Using Desktop Templates

This article will help Administrators to manage and create Desktops via configured Templates using the TDAdmin interface. The user must have Organization Administrator access in TDAdmin.

Overview

Desktop Templates allow administrators to preconfigure Desktop layouts and assign them to new users, thus ensuring the users will have the right information in front of them. Desktop Templates only apply to the main Desktop, which by default appears to all users when they initially open TDNext. The main Desktop includes content modules from all the different applications a user has access to.

Adding a desktop will give the selected users a new desktop either copied from or linked to the selected Desktop Template. If the selected users do not have a default desktop, the new desktop will become their default. This action will only impact users of type User who have access to TDNext. When the Set the applied desktop as default option is checked, the desktop will be applied to the selected users as their default desktop. If they previously had a default desktop, it will no longer be the default.

If there are discrepancies between the Desktop Template and the desktop the user can see, you may have included a desktop module that the user does not have access to see. For example, make sure that any reports you included in the desktop are also shared with the user. Also make sure they have access to the application(s) all of the report modules were created in.

Where to Find This

This feature appears in the TDAdmin interface, which is where can build these templates and can assign desktops to users based on them, and the TDNext interface is where users can view and interact with the modules on the desktop(s) they’ve been given.

A list of all Desktop templates that have been created for your organization can be viewed by clicking TDAdmin > Desktop Templates > Desktop Templates.

Using Desktop Templates

Creating a New Desktop Template

To create a new desktop template:

1. Log into TDAdmin and click Desktop Templates in the left navigation.
2. Click Desktop Templates.
3. Click the + New button.
4. Enter the desktop Name.
5. Click the Save Button.
6. In the Edit Desktop Template pop-up, configure the Desktop layout and content modules. For more detail on setting up the Desktop features, see Getting Started with Desktops.
7. Click the Save button and close the pop-up window.
8. Click the Refresh button to see the new Desktop in the list.

Linked Desktops

When you assign a desktop to a user, you can choose to give them a copy of that desktop template that they can modify however they would like or to give them a linked desktop. Linked Desktops are directly linked to the template, meaning that the TDNext user will not be able to modify the desktop, and any changes to the template will automatically be applied to the user's desktop.  

Assigning a Desktop Template to Users

There are two ways to assign a Desktop template to users. It can be done one user at a time or by group.

To assign a Desktop template to an individual user:

1. From the TDAdmin home page, click Users & Roles, then Users.
2. Locate the user's record and click their Name. 
3. On the user record pop-up, click Desktops in the left navigation.
4. Click the + New button.
5. Click the Desktop Templates dropdown and select the desired template.
6. Update the Name from the default if needed.
7. Using the checkbox, select whether you want to assign a copied or linked desktop.
8. Click the Save button.
9. On the user record pop-up, click the Refresh button to see the desktop in the user’s list.

When the user next logs into TDNext or refreshes their main Desktop the new Desktop will appear in the dropdown on the right side of the toolbar. 

To assign a Desktop template to users in bulk:

1. From the TDAdmin home page, click Users & Roles, then Users.
2. Use the checkboxes to select all appropriate users. 
3. Click the Actions button and select Add Desktop from the dropdown.
4. In the Add Desktop modal, select the desired template from Desktop Templates dropdown.
5. Using the checkbox, select whether you want to assign a copied or linked desktop.
6. If you want to force this template to be the user’s default, click the Set the applied desktop as default checkbox.
7. Click the Save button.

Deleting Desktop Templates