Advanced Certificates Overview

The Advanced Certificates option allows definition of a template describing the look and format to be used for various types of certificates generated by the online system, and may be used to generate:

• Gift Certificates
• Curriculum Enrollment Certificates  
• Curriculum Graduation Certificates
• Discovery/First Flight Certificates (coming soon)

The process used to create the definition is very similar for each type.

Overview

To begin using this option, an Administrator must first enable Advanced Certificates via the Admin Tab / Features and Options Menu, then follow the instructions specific to each type of certificate you wish to activate. An overview of the steps involved in creating each certificate is provided below:

• selecting a background,
• creating the definition,
• previewing the results, and
• activating the certificate.

Advanced Certificates are a chargeable option and will be included in your monthly billing once enabled. Please see MyFBO.com Current Rates for more information. 

The first step in creating a certificate is specifying the background image to use. The certificate text will be placed over the background that is selected. The system includes several predefined sample backgrounds, or subscribers may upload a custom image to be used. Background images are categorized by layout orientation (Portrait or Landscape), and the final certificate output is determined by the orientation of the background.

System-Provided Backgrounds

The library of sample backgrounds may be viewed with the View Background Samples link. The samples will be shown in a pop-up window, and clicking on an image will select the image from the background list.

Custom Backgrounds

Use the image upload functionality to add custom backgrounds. Background Images will be stored in Document Management / Background Images (MB), and may not be deleted while the image is in active use in any certificate definitions. When scanning images for use in the system, images should be scanned at 100 DPI. Starting with an image that is correctly proportioned is highly recommended.

For Portrait:

• Use for vertical orientation on output
• Input image should be in 4/5 aspect ratio
• System automatically resizes to 680 pixels wide by 890 pixels in height

For Landscape:

• Use for horizontal orientation on output
• Input image should be in 5/4 aspect ratio
• System automatically resizes to 890 pixels wide by 690 pixels in height

After selecting a background from the list, click on Modify Certificate Definition to load the Certificate Editor.

Creating the Definition

The Certificate Editor is comprised of a control panel and a preview box. When the Certificate Editor initially loads, each field for the certificate type will be placed in it's default position on the certificate background. 

Control Panel

The control panel is used to set the field settings for the currently selected (highlighted) field. When changes are made using this form, the results are applied to the field in the preview. The capabilities of the control panel are described below.

• "Save Changes" button is used to save the definition
• "Cancel" button cancels any changes made
• "Restore Defaults" button undoes any field formatting and returns fields to default positioning
• "Help" offers a quick link to quick help pointers.

Field Controls

• "Editing" displays the currently selected field
• "Edit" button appears if the field text is editable inline
• "Active/Hidden" list allows field to be hidden
• "Font" list allows font face to be altered
• "Font Size" list allows font size to be changed
• Bold, Italic, Underline icons apply additional font styles
• Left, Center, or Right Justify icons control justification inside the field
• "Width" field allows specification of the maximum width to be used for the field
• "X" and "Y" fields allow fine control over the position of the field
• Font and Background Color selectors specify the field's colors

 Certificate Preview

The preview box provides a sample of the certificate that is updated in real time as formatting changes are made. Each field has a handle at the top indicating the field (parameter) name and a sample of the field text. Field text may contain placeholders like "[Customer Name]" to indicate dynamic text areas that will be filled with actual values when certificates are generated. Fields may be repositioned by clicking on the handle and dragging the field to a new location.

After making changes in the Certificate Editor, click "Save Definition" to save changes and return to the previous page where you may preview or activate the certificate. 

After a definition has been saved, it is highly recommended you preview changes before activating the certificate. Samples may be previewed in JPG Image format. 

Once a certificate definition is activated, the certificate definition will be 'live' and will be used to create any future certificates. For instance, activating the Gift Certificate definition will instantly provide Gift Certificate generation using the definition, and re-printing any existing gift certificates will generate a certificate in the new format.

Certificate Printing

Certificates are designed in either portrait / vertical orientation or landscape / horizontal orientation. To print correctly, your printer settings should match the certificate orientation. If you keep your printer set to the default portrait orientation and your certificates are designed in landscape orientation, you will need to adjust the printer orientation prior to printing. There are a number of options for temporarily adjusting your printer orientation settings. Here are the two most common for use with MyFBO:

Option 1:

Prior to attempting to print the certificate, navigate to your browser menu / toolbar (well above your MyFBO screen) to use options available in the browser to change your print settings. You may find these options in a dropdown menu or via a printer icon/button. The example pictured below is from Internet Explorer, where you first select the File option and then select Page Setup. A Page Setup dialog box will open, allowing you to change from portrait to landscape orientation. Once selections are made, click OK to close the dialog box. 

Option 2:     

Enable the Advanced Printing Options in your MyFBO system. This results in you being able to quickly print pages within MyFBO in landscape orientation or portrait orientation, with shrink to fit, and without adjusting any of your browser print settings. For details, please see Advanced Printing Options.

01/13/11 cli