Portals are a framework built into Slate that allows for custom-developing mini-websites that can access Slate data and use Slate authentication. Portals represent fully-customized software development that requires specialized resources. Slate provides several out-of-the-box portals that you can customize.
Before beginning any portal project, it is essential to identify the available resources on staff to maintain each portal. While Technolutions can offer guidance and instruction on Portals, the custom nature of a portal requires that each partner take full ownership of the portal.
Portals can be added to Slate via Briefcase (or Suitcase, as applicable) using the Briefcase/Suitcase IDs listed below.
Required Knowledge
You will need one or more people who know or are willing to learn basic SQL, HTML, Javascript, and XSLT development to customize the out-of-the-box portals or develop custom portals from scratch.
IDs
A Suitecase ID cannot be imported via Briefcase, and a Briefcase ID cannot be imported via Suitcase.
Application Status
Example 1
The applicant status portal replaces the /apply/status.XSLT file institutions may have previously used to customize the applicant's experience post-submission.
The application status portal allows for many customizations, including custom checklist sections, filtering on static content, social media, and other merge fields.
The Standard Application Status Portal replicates the /apply/status.XSLT file by using drag-and-drop widgets. For institutions seeking to mirror the existing /apply/status.XSLT functionality, we recommend importing this portal to then build upon.
Tip
If you have made any edits to the /apply/status.XSLT file, these edits will not be reflected in the portal. We recommend reviewing the Migrating Portals from XSLT to Views documentation for advice about translating teasers and other application status page edits to the Application Status Portal.
Example 2
The Customized Application Status Portal includes the Checklist by Section widget, more merge fields, filters on widgets, staff-assigned information, and a test scores table. This portal will require you to review the filter criteria, checklist sections, and other information before going live with the portal.
Enrolling Student
While many partners continue to evolve the application status portal beyond the point of an admission decision, some institutions may wish to give enrolling students their own portal with a different look and feel. The enrolling student portal is intended only for enrolling students, where they can see enrollment checklist items and find additional information about the institution and enrollment process. In addition, the portal includes optional features, such as the ability for records to update their profile and search using a directory of fellow enrolling students.
Alumni Interviewing
Using a custom dataset to store alumni volunteer information, this portal will display a curated list of applicants to the volunteer, typically to schedule an interview. Alumni volunteers can select which applicants they wish to interview and provide feedback through a custom form.
Assignments by Captains
Similar to the alumni interviewing portal, this portal stores alumni volunteer information in a custom dataset. Certain alumni volunteers are designated as captains, enabling them to see a curated list of applicants and matching alumni volunteers. The captains are empowered to assign applicants to volunteers. Upon completion of the interview, volunteers can see their assignments and provide feedback through a custom form.
are interviewed.
1f6bc6b4-5b25-23ec-92a6-645c44f34c37@slate-showcase
applicants and inquiries are interviewed
f2ff570f-b213-c879-b73e-cf13eda62928@slate-showcase
Athletics
This portal is configured to leverage the Slate standard sports table, and coaches are set up as users with specific roles in Slate. Coaches are added to Slate as administrative users and given a custom role that matches the names of sports. Person records with the corresponding sport on their profiles are then shown to the appropriate coaches. The specific details of the information shown to the coach can be customized and, using a custom form. Additional information can be added to the records by coaches.
Giving Portal
A portal can be a helpful tool to display information about a Giving Campaign or Giving Day. This portal allows advancement offices to display information about a specific campaign, a list of recent donors, metrics regarding the goal of the giving day or campaign, and links to giving forms.
Tour Guide
Tour guides can sign up to assist with campus tours (or any other type of event) via a portal. Tour guides, in this example, are dataset records that can log into the portal and manage their tour assignments.
Find My Counselor
Students can navigate to this portal to find the counselor assigned to their school.
Event
Example with Tabs and Space Available
Students can sign up for events from this portal. This portal incorporates tabs to allow students to easily navigate and sign up for both On Campus Events and Virtual Events.
Example with Tabs, Space Available, Reports, and more
Students can sign up for events from this portal. This more robust portal provides additional functionality, such as reports, and also includes the Find My Counselor functionality.
Reader
Portals can be embedded inside the Reader, allowing more dynamic pages to be accessible to readers (for example, dashboard pages). Conditional logic, tables, Liquid markup, and more can be leveraged to create an enhanced reader experience.
Multiple Tabs
Portals can have multiple tabs in a single framework. This basic example demonstrates a default page with standard sections that display all the time, with a home tab, second tab, and third tab.
Anonymous Student Portal
Portals can be a powerful tool to assist in gathering general information about prospective students. This portal is accessible to students without the need for them to login and provides them with a Request For Information form to fill in any remaining information.