The Widget Configuration page allows you to configure default settings that users will see when they log into PPO for the first time. Once they have logged in, they have the ability to configure their own default settings on the List pages. They are also able to restore their lists back to the default settings as defined on the Widget Configuration page.
This article covers:
- How to access Widget Configuration;
- Setting Home Page defaults;
- Copying and Reusing Widgets & Panels;
- Setting Board Views defaults.
- Setting List Widget defaults;
- Setting Gantt Chart defaults;
- Setting Calendar Widget defaults;
- Setting My Links Widget defaults;
- Promoting Widgets to User Groups.
How to access Widget Configuration
To access the functionality, hover over the Administration Menu and select the Widget Configuration menu item.
Setting Home page defaults
The first default settings that can be applied relates to the customisable home page. All users will have the default Home tab shown in the below screenshot.
As an Administrator you can add additional tabs for All users by clicking on the Add icon "+".
In the User Group Selection dropdown, defaults are set up for all the various User Groups. Depending on which user group you belong to, you will have a default Dashboard tab that comprises of various widgets as well as your Home tab. Below is an example of a default Project Manager stab.
You can use the Copy tab icon to duplicate a tab for a user group:
Click the copy tab icon of the page you want to duplicate, then you will notice a Paste tab icon:
By clicking on the Paste tab icon, it duplicates the tab as shown below:
- The duplicate tab will have the same name as the one copied from, so you just need to rename it while in edit mode.
- You can then change filtering and settings on the new tab and click on Save.
You can also copy a tab from one user group and paste to another. Below is an example of copying a tab from the Project Managers user group and pasting it on the PPO Administrators home page.
Then select the PPO Administrator user group, and paste.
Copying and Reusing Widgets & Panels
In addition to configuring default widget settings, PPO allows users to copy an existing widget that has already been set up and reuse it elsewhere. This functionality is intended to improve efficiency when the same or a similar widget layout is required across multiple panels or pages.
To copy and paste widgets, you must first place the page into edit mode.
Edit mode enables layout changes such as adding, moving, copying, and pasting widgets.
Widgets can be copied from:
- One panel to another on the same Home page
- One Home page tab to another
Once in edit mode, select the Copy icon on the widget you want to reuse.
After copying, a Paste option becomes available, allowing you to paste the widget into another panel or page.
The pasted widget retains all configuration settings from the original widget, including filters, fields, and display options. After pasting, the widget can be edited independently to make any required adjustments.
This functionality is useful when:
- The same widget needs to be displayed in multiple locations
- A user wants to duplicate an existing widget and slightly modify it
- Consistent widget layouts are required across different pages or panels
Copying a widget does not affect default widget settings. It only duplicates an existing widget configuration for reuse.
Setting board views defaults
The Board views in PPO are available on all list pages and allows you to visualise your data. The Board gives you the ability to apply a Group By, specify the fields that you want visible on the cards and it also allows you to configure workflows in columns.
To add defaults for the Board View, under Widget Configuration, select an entity where you would want to apply a default. The below example is for the Demand entity.
(1) Card Fields: This will allow you to add or remove the fields that are displayed on your cards. You can also drag and drop the fields to adjust the sort order.
(2) Group By: You can select the field that you want to apply as a Group By.
(3) Workflow field: By selecting a workflow field, your columns will have headings based on the custom list values of the workflow field selected.
(4) Custom Workflow Columns - Allows you to group certain values together under a single workflow column heading. This functionality also allows you to customise the column heading caption. Follow this link for more information.
List Widget defaults
On the left-hand side of the Widget Configuration page is the List Widget with a list of all the Entities and Administration functions. To set a default for an entity List page, first, select the Entity.
In this example we have selected Projects. The below page will then open.
This section covers:
Columns:
(1) Add additional fields to the list page as columns by clicking in the "Click to select additional columns" box.
(2) Use the drag and drop functionality to change the sort order of the fields you want to view in your list. Simply click on the field you want to move and drag and drop it to the desired order.
(3) Remove fields from the list page by clicking on the "remove" button (x).
(4) Set the default sort order of the columns by setting a first and second column to sort the columns and set it as ascending or descending.
On the entity List page the first columns sort order will be illustrated by a black arrow (in the direction set) and the second columns sort order will be illustrated by a grey arrow. In the example below the Priority is the first column that is sorted, followed by Name.
Submit:
(5) Allows a PPO Administrator to submit after changes have been made.
Appearance (Page Size & Group By Field):
(6) Update the list page size by either selecting 10, 20, 50, 100, or 200. The maximum list page size is 200.
(7) Allows you to select a field to Group the list page by clicking the "Field to group the table" box. Example below is grouped by Risk Owner:
Charts:
(8) If you have existing Charts you will be able to either copy, edit or delete them.
(9) Under Charts, you can either select to insert a Key Metric, Donut chart, a TreeMap or a Bar chart. By adding these you have the ability to choose the Field, which Operator to use, and what the Measure should be.
For more information on the various widgets in PPO, follow this link.
Setting Gantt Widget defaults
The Gantt Widget allows you to visualise your projects timelines as well as other entities data such as Resource Allocations. Here you have the ability to not only set columns but also colour code your Project Task, Summary Tasks, Tasks and Milestones.
Setting Calendar Widget defaults
The Calendar Widget in PPO gives you the ability to add and display events from entity items, based on certain criteria. The Calendar shows the related data as a weekly or monthly view on your Home Page.
To update or add defaults for the Calendar Widget, scroll down on the left-hand side of the screen and select Calendar Widget as shown in the below screenshot.
For the calendar widget, default settings are as shown above and are documented in the Calendar Widget article. As an Administrator, you have the ability to either copy, edit or delete the existing defaults by using the icons below or add additional defaults for your users. By clicking on the "Add an Event to Calendar" you can add a new default that will be applicable to all users.
Once you have selected the "Add an Event to Calendar" button, the below fields will be visible that you must complete:
Title - Provide a Title for your event (i.e. My Tasks, My Risks, My Issues).
Data Source - You can select any entity from the drop down list.
Filter - Based on the entity selected, you have the option to apply filtering the same way as you would on a list page in the Filter Control.
Start - Select the date that indicates the start of the calendar entry. All the date type fields for the specific entity will be listed.
End - This allows you to select a date that indicates the end of the calendar entry. This is optional and not mandatory. All the date type fields for the specific entity will be listed.
Where I am - Optionally include events where I am the selected value. The list will show all the Resource List type fields on the selected entity.
Colour - This allows you to choose the colour that will be displayed for the event on the calendar. You can either use the colour picker or insert a RGB code.
Setting My Links Widget defaults
The My Links Widget in PPO allows the flexibility of creating your own links on your Home Page for easy access.
To update or add defaults for the My Links Widget, scroll down on the left-hand side of the screen and select My Links as shown below:
1. Edit the existing links
2. Delete existing links
3. Sort by using drag and drop
4. Add new links - To add new links you just need to provide a Caption, Link and load an Image (PNG, JPEG, etc) or even a GIF. Then click Submit.
Promoting Widgets to User Groups
If a user has access to the Widget Configuration setting then they will have the option to Promote their settings for the List Pages Board Views, Calendar, My Links and Gantt Chart to All or specific user groups by using the Promote functionality that is available from these widgets on the Settings page:
Users with this access to promote their widget settings to All sser groups or specific user groups by selecting the user group and clicking the Promote button.
Additional Information:
- Once a user has changed their own defaults, it will only restore back to default if the user selects Restore Defaults via the gear icons.