Portals control the graphical user interface SmartSimple presents to each user at login, determining what they can see, access, and do based on their assigned role. Global Administrators configure each portal's pages, sections, and menu links to tailor the experience for specific roles, such as applicants, reviewers, or administrators.
Who: Global Administrators
What Is a Portal
The portal each user sees is determined by their user role and the configuration set by the Global Administrator. All components, including the Main Menu links, page graphics, and personal menu items, are highly customizable.
Each portal consists of one or more pages. Each page is divided into sections, and each section contains content such as links, text, images, or dynamic data from SmartSimple. The Global Administrator controls which sections appear, in what order, and what they display.
When to Use Portals
Use portals when:
- Setting up a new SmartSimple instance and creating the initial portal experience for each user role.
- Updating the portal layout or content when a program workflow changes.
- Creating a distinct portal for a new user role, such as a new reviewer type or external partner.
- Troubleshooting navigation or access issues by reviewing which portal is assigned to a role.
- Controlling what a user has access to without having to expose all the menu items or links to other system menus.
User Roles and Portals
User roles organize similar users together and, in conjunction with permissions, control what individuals can view and do in SmartSimple. Roles are additive; a user can hold multiple roles, and those roles need not be mutually exclusive. Users are typically categorized by activity, such as applicants, reviewers, or approvers, or by department, such as accounting, sales, or partners.
Portal Components
Portals can contain pages, sections, and links.
Pages
A portal can contain one or more pages. The default page is the home page a user sees upon login. Additional pages can be added to extend the portal experience for specific workflows or user groups.
Sections
Each page is divided into sections. Sections control the layout and content of a portal page. Available section types include text blocks, image blocks, link lists, and dynamic data feeds.
Links
Links appear in the Main Menu and Personal Menu. They navigate users to key areas of SmartSimple, such as application lists, reports, or external URLs, and can be configured per portal.
Security Implications
Portal configuration directly affects what users can access in SmartSimple. Incorrectly assigned portals may expose records or functions to unintended users. Always test portal changes in a non-production environment before applying them to live user roles.
Resources
For more information about Portals, see: