Configuring consoles

This page contains the following topics:

• To create a console
• To edit a console
• To delete a console

You can configure consoles to better suit your working environment, adding action buttons, modifying widgets and configuring views. You can create consoles using the Consoles option on the Administration Main page or from the Portal details page.

Actions are used to add buttons for adding new records or to add links to external information.

Widgets can display statistical data in list or chart form, content from RSS feeds, or custom HTML. Three widgets are included by default during installation: the Welcome widget that includes a link to Support article that lists resources (such as online help and how-to videos), an RSS feed widget for the FootPrints Community, and an RSS feed widget for BMC Software News feed.

Views display other consoles (such as Calendar), saved searches, or category browser trees. One option is to create views from your saved searches, putting current data a click away. Each view displays as a tab in the records table at the bottom of the portal. For more information. see Using Advanced Search and saving searches and Creating category trees.

Your changes are implemented almost immediately. That is, the interface is updated for the assigned users the next time they refresh their browser window or log in to FootPrints. If you decide not to use the changes, before you save them, you can restore the console to its original settings. 

Remember to add new consoles to the appropriate portals and make sure that the portals are assigned to the appropriate user roles.

To create a console

1. Click the Administration tab.
2. In the Portal Management section, click Consoles.
   The Consoles page appears.
3. Click New.
4. In the Name field, enter a descriptive name for the console.
5. (Optional) In the Description field, enter a useful description.
6. (Optional) In the Widget Location field, select where on the page you want the Widgets pane to appear (Top, Left, Bottom, or Right). Top is default.
7. Configure the actions:
   1. In the left pane, click Actions.
      The available actions appear, for example, URL.
   2. Drag an action onto the action ribbon.
      The Action Properties pane opens and a new button appears on the action ribbon.
   3. (Optional) In the Title field, enter a specific name for this action.
      This is the name that your users will see.
   4. If you added a New Item action, in the Item Definition field, select the item that the action will create.
      The Action Description field is read-only.
   5. If you added a New URL action, in the URL field, enter the destination URL.
   6. To modify an action, select it and change the fields shown in the left pane.

   7. To remove an action, select it and click Remove in the Actions Properties pane.
      You may have to scroll down to see the Remove button. 

   8. To re-add a removed action, select it in the left pane and drag it onto the canvas again.

8. Configure the widgets:

   1. In the left pane, click Widgets.
      The available widgets appear, including the default Welcome widget.

      Note

      If you select a Custom HTML widget, the visible area is 10 lines high.

   2. Select the widget that you want to add and drag it to the appropriate location in the Widgets section of the right pane.
      If you add too many widgets to view at one time, a scroll bar is generated so users can move through the group.
   3. To modify a widget, select it and change the fields shown in the left pane.
   4. To remove a widget, select it and click the X to close it or click Remove in the Widget Properties pane.
   5. To re-add a removed widget, select it in the left pane and drag it onto the canvas again.
9. Configure the views:
   1. In the left pane, click Views.
      The available views appear.
   2. Select the view that you want to add and drag it to its new location.
   3. (Optional) In the Title field, modify the title of the view.
   4. Select the required options. The Title field is required for all consoles.
      
      • If you selected the All Items view, in the Container Type field, select the type of container to appear in the view.
      • If you selected the Saved Search view, in the Search Name field, select the saved search that you want users to see.
        This widget includes a scroll bar function when the number of records returned by the search are more than can be shown in the visible area of the widget.
      • If you selected the Category Browser view, in the Category Tree field, select the category field in the item that you want users to see.
   5. To modify a view, select it and change the fields shown in the View Properties section of the left pane.
   6. To remove a view, select it and click the X to close it or click Remove in the View Properties pane.
   7. To re-add a removed view, select it in the left pane and drag it onto the canvas again.
10. To return to the original design, click Restore.
11. Click Save.
    Your changes are implemented almost immediately and you can use the new console in portals as needed.

To edit a console

1. Click the Administration tab.
2. In the Portal Management section, click Consoles.
3. Select the console that you want to modify and click Edit.
4. Modify the fields as needed, using the information in To create a console.
5. Click Save.

To delete a console

1. Click the Administration tab.
2. In the Portal Management section, click Consoles.
3. Select the console that you want to remove and click Delete.
   A confirmation message appears.
4. Click Yes.
   The console is no longer listed on this page and will no longer appear in the interface.

Next step

Configuring portals

Related topics

Changing the look and feel of FootPrints

Configuring user roles