Tips for using CWEA’s SSMP database more efficiently

Finding a resource

SORTING - By default, this list of resources is sorted so that the newest resources – those most likely to have been entered since you last visited the page – are at the top of the list. But you can change that sort order, to help you find the records that might be most relevant to your needs. Click on any one of five key headings marked in blue – Title, Agency, Date, Miles (of sewer lines) or Population – to sort the list alphabetically or numerically by that information. The first time you sort in this way, the list will be sorted in ascending order. If you wish to view the list in descending order using that same parameter, simply click the same heading a second time.

WHERE AM I? At any time or place while on the CWEA Web site, you can always get back the way you came by using the “active site map” – the list of pages, listed in blue at the top left corner of the main portion of the page – that shows all the pages between where you are at the moment and the CWEA home page. For example, if you are finished reading the details of an entry in the SSMP database, and want to get back to the database listing page itself, instead of using your “back” button on your browser, you could also look to the active site map, and click on the link to “SSMP database.” On the other hand, if you have opened a document that you found there and there is no CWEA navigation on the page, simply close the window you are in. The last CWEA.org page you left will still be there, waiting for you.

Adding a new resource

ZIP - If you have more than one document, ask yourself – will anyone ever want to see one or more of them but not all of them. If the answer is no – all the documents will be necessary to anyone who wishes to review them – then consider using a Zip or Stuffit utility to package them all in a compact, single file, and upload that.

UPLOADING MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS - If you want to upload multiple individual files, note than after you have entered all your information the first time, when filling out the form at http://cc.mcanet.com/cwea/et_ssmp_database_submit.cfm a second time, your PC may help you fill in any blanks that are similar or identical on subsequent tries. All you need do is type the first character, in many cases. This may produce a dropdown from which you may be able to select the same answer you provided last time, substantially simplifying the entry process.

ADD SOME DISTINCTION, PLEASE - When you plan to upload multiple documents, please be sure to place some clear language in the description so that users can tell the difference between the various fileswhen looking at the list to help them decide which might be helpful to them, and which might not.

N/A is OK - All fields in the form must be completed in order to upload a file. But in a few cases, the information requested might not be pertinent to the file you are uploading. If this is the case, simply enter “N/A.”

All files are reviewed before posting - Once you submit a file for posting here, the CWEA staff must review it to be sure it is complete and appropriate before it will be posted to the live site - or not. Don't be armed if this process takes a day or two.

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