Getting Started with the Site-Checking Tool

Monsido is a powerful site-checking tool that allows you to quickly find and fix quality and accessibility issues on your website(s). This article aims at four primary learning objectives:

Engagement with the Monsido Browser Extension.
Familiarity with getting to the Monsido dashboard and the modules.
Locating and repairing broken links.
Locating and repairing missing alternative text.

The Browser Extension

Before you get started on the Monsido dashboard, there are a couple of ways to add the Monsido Browser Extension to your preferred browser:

Log into Monsido through Palomar’s SSO Portal
1. Choose the Monsido tile to visit the dashboard.
2. If the browser extension is not installed, you should see a prompt to install it.
3. Install the extension and pin it to the browser bar.
4. A browser restart is necessary if the extension prompts you to log in again.
Visit this Monsido Browser Extension article and follow the instructions and links for the browser of your choice.

It Works with WordPress

The browser extension is most useful when you are already logged into WordPress (aka, CMS). Please visit WordPress Central to get logged into WordPress quickly.

Important note: all issues on a given page show on the browser extension.

The Monsido Dashboard and Modules

Before we go to the Monsido dashboard, please ensure that you are logged into WordPress and that the browser extension is installed and functioning properly (not asking you to login again.)

Your Monsido user account has been configured to work with an assigned group. Once at the dashboard, that group should be visible.

Quality Assurance – Broken Links

After logging into both WordPress and Monsido, choose the Monsido group name to see its dashboard (an overview.) Then, locate and choose “Quality Assurance” from either the secondary top menu or the dashboard card.

On the menu at left, choose Links > Content with Broken Links. This will show a list of pages that contain broken links.
In the search box at the top right of the list, type your site’s URL (e.g., “/atrc/”) to locate pages within the site you’re inspecting.
Choose the magnifying glass symbol to view the page with the Monsido browser extension.
Locate the first broken link and highlight it by choosing the magnifying glass symbol.
If you are logged into WordPress, choose the “open in new window” icon > CMS to load the page into a new browser tab.

Accessibility – Reviewing and Repairing Alternative Text

After logging into both WordPress and Monsido, choose the Monsido group name to see its dashboard (an overview.) Then, locate and choose “Accessibility” from either the secondary top menu or the dashboard card. We will be reviewing alt text and, in some cases, correcting errors.

From the Accessibility dashboard, choose “Checklist” from the left menu.
Choose “Level A” (should already be selected) > “alt text” in the search at top right.
The first item requires a review (the eye icon). Click the page count at right to see this issue’s page list.
In the search box at the top right of the list, type your site’s URL (e.g., “/atrc/”) to locate pages within the site you’re inspecting.
Note the priority rank and begin with the highest one. If the rank does not differ, chose the page with the highest number of views.
Choose the magnifying glass symbol to view the page with the Monsido browser extension.
On the browser extension, carefully review the instructions and if the item complies with the parameter, mark it as reviewed. If not, and you are logged into WordPress, choose the “open in new window” icon > CMS to load the page into a new browser tab.
Correct the alt text and save the page.

Additional Reading

Monsido’s online help documentation is extremely thorough. Please follow the links below to learn more about each item.