Create New Pages

When you create pages using Page Builder, you can create a hierarchy to help guide your learners on a learning journey. When you first start, you select a template that contains a hierarchy structure. You can add subpages at any time to the structure. You can mix and match different components to create a unique page design exclusively for your learners.

Before you create custom pages for the platform, we invite you to first review best practices.

Best Practices for Designing Pages

Before you get started, you should plan for how you will not only set up, but also how you will maintain your pages going forward. When you keep your pages focused and relevant, learners are more likely to stay engaged. Some things to keep in mind when designing your pages:

  • Less is more. Offer guidance, not choices. Learners are often overwhelmed with too many choices, make it simple for them by only offering items that are relevant to growing your business' skills and capabilities.
  • If you are linking out to other websites, ensure you have all your URL's in one place to make the page creation go quickly. Use the Static cards for these items.
  • Storyboard your page design in a tool other than the Skillsoft Platform and get it approved before you start creating. This can save you a lot of time on rework.
  • Think of the page hierarchy you want to present to learners and guide them to the most focused and relevant pages.
  • As part of your storyboarding, pick the content you want to showcase. Use the All Content Listing report to check to make sure your selected content is not retiring soon. When you showcase content, use the Dynamic card.
  • If you want to add custom content and do not have a place that is accessible to all learners, you can add it as a custom content item in the platform. When you do this, you can track accesses and time spent learning through Skillsoft Platform reports.
  • Some questions to ask yourself through the design and creation process:
    • What are the goals for this new set of pages?
    • What would I consider a successful launch?
    • Have I selected the right content?
    • Who can review to make sure all the links work as expected?
    • Do all my learners have access to all content I'm recommending?
    • What languages do I need to offer my learners?

Create a Page

To get started designing your page structure and page layouts:

  1. From the left navigation bar, select Learning > Page Builder. The Page Builder page displays.
  2. Choose a template and select Get started. Templates are populated with a boilerplate layout containing boilerplate text and graphics that you can edit to fit your needs. Currently, there is only one template available:
    • Academy experience: Use this template when you want to create a structured approach to organizing and delivering content to employees across your company for things like leadership advancement for high potentials, new hire onboarding, or upskilling all on a new technology, such as AI. You can include various types of content and resources tailored to the specific learning needs and goals of the organization. An academy experience serves as a hub for all employees across your company to access the same learning materials and engage in continuous development in a structured way for those areas that are key to your business success.
    • Audience / Function-based: COMING SOON: Use this template when you want to create a guided learning approach for your different departments or functions that have specific needs. For example, maybe your Engineering department needs to focus on a new tool that only they use, while your Sales department is focused on your new sales methodology. You can tailor these pages to different audiences based on a specific custom user attribute such as location, department, or level.
    • Learning Program Marketing: COMING SOON: Use this template when you want to market a specific learning program across your organization. For example, perhaps you are offering an AI certification program for all employees or there is a campaign for your new vision and values. This template helps you provide a guided approach to upskilling your employees at scale.
  3. In the dialog box that displays, enter:
    • Page title: This is the title of the page that shows in the left navigation to learners if you choose to show it to them.
    • URL: If you do not show the page on the left navigation, you can copy the URL so you can share it from another website or in an email. If you do not show the page on the left navigation, the only way learners can get to it is directly using the URL.
    • Permission: Choose which admins with Page Builder access permissions can make changes to your pages. You can select All admins which gives all admins with Page Builder access the ability to edit and delete your pages. You can select Limited access to restrict who can make changes to your pages. If you limit access, choose which admins have permission. Who you choose here displays in the Collaborators column of the main Page Builder page.
    • Don’t show this page in the left navigation: Check the box if you do not want the pages you are creating to show to learners in the left navigation.
  4. Select Create page. The Page Builder displays with two tabs on the left side:
    1. Pages: This tab shows all the pages associated with the template. Select a page to start customizing your page layout. Or use the menu options under the action menu , to build your page hierarchy.
    2. Design: This tab is where you can add new components to the page that is selected.

    Best practice: From the Pages tab, select the page you want to edit, then select the Design tab so all features are available. The page displays in the main window to the right so you can customize it.

  5. When designing a page layout, you can:
  6. When designing your page hierarchy, you can:
  7. As you are customizing your pages and page hierarchy, you can save it at any time. Select Save to save your changes. If you make a mistake you can select the Undo arrow or the Revert button. Revert undoes all changes back to the last time you saved.

    Top bar showing undo, redo, edit, preview, revert, save and publish buttons.

  8. To see how your page will look to learners, select the Preview button.
  9. When all is as you like, you can add languages if you want to offer the pages in a learners local language.
  10. When your pages are designed as you like them and translations completed, you can publish the page so learners can see it. Select Publish.
  11. Follow the five-step publishing process.

Edit contents of components

To edit any component, except the divider:

  1. Select the component from the main window to the right. Icons display across the top of the component.
  2. Select the edit icon. It is the one to the left of the trash can icon. You can also double click within the component to open the editing options. Each component has its own set of data you can edit.

    A block with the menu bar across the top and the edit button highlighted.

  3. The character limit for text boxes is listed in each component inline and may change depending on the column width of the component. Edit one of the following types of components:

    The basic Text component contains only text or hyperlinks. Use this component when you want to add a heading or descriptive text to the page, or link to another page or site.

    When you edit a Text component, the editor displays inline.

    You can:

    • Change the existing text and add your own.
    • Add multiple lines of text, up to the character limit displayed in the text box.
    • Change the style line-by-line by selecting Heading 1, 2, 3 or paragraph from the drop down.
    • Change the alignment line-by-line by selecting from the Align drop down.
    • Change individual character formatting within a line to bold or italic.
    • Insert special characters.
    • Add a hyperlink to all or part of the text.
    • Undo text changes while in the editor. If you leave the editor, your changes are automatically saved. To undo any text changes after you leave the text editor, you can revert to your last saved changes at the page level.
    • This component allows for 1250 characters no matter the column width.

    The Image component allows you to add an image or animated GIF to your page. The image can contain a text overlay and be used as a hyperlink. Use this component when you want to add graphical elements to the page. You can also use this component to link to a subpage or another URL.

    When you edit an Image component, the editor displays as a pop-up. Choose whether you want a Plain Image or an Image with Overlay. If you are using an animated GIF as your image, we recommend a plain image. You can go back and change this at any time by selecting Back to image style selection from the bottom of the editor pop-up window. Within the pop-up, you can:

    • Change the existing image by browsing to an image file location or choosing from the Skillsoft image gallery.
    • Add Alt Text which is a description of the image to help visually impaired learners understand its contents.
    • Add a Target URL so when the learner clicks on the image, they are brought to a different page. This could be a target URL of a subpage. Choose whether you want to target URL to open in the same tab or a new one.
    • If the image was set up as an overlay image, you also see these options:
      • Overlay color: This is the color that overlays your image so that any text you add stands out more.
      • Transparency: This is how dark you want the overlay color to be. Enter a value between 0 and 100. The higher the value, the darker the color and the less the image stands out.
      • Heading text: Enter text here that shows over the image. You can leave this field blank. Text entered in this box displays similar to Heading 2 in the Text component. You cannot change the style or formatting of the text. You can add up to 120 characters no matter the column width.
      • Paragraph text: Enter text here that shows over the image. You can leave this field blank. Text entered in this box displays similar to the paragraph style in the Text component. You cannot change the style or formatting of the text. You can add up to 180 characters no matter the column width.
      • Text position: Choose where in the image you want the text to display. Both the heading and paragraph text must go to the same location. Heading text always displays above the paragraph text.

    Static cards allow you to add specialty elements to your page that contain a combination of text, images, and buttons. You can add a hyperlink to an image or a button that takes the user to any web page. Use these cards when you want to add variety and dimension to your page. You can also use static cards to link to subpages within your hierarchy. If you want to link to content contained in your Skillsoft Platform site, we recommend using dynamic cards instead of static cards.

    When you edit a static card, the editor displays as a pop-up. Depending on the type of static card, the pop-up may contain the following fields:

    • Image: When the card contains an image element, change the existing image by browsing to an image file location or choosing from the Skillsoft image gallery.
    • Alt Text: When the card contains an image element, add a description of the image to help visually impaired learners understand its contents.
    • Target URL: When the card contains no button element, you can add a target URL so when the learner clicks on the image, they are brought to a different destination. Choose whether you want to target URL to open in the same tab or a new one.
    • Heading text: Enter text here that shows in the card. Text entered in this box displays slightly smaller and bolder than the paragraph text in the basic Text component. You cannot change the style or formatting of the text. The character limit changes depending on the column width of the component.
    • Paragraph text: Enter text here that shows over the image. Text entered in this box displays slightly smaller than the paragraph style in the basic Text component. You cannot change the style or formatting of the text. The character limit changes depending on the column width of the component.
    • Button text label: Add text that shows on the button displayed within the card. A good rule of thumb is to make the text action-oriented, such as, View recording or Launch course.
    • Button target URL: When the card contains a button element, add a target URL so when the learner clicks the button, the action happens. Select whether the action happens in the same browser tab or a new tab.

    Dynamic elements allow you to showcase content directly on the page. You can link to Library areas and subjects, channels and journeys, or specific content items. Dynamic content cards automatically update if the content is updated.

    There are four different dynamic elements you can add to your page:

    • Dynamic cards allow you to link to a specific Skillsoft or custom content item.

      To add content to your dynamic card:

      1. Select the edit icon on the card. You must first select the type of content you want to add. Your choices are:

        • Area
        • Subject
        • Channel
        • Content item

      2. After you select the type of content to add, select Insert.
      3. Search and select from the list to add the item. If you created any custom areas, subjects, channels, journeys, or content items, you can select those as well as Skillsoft items from the list.
      4. Select Add content. The card is updated with the selected content type, title, and image.

    • Dynamic strips contain multiple dynamic cards and update automatically with relevant content for the learner.

      When you edit a dynamic strip, the editor displays as a pop-up.

      1. Choose from one of the four different dynamic strip templates:
        • Top picks for role: Displays content tailored to the learner's role.
        • Based on skill interest: Displays content specific to the learner's selected skill interests.
        • Recommendations for learners: Displays content tailored to the learner's profile.
        • Learner activity: Displays content that the learner has already started.
      2. Select Customize.
      3. Complete the following fields for the dynamic strip you chose. Note, the fields differ based on the type of strip you selected.
        • Tabs: Choose which tabs you would like to show in your dynamic strip. Learners can switch between tabs to see different content in each. If you are creating a Based on skill interest strip, choose how many tabs you would like learners to see. In this case, the different tabs correspond to the learner's selected skill interests.
        • Number of cards per tab: Choose how many content cards show in each of the dynamic strip's tabs.

    • If you choose to add a promoted content strip, you select from your custom content strips that have already been created on the Content Promotions page.

      When you edit a Promoted Content Strip, the editor displays as a pop-up. From the drop down, select which content strip you would like to add. Then click Select.

    • If you choose to add a promoted banner, you select from your custom banners that have already been created on the Content Promotions page.

      When you edit a Promoted Banner, the editor displays as a pop-up. From the drop down, select which banner you would like to add. Then click Select.

Delete components

To delete any component:

  1. Select the component from the main window. Icons display across the top of the component.
  2. Select the trash can icon to delete the entire component and all its contents from your page. The only way to get a deleted component back is to Undo or Revert to your previously saved version.

    A block with the menu bar across the top and the delete button highlighted.

Change the Column Width

You can edit most components to fit from one to four column widths wide on your page. This allows you to add variety and dimension and make the page visually appealing. It also helps you to guide your learners to where you need them to go.

To change the width of a component:

  1. Select the component from the main window. Icons display across the top of the component.
  2. Select the Column width drop down. If you do not see the Column width drop down, you cannot change the width of that component.
  3. Select how many columns wide to make the component. Some types of Static cards must be at least 2 column widths wide. Also, the character limits for Heading and paragraph texts in Static cards change based on the column width. If you attempt to decrease your column width and have too much text, you see a prompt explaining that in order to decrease your width, you have to decrease your character count.

    A block with the menu bar across the top and the column width drop down highlighted.

Add a new component

You can add as many components to your page as you want. You can edit the contents of all components after you add them to your page. Use a variety of components to create interest and guide the learner.

There are many types of components to choose from:

  • Text: The basic Text component contains only text or hyperlinks. Use this component when you want to add a heading or descriptive text to the page, or link to another page or site.
  • Image: The Image component allows you to add an image or animated GIF to your page. The image can contain a text overlay and be used as a hyperlink. Use this component when you want to add graphical elements to the page. You can also use this component to link to a subpage or another URL.
  • Dividers: Dividers add a visual dividing line to help you create sections to your page. You cannot edit or format the look of dividers.
  • Static: Static cards allow you to add specialty elements to your page that contain a combination of text, images, and buttons. You can add a hyperlink to an image or a button that takes the user to any web page. Use these cards when you want to add variety and dimension to your page. You can also use static cards to link to subpages within your hierarchy. If you want to link to content contained in your Skillsoft Platform site, we recommend using dynamic cards instead of static cards.
  • Dynamic: Dynamic elements allow you to showcase content directly on the page. You can link to Library areas and subjects, channels and journeys, or specific content items. Dynamic content cards automatically update if the content is updated.

To add a component:

  1. From the Pages tab, select the page to which you want to add a component, then select the Design tab so all features are available. The page displays in the main window to the right so you can customize it.

  2. Locate the component you want to add from the Design tab, click and drag it to the place within the page you want it to display. If it lands in the wrong place, simply click and drag it to the right place. Other components may shift to accommodate the new component.

  3. Once the component is placed on the page, you can edit its contents or change its column width.

Add languages

To add languages so learners can view your pages in their local language:

  1. From the language drop down, select Manage display languages.
  2. Select all languages that you want to offer for this set of pages.
  3. Select Save.
  4. From the language drop down, select one of the newly added languages.
  5. In the pop up that displays, choose either Auto translation or Manual translation. You only see the option for Auto translation if you admin has it enabled. If you select Manual translation, the platform makes a copy of the pages so you can edit the copy yourself; save them when you are done. If you select Auto translation:
    1. Select, Next, reserved words.
    2. Identify any words that should not be translated. These may be names or technical terms. The platform makes suggestions, but you can choose to edit the list. Select the X next to a word to remove it. Type a word + enter to include it.
    3. Select Next, select pages.
    4. Identify all the pages to translate. By default, all pages in the set are translated.
    5. Select Confirm. The platform creates a copy of all the pages and provides translations. The translation may take a while to complete. You can return to the Page Builder to continue working.
    6. After the translation is complete, you can use the language selector at the top to switch to the pages in that language. Review the pages and make any edits necessary. At this point, if you want, you can also change the design components.
    7. Save your changes.