A client is a separate instance running on the same imc Learning Suite installation, with its own branding, separate logins, and its own content. This means that several clients use the same technology in the background (the same database, the same server), but appear to their users as separate, independent systems.
Advantages: cheaper and quicker to set up than a completely new installation; shared learning content can be utilised; users can switch between related organisations as required.
Typical Use Cases
For example, if a company has several brands, subsidiaries, or country-specific branches, each of which needs its own logo, language, login procedure, or web address, but which collaborate on content.
Learners themselves are unaware of this: they simply see "their" system with the appropriate design and content. Only administrators have the option to apply changes globally or to one specific client only.
Client Identification
To ensure the system knows "which client is currently accessing it", there are three options that can be configured per client:
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Via the web address (own domain), e.g. customer-a.learningplatform.de vs. customer-b.learningplatform.de.
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Via a path suffix in the address, e.g. .../customer-a/... vs. .../customer-b/....
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Via an invisible parameter in the URL: technically possible, but the least 'clean' solution for learners.
The most common option, and the most user-friendly, is option 1 (a separate web address for each client).
Client-Specific Customisation
The following can be customised per client:
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Custom logo/design ('skin')
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Custom web address and custom login area
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Custom login procedure (e.g. a custom company login or Single Sign-On (SSO) instead of the standard login), and registration pages where self-registration is allowed
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Dedicated sender addresses for automated e-mails
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Custom rules governing who can register, and how
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Custom security policies (e.g. how long passwords remain valid)
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Custom data protection settings (e.g. how long user data is retained)
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Custom wording
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Custom user attributes, user lists, and profile pages
User Search
User search, e.g. the pop-up for adding a user to a group, always includes user attributes that can be integrated both as search criteria and table columns. If the multi-client context is active, user attributes can also be created for a specific client and integrated into the relevant searches and tables.
If client-specific attributes are activated, it is possible to filter searches that contain user-specific attributes by client. A drop-down selection that is displayed in the heading right next to the headline icon bar makes this possible. The visibility of individual clients in this drop-down selection depends on the release of the logged in user. The selection of the client affects both the quantity of hits as a filter, the configuration of the searching and the display of the table columns.
If a search is saved after a client was selected the saved search is only ever available in this context. If another client is selected the saved search for the previous client is no longer available. A search saved as the default is always loaded immediately if the client is selected. Whether the search is executed depends on the configuration.
If the "global" context is selected, the standard search configuration with its filters and depiction options is loaded. In this case, all users for which the logged-in user has clearance are displayed, no matter which client they belong to.
User Lists
The client is selected in the headline. At the start each client has the "global" person profile context. This means that the user list defined globally across the system is applied to this client. Specific user lists can however be defined per client. In order to achieve this, a specific client must be selected and then the global user list edited and saved. The saving makes the current client visible in the person-profile context column. Now the client-specific settings and not the default ones apply to this client.
Profiles
The client is also selected here in the headline. To begin with every client has the "Global" personal profile context. This means that, in the same way as for the other parts of the system, the profile page defined globally across the system is applied to this client. Specific profile data can however be defined per client. In order to achieve this, a specific client must be selected and then the global profile page edited and saved. Saving makes the current client visible in the personal profile context column. The client-specific settings and not the default ones apply to this client.
System Texts
In the multi-client context, bundles can be changed custom-specific per client.
Related Topics