enjoy the long July 4th weekend.

This week, learn how to install an Omeka plugin.
Earlier on the blog we talked about using Sitenotes, and this tutorial shows you how to install that plugin.

The installation process is the same for all plugins, but be sure to read the instructions (found next to each plugin on the http://omeka.org/download/plugins/ page), since configuring each one is slightly different. These instructions also provide some coding assistance to help make the plugins work with your public themes when necessary.

So, go forth, and install some plugins.

This week, learn how to create a collection for items in your archive.

If you are interested in using collections remember that first you must create a collection, then you can associate items with it. Additionally, an item may only belong to one collection at a time. Because of this limitation, tags are a great way to assist your online visitors in finding items while they browse.

For those of you familiar with physical collections, remember that your digital Omeka archive need not replicate the collections in your museum, library, or archive. You can use the Dublin Core metadata to identify a digital object as belonging to a specific collection, say, through the Source field. Or, you may modify an existing item type by adding another metafield. If you desire, the online collection can be less about donors and owners and more about themes and subjects.

Of course, how you organize your digital archive with Omeka is completely up to you.

Enjoy the weekend, everyone!

Today’s demonstration shows you how to edit and delete individual items from your Omeka archive. This was actually the first screencast recorded by Omeka Productions, so please be kind.

If you have suggestions for future screencasts, please leave us a comment with your ideas.

Enjoy the weekend!