Using Omeka

There are three ways to get started with Omeka:

The first way to use Omeka is to sign up for a hosted account at http://www.omeka.net/. The hosted accounts on Omeka.net are available at four levels: The trial (free) account provides one (1) site and 500 MB of storage space. If you need more space than this, there are three (3) levels of paid premium subscription services, which will allow you to create multiple sites and have more storage space.

Signing up for the trial account is the most accessible way to start using Omeka, it gives you the ability to create your own site and will allow to collaborate on sites you are invited to participate in.  

·       To sign up for an Omeka.net account,

• Choose a plan (everyone may sign up for one trial plan), a username and password (more than 6 characters), and fill in your name and email address. You must also agree to the Omeka.net terms of service. Please write down your username and password.

• After clicking Sign Up, you must activate the account from an email sent to the address provided the sign up form.
• *Only click the link once. If you click the link more than once from the activation email, you will be told “No activation exists for the given key.” If that happens, please go to the login page and try your username and password.
• Follow the link to activate your account and you will be directed to a page that confirms the price of the plan you designated in the sign up form.
  • If you want to purchase a plan, click the link to Google Checkout. All transactions are handled through Google Checkout. All sales are final. Plan prices are for one year cycles. There are no partial-year prices or pro-rated fees when upgrading.
  • If you change your mind about plans, do not proceed to Google Checkout. There are no refunds. Simply go to My Account to upgrade to a different plan. Or, keep the free basic plan. You may also upgrade a plan at any time, but there is no pro-rating.
  • Processing from Google Checkout may take 30 minutes or longer.
• Once an account is created, you may access your Omeka.net account and website(s) from any web browser by typing in the username and password from the omeka.net website, or by going directly your new website(s).

The second option is that you must obtain access to server space or pay for your own. You can download the web publishing software at http://omeka.org/, and that software can be installed on a server. 

The third option is you have been invited to someone else's hosted Omeka.net site and need to set up an account to access that site. When you are invited to join an Omeka.net, you will receive an email:

Follow the URL link in the email to the Omeka.net Site. If you already have an Omeka.net account, you will be dropped at Your Sites Page (see last image). If you do not have an Omeka.net account, where you will see this page:

Click on the Accept button. You are taken to the Pricing page. Don't stress about costs, immediately click the large green button that says "Start your free Omeka Trail". You will be taken to this page

Fill out the form and be sure to note the Username and Password you gave to yourself! Once you sign up, you will receive an email to confirm your account

Click on the link in that email and you will be taken to a page where you need to click on a green "Activate" button to complete your account setup. Once you click on that button, you will be taken to Your Sites page where you will see the site listed you were invited to join

Click on the Manage Site link under Others' Sites to navigate to the site you were invited to join. It is from this page you also control your Omeka.net account.