Creating a Portal Interface
Contents
Creating a Role Based Portal
You can create a simplified interface for a role by using the Portal interface.
Comparison between Menu and Portal Interfaces
The following table outlines the key differences between the two interfaces.
| Feature | Administration | Portal |
| Navigation | Left Panel contains menu items | Icons displayed in main panel and also optionally displayed in the left panel. Left panel icons can be suppressed. |
| Interface Title | Not applicable | Portal Title associated with the role is displayed next to the uploaded company image. |
| Home Button | Left navigation below uploaded company image | Top right of the window. Home button takes user back to Portal icons. |
| Logout button | Left navigation below uploaded company image | Top right of the window |
| Increase and Decrease Font Size buttons | Font size can be changed through Personal Settings > System Settings page. | Top right of the window |
| Personal Settings Link | Above uploaded company image | Below uploaded company image |
Steps to Create a Portal
A Portal interface is created using the following steps:
- Click the Portal button in the Roles list for the required role.
- Add each icon and narrative text required.
- Most SmartSimple functions are selectable through the Shortcut List within the Portal screen, but other links can be manually added and associated with an icon and narrative text.
- A small wrench symbol is displayed to the left of the Portal button in the Role List view once a portal has been established for that role.
- The Portal interface is automatically displayed to users in the associated role, and the administration interface will no longer be displayed.
- If the user is in multiple roles with associated portals, then a combined portal will be displayed. Duplicate icons from each role are not displayed.
- The Portal interface is never displayed to Global User Administrators or Local User Administrators. If a user is an administrator and has other roles with associated portals, these are accessed through the Applications, My Portal menu.
- You must enable an associated menu item for the associated Portal Shortcut to function. If you do not, the system message – function not available please contact system administrator – will be displayed to the user.
If you want the portal user to see the people on-line feature, you must enable the People on-line menu for the role. There is no portal icon that represents this feature.
Creating a Portal Interface
In this exercise you will create an employee portal.
1. Click the Configuration, Roles & Permissions menu.
2. Click the Portal button for the Employee role.
The Portal window is displayed.
New Shortcuts are added using the top panel of the window, and are listed at the bottom of the window once created.
The following tabs are displayed at the top of the Portal window:
- New Shortcut – clears the shortcut displayed in the top of the window, and starts a new shortcut.
- Portal Design – displays the advanced portal setting that controls overall look and feel.
- Import – imports the shortcuts from a portal you have previously created.
- Export – exports the shortcuts so you can create another portal for a different role.
- View Roles – returns to the Role List.
If you wish to edit an existing shortcut, click on the name and it will be displayed in the top panel.
The following controls are displayed in the top panel.
- Shortcut – displays the list of SmartSimple Shortcuts.
- Name – the name you want to display to the right of the shortcut icon.
- Description – the description you want to display below the shortcut icon.
- URL – the link to the item.
- Order – the display order of the icons in the portal. Icons are displayed left to right and top to bottom.
- Icon Type – the type of icons you wish to use.
- Icon – the specific icon taken from the icon type.
- Condition - allows you to use conditional logic to determine whether or not this icon is visible
- See Visibility Condition for examples
There are three buttons displayed in the top pane:
- Save – save the shortcut.
- Clear – clear the current shortcut from the top panel.
- Preview – display the portal. In preview mode the portal shortcuts will not function.
Make sure you click the Clear button or New Shortcut tab when adding shortcuts; otherwise you may overwrite the same shortcut on the list.
3. Add the following Shortcuts:
4. Click the Preview button.
The Portal Preview is displayed.
The selected shortcuts are displayed in the main pane of the window and also displayed as icons in the left navigation pane.
5. Close the Preview window.
Testing the Portal
1. Switch to the other browser.
2. Click the Browser’s Refresh button.
The portal is displayed.
3. Test the Portal functionality.
