Introduction to Settings - Article
Summary
The Settings area is the control center of the platform where administrators configure core behavior, security, automation, and structural system logic. Decisions made here affect users, workflows, access, and operational governance across the entire platform.
In this article you will learn:
- How the Settings area governs platform behavior and system configuration
- How platform-level decisions influence access, automation, and workflows
- Why Settings access is restricted to platform and global administrators
- How configuration choices affect governance, security, and compliance
The Control Layer of the Platform
The Settings area holds the platform’s core configurations. While many Help Center topics are presented as standalone articles or topics (Skills, Incentives, Commerce, etc.), they are all enabled, structured, and governed from this central location.
Settings is intentionally restricted to:
- Global Administrators
- Platform Administrators
This limitation exists for good reason. Changes made here:
- Affect all users
- Influence automation and workflows
- Impact security and compliance
- Modify operational behavior across the entire system
For governance, data integrity, and security reasons, platform-level configuration should be handled by a small group of knowledgeable administrators who understand the broader impact of each change.
Why Settings Matters
Everything users experience in the platform is shaped by decisions made in Settings.
For example, when a learner logs in and only sees specific courses in the storefront, that visibility is not random — it is controlled by roles, groups, onboarding rules, and tagging configurations defined in Settings.
When an instructor can be scheduled for a training session, that ability depends on how roles, permissions, and skills have been configured.
When an automated email is sent about a new enrollment, or when incentives award points for completing a certification, those behaviors are also governed centrally.
Even security — such as password policies, authentication methods, and two-factor authentication — originates here.
In short, Settings determines who can access what, how the platform behaves, and how it aligns with your operational and compliance requirements. Every major system action traces back to a configuration choice made in this area. If the User Profile is the operational junction of people, then Settings is the structural foundation beneath it.
Below is a short purpose-driven overview of each category currently available in the Settings menu.
| Settings Area | Purpose & What It Covers |
|---|---|
| General | Defines global platform behavior and foundational feature toggles. Includes activation of core modules (e.g., Skills, Availability), system-wide configuration settings, and privacy/legal-related controls. Typically one of the first areas configured during implementation |
| Email Sending | Controls how the platform communicates. Includes SMTP configuration, system notification handling, email template management, privacy policy distribution controls, and test mode options. Impacts enrollments, certificates, incentives, compliance emails, and overall user communication |
| Tags | Manages taxonomies and vocabularies used across the platform. Tags categorize courses and activities, drive filtering and reporting, populate user Interests automatically, and support onboarding logic. Tag structure directly affects discoverability, segmentation, and automation |
| Translations | Enables multilingual support. Includes interface text customization, email translations, legal content translations, and language activation. Critical for global deployments and extended enterprise environments |
| Appearance | Defines the visual identity of the platform. Includes color scheme, logos, branding elements, and styling. Ensures consistent brand experience across all user-facing areas |
| Commerce | Configures monetization and order workflows. Includes payment providers, checkout logic, pricing models, VAT handling, and order management. Directly impacts storefront functionality and paid training workflows |
| Security | Manages platform-level security standards. Includes authentication policies, password requirements, access configuration, and enforcement controls. Foundational for protecting personal data, intellectual property, and regulated information |
| Skills | Defines structured competency tracking. Includes skill creation and management. Powers readiness validation, instructor scheduling, certification logic, and partner enablement models |
| Third Party Integrations | Configures integrations with external systems. Includes authentication providers, file sharing services, Microsoft/Google integrations, commerce and VAT services, security modules, and REST API access for custom integrations. Enables ecosystem connectivity |
| Roles | Defines naming, labeling, and translation of standard user roles. Supports organizational clarity and localization without changing underlying permission logic |
| Regional and Language | Controls localization settings. Includes time zones, date formats, and language management. Impacts reporting, certificates, transcripts, and system-wide formatting |
| Page Templates | Defines structural templates for courses and descriptions. Improves standardization, consistency, and efficiency in content creation |
| Forms | Manages configurable fields across the platform. Includes profile form fields, user creation form, contact forms, and visibility controls. Directly impacts user profiles, onboarding automation, reporting, and segmentation |
| Analytics Permissions | Controls reporting access and data visibility. Defines which roles can access specific analytics types. Critical for governance, hierarchy, and controlled data exposure |
| Onboarding | Configures automated assignment logic. Enables auto-enrollment rules based on role, organization, tags, or profile attributes. Connects user data with automated training workflows |
| Links | Manages footer and sidebar links. Includes Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, contact information, cookies, accessibility reports, and custom links with role-based visibility controls. Supports governance and structured navigation |
| Incentives | Controls the full incentives ecosystem. Includes point rules, badges, expiry schedules, shop configuration, products, and transaction handling. Drives engagement and reward-based learning programs |
| Storefront | Configures public-facing catalog behavior. Controls visual presentation, content visibility logic, and the experience for both registered and unregistered users |