A free beginner quick reference from David Cutler and The Gator.
First: create a named Design Backup and copy the entire field you plan to edit into a plain-text file. Your request goes in ChatGPT; its code goes in the named SNO field.
| I want to… | Go here | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| Change type, spacing, colors, or image framing | Appearance → SNO Design Options → Custom CSS | Plain CSS only; omit <style> tags. Save the design settings. |
| Add content or an HTML/embed box | Appearance → Widgets / Widget Control Panel → intended area → Custom HTML → Content | SNO Text may call its field Text/HTML. Save inside that widget. |
| Arrange homepage spaces | SNO Design Options → Site Designer → Homepage Widget Areas | Set the spaces here; manage their content in Widgets. |
| Edit a header or footer element | Site Designer → Header Design / Footer Design → the element’s gear | Color Block/HTML/Embed can hold suitable HTML. Use code written for that element. |
| Create or restore a design backup | Appearance → Design Backups | Name a new backup. Restore Design resets stored design/widget settings. |
“I am a beginner using SNO. Here is my screenshot and complete current code. I want [one change]. Keep everything else. Name the exact screen and field. Say ADD TO or REPLACE. Return the complete code needed, the Save button to use, what I should see, and how to undo it.”
Check: refresh the public page; test links, pictures, Safari, Firefox, and a phone-sized view.
Undo one code edit: paste back the saved original field and save, or deactivate the one new script snippet. For broader recovery, use the matching Design Backup. Design Options → Revision History restores settings, not widgets. WordPress post/page revisions cover article content.
Cannot find the field? Ask your adviser or SNO Support. A “Special Code” field depends on that widget’s instructions. Do not guess or paste into a similar-looking box.
Full guide: teachercutler.com/courses/journalism/sno-design · SNO menu labels vary by version and permissions. AI assisted the guide’s production with The Gator’s permission; The Gator does not use AI to create its original journalism or artwork. Independent resource, not affiliated with SNO Sites or OpenAI.