Get the word out to your Users quickly and accurately. Use the Tortal LMS Panel Manager to easily create and update Information Panels for your LMS Homepage, Catalogs, and Courses. Share text, images, video embeds, and other media Items! 

This article contains an overview of features of the LMS panel Manager Tool.

Quick Links: 

• How to use the LMS Panel Manager 
  • Find the Panel Manager 
  • Create a New Panel
  • Manage Panels 
    • Panel Content
      • Layouts
      • Content Blocks
        • Text
        • Image
        • Code 
    • Panel Location
    • Panel Access
    • Panel Status
  • Deleting Panels
• Tortal LMS Info Panel Manager: FAQ

 

How to use the LMS Panel Manager 

Find the Panel Manager 

Currently, The Panel Manager is only available

For System Administrator Permissioned Accounts.

• User Permissions - System Administrator Access Level

It can be accessed by following the Panel Manager Link from the Admin Navbar Dropdown or Admin Sidebar.  

 

 

Create a New Panel

To create a Panel, simple click the "Add a Panel" Button on the Panel Manager Page. 

In the Panel Manager popup modal, You will be required to give it a Name & Description. 

 

Optional - You may also select a Template to begin with from this modal. These templates can have background colors or not. If "No Template" is selected the white 1 Column layout will be used as default.

Click Save to finish.

 

Manage Panels 

Panel Content

Panel Editor

The Panel Editor is a Drag and Drop interface for arranging Layouts and Content Blocks

Panel Editor Controls

• Edit - Arrange your layouts and Content Blocks
• Preview - Opens the Previewer to see your Panel on various device widths
• Save - Saves changes, returns to Panel Manager  

The Grid System

The Grid System is a collection of prebuilt Panel Layouts with popular Column widths to make building easy! 

Layouts

Layouts are preset column widths that are most popular.

• a 12-column layout = Full width.
• a 6-Column layout 50% width

Just use the Drag handle to drag and drop your layouts into place to create the layout you like! 

 

Layouts can be nested

PRO TIP: Simple always looks better. 

Content Blocks

Currently you can apply Content Blocks for Text, Image, and Code. Additional Content Blocks will be added in future updates. 

Drag a Content block into a layout to activate it. 

 

Text

The Text Block shows a block of Nonsense Lorem as a placeholder to visualize the layout.

Edit Text by clicking the Settings icon - - Use the Text Editor add font headings, colors, alignment, bullets & more .  

 

Click Apply Settings to Save changes. Click Close to return to the Panel Editor.

 

Image

The Image Content Block allows you to upload and choose images to add to your layouts.

Edit an Image by clicking the Settings Icon - - to bring up the Image Settings popup

 

Select/ Upload a new Image by clicking "Browse for an Image"

 

The Image Manager gives the options to select from previously uploaded Images

 

Select a previously uploaded Image - Click the Arrow - - Icon

Upload a new Image by Choose a File, and clicking Upload

Click Return to Image Settings to save changes.
Click Apply Changes to save Image Settings. 

Code

The versatile Code Block provides space to add HTML of your own.  

Edit the Code block by clicking the Settings Icon -

 

Code added here will be read and displayed in the Panel Editor Page.

• Example of a Vimeo Embed to post a video
  

PROTIP: The Code Block will require you to have a good foundation in HTML. Use generic HTML Elements without additional classes or attributes, inline styles, or Javascript to avoid breaking your LMS. 

 

Panel Location

Panels can Appear in multiple locations across the LMS.

Homepage

• Choose whether you want this Panel to appear on the home page for logged in Users, logged out users, or not at all. 
  

Catalog Pages

• Panels will appear above the Catalog Title & Description for Selected Catalogs
• Select the checkboxes for the Catalogs where you want your Panel to Appear 
  
  
• If a Catalog is Restricted - Users must be Members of Groups which have access to this restricted Catalog!
  • How Restricted Catalogs Work

Course Information Pages

Panels will appear above the Course Title & Description for Selected Courses

 

Select the Courses where you want your Panel to display by dragging them over to the right--side column. 

 

Click the Save Locations button to Confirm changes

Panel Access

Panels can be configured to be visible for set timeframes, and based on group membership for the User who is logged in. 

 

Timeframe

 

Group Access

Click the Save Access button to save Panel Access changes

Panel Status

Panels come in 3 Statuses

• Inactive - Invisible to all accounts
• Preview - Visible to the Creator (Outlined in orange)
• Published - Visible to all Users in Groups with Panel Access)  

 

Deleting Panels

Delete a panel by clicking the "Delete Panel" Link on that Panel. 

This is permanent and cannot be reversed. Click OK delete the Panel.  

 

 

Tortal LMS Panel Manager: FAQ

• What is the difference between the Default Panel vs a Custom Panels?
  • If no Custom panels are created for your organization, the homepage will show our default LMS homepage content, which is a Tortal LMS Intro video. 
    
    
• Why can I not see a Panel I've setup on a Catalog ? 
  • Check your Catalog Restriction Settings.
  • Be sure that the User is a member of a Group with Access or has been given User Access to that Restricted Catalog. 
    
    
• How can I change the spacing of my Content Blocks (text, Image, etc) ? 
  • In the Content Block Settings Panel - Use the Cell Settings to adjust margin and padding of that column.
    
    
•  What size image works best? 
  • Images are responsive, and will be shown at their uploaded size. 
  • Best Sizes are
    • 150-300px wide for Catalogs & Courses
    • 600px max width for Homepage layouts