# Step 1: Create a Portal Project

In this step you will set up the design environment for a Portal application. You will build your Portal using WebLogic Workshop, a visual tool for designing Portals.

You will also create a Portal project. Portal projects contain supporting resources for Portal web applications including JSP tag libraries, skins, and personalization tools.

The tasks in this step are:

- To Start WebLogic Workshop
- To Create a Portal Application
- To Create a Portal Project
- To Start WebLogic Server

## To Start WebLogic Workshop

### ... on Microsoft Windows

If you are using a Windows operating system, follow these instructions.

1. From the Start menu, choose Programs-->WebLogic Platform 8.1-->QuickStart.
2. In the QuickStart dialog, click Experience WebLogic Workshop 8.1.

### ...on Linux

If you are using a Linux operating system, follow these instructions.

1. Open a file system browser or shell.
2. Locate the Workshop.sh file at the following address:

       $HOME/bea/weblogic81/workshop/Workshop.sh

3. In the command line, type the following command:

       sh Workshop.sh

##

## To Create a Portal Application

1. From the File menu, select New-->Application.
2. In the New Application dialog, in the upper left-hand pane, select All.
   In the upper right-hand pane, select Portal Application.
   In the Name field, enter GettingStarted_Portal.
   In the Directory field, confirm that [BEA_HOME]\user_projects\applications\GettingStarted_Portal is selected.
   In the Server field, select [BEA_HOME]\weblogic81\samples\domains\portal.
3. Click Create.

When you create a new Portal Application, Workshop creates the file structure shown to the right.

The data folder contains a Datasync project. A Datasync project contains personalization services that can be used in Portals, including user profiles, events, session properties, campaigns, and others.

The Modules folder contains stand-alone applications (packaged as WAR and JAR files) that can help you develop and administer your portal. The primary application is the WebLogic Administration Portal (adminPortal.war), which is used to administer a Portal both at design time and runtime.

The Libraries folder contains resources commonly used in Portal applications, such as the User Provider Control, which lets you store and retrieve information about the current user of the Portal.

The Security Roles folder lets you define security roles and test users for your Portal. You can test the security design of your Portal by logging in as a test user.

## To Create a Portal Project

1. Right-click the GettingStarted_Portal folder and select New-->Project....
2. In the New Project dialog, in the upper left-hand pane, confirm that All is selected.
   In the upper right-hand pane, select Portal Web Project.
   In the Project Name field, enter PortalProj.
3. Click Create.

When you create a new Portal project Workshop creates the file structure shown to the right.

The campaigns folder is provided as a convenient place to store your campaign rules. Campaigns let you target users with content (general web content, emails, advertisement, etc.) based on fine-grained rules. For example, a campaign can present a user with web advertisement based on the user's purchasing history, demographics, navigational patterns, or any number of criteria.

The framework folder contains resources for determining the look and feel of your Portal, including skins and themes.

The resources folder stores commonly re-used JSP elements, including CSS files and JSP templates.

The visitorTools folder stores an application that lets users set their own Portal preferences. If you wish, you can include this application in your Portal.

The WEB-INF folder stores JSP tag libraries, configuration files, compiled class files, and other runtime resources.

The Controller.jpf, error.jsp, and index.jsp are the components of the default parent page flow. You may use this page flow as the master error handler and/or the master navigational controller for other page flows in your portal.

## To Start WebLogic Server

In order to run and test your Portal application, it must first be deployed on WebLogic Server. For convenience you will start WebLogic Server now, so that you can test your Portal as you design it.

1. From the Tools menu, select WebLogic Server-->Start WebLogic Server.
2. On the WebLogic Server Progress dialog, you may click Hide and continue to the next task.

You can confirm whether WebLogic Server is running by looking at the status bar at the bottom of WebLogic Workshop. If WebLogic Server is running, a green ball is displayed.

If WebLogic Server is not running, a red ball is displayed.

You are now ready to begin designing your Portal.

Click one of the following arrows to navigate through the tutorial: