Navigating the Portal
Master the Support Portal interface to efficiently access features, manage requests, and navigate between different sections with ease.
The Support Portal provides an intuitive interface designed to help you quickly find what you need and manage your IT support requests effectively. Understanding the portal layout and navigation elements will help you work more efficiently and take full advantage of all available features.
Portal Interface Overview
The Support Portal is organized into several key areas that provide quick access to different functions:
Header Navigation
The top header bar contains essential navigation and action elements:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Menu Toggle | Hide or view the main navigation menu |
| + | Quick access to create new incidents or service requests |
| Font Size | Adjust text size for better accessibility (visible only if Application Accessibility is enabled) |
| Chat Console | View your chat history (visible only if enabled by administrator) |
| Notifications | View and configure notification preferences |
| Keyboard Shortcuts | View available keyboard shortcuts |
| Home Page | Return to the main dashboard |
| Help | Access help documentation (if configured) |
| Edit Profile | Access profile settings, sign out, or switch to technician portal |
| Search | Search for specific items across the portal |
The features visible in the header depend on your administrator's configuration and your user permissions. You may see variations in the available options based on your role and access level.
Main Dashboard Layout
The Support Portal home page is organized into logical sections to help you quickly find what you need:
- Quick Actions
- Your Requests & Items
- Knowledge & Resources
- Assigned Resources
- Information & Communication
Located prominently on the dashboard, this section provides immediate access to common tasks:
- New Incident: Create incident requests for technical issues
- Request Service: Browse and request services from the catalog
- Knowledge: Browse the knowledge base to find the required answer for your query.
- +: Dropdown menu for additional creation options
This section displays your current activities and pending actions:
- My Open Requests: View and manage your current tickets with status indicators
- Pending Approvals: Review and act on approval requests assigned to you
Access self-help resources and information:
- Knowledge: Access helpful articles, guides, and FAQs
- View Favorite Services: Quick access to your bookmarked services
- Most Read: Popular knowledge articles
View items assigned to your account:
- My Assets: View assets assigned to you
- My CIs: View configuration items assigned to you
Stay informed and connected:
- Announcements: Important updates from your organization
- Contact Us: Support contact information
- Chat: Get live help from support agents
Menu Structure
The main navigation menu provides access to all portal features:
- Request Management
- Resource Management
- Knowledge & Support
- Approvals & Team
- Profile & Settings
- Requests: View and manage your incident and service requests
- Services: Browse the service catalog and create service requests
- My Assets: View hardware and software assets assigned to you
- My CIs: View configuration items assigned to you
- My Changes: Track changes that may affect your services
- My Projects: Access project information (if Project license for requester is applied)
- My Tasks: View assigned project tasks (if Project license for requester is applied)
- Knowledge: Browse help articles and documentation
- Chat: Get immediate assistance from support agents
- My Approvals: Review and act on approval requests
- My Team: View team information and manage delegations
- My Profile: Manage your account settings and preferences
Search Functionality
The portal includes powerful search capabilities to help you find information quickly:
Global Search
- Search Bar: Located in the header, allows you to search across all portal content
- Search Results: Displays relevant requests, knowledge articles, and other items
- Advanced Filters: Refine search results by type, date, status, and other criteria
Contextual Search
- Request Lists: Search within your requests using specific criteria
- Knowledge Base: Search articles by keywords, tags, or categories
- Asset Lists: Search your assigned assets by name, type, or location
- Use specific keywords for better results
- Combine multiple search terms to narrow results
- Use the filter options to refine your search
Notifications
The portal keeps you informed through a comprehensive notification system:
Managing Notifications
Step 1: Click the notification bell icon in the header.
Step 2: View notifications. If required you can mark as read or clear all notifications.
Step 3: Configure preferences for which notifications to receive.
Step 4: Set up email notifications for important events as shown below. You can also enable the option to show notifications on the screen. This will be helpful for users who are using the portal on a mobile device.
Notification Types
| Notification Type | Description |
|---|---|
| My approval is requested | When someone needs your approval |
| My approval is ignored | When an approval request is bypassed |
| My new request is created | Confirmation of your ticket creation |
| Response received on my request | Updates on your tickets |
| Resolution of my request | When your issue is resolved |
| Approval Reminder | Reminders for pending approvals |
Accessibility Features
The Support Portal includes several accessibility features to ensure all users can effectively use the platform:
Font Size Adjustment
- Click the Font Size button in the header to increase, decrease, or reset text size
- This feature is only visible if Application Accessibility is enabled by your administrator.
Keyboard Shortcuts
The portal supports keyboard shortcuts for power users:
Navigation Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Alt + H | Go to Home page |
| Alt + M | Toggle menu |
| Alt + N | Create new request |
| Alt + S | Open search |
| Alt + C | Open chat (if available) |
Request Management
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + F | Search within current page |
| Ctrl + R | Refresh current page |
| Escape | Close dialogs and popups |
Keyboard shortcuts may vary based on your browser and operating system. Use the Keyboard Shortcuts option in the header to view all available shortcuts.
Profile Customization
The portal allows you to personalize your experience. Access these settings by clicking your profile icon in the header and selecting My Profile. The profile editor has several tabs:
- Profile Tab
- Preferences Tab
- Change Password Tab
- Delegate Approval Tab
The Profile Tab provides a centralized place to manage and update your personal information, including your name, contact details, and locale settings.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Update your display name |
| Contact No | Change your contact number |
| Time Zone | Set your local time zone to ensure all timestamps are accurate for your location |
| Language Preference | Choose your preferred language for the portal interface |
| Date & Time Format | Customize the display format for dates and times |
| Signature | Create a signature for your email communications from the portal |
| Security Questions | If Active Directory Self-Service is enabled by your administrator, you can configure security questions here. These questions are used to verify your identity if you need to reset your password or unlock your account |
Within the Preferences Tab, you can personalize the portal's appearance and configure various settings, such as the theme and attachment password.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Theme | Switch between a light or dark theme for the user interface |
| Attachment Password | Set, change, or remove a default password for reports and attachments. This password is used to secure attachments in PDF, Excel, and Word formats |
To securely update your portal login password, navigate to the Change Password Tab where you'll first provide your current password.
When you are unavailable, the Delegate Approval Tab allows you to temporarily assign your approval responsibilities to another user.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Enable Delegate Approvals | Activate the delegation feature |
| Delegate To | Select the user who will receive your approval requests |
| Delegation Period | Set a start and end date for the delegation period. The selected user will be notified and can approve or reject requests on your behalf |
| Comments | Add optional comments for context |
Troubleshooting
Common Navigation Problems
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Menu not visible | Check if the menu toggle button is available, try refreshing the page, contact your administrator if the issue persists. |
| Search not working | Verify your search terms are spelled correctly, try using different keywords. |
| Notifications not appearing | Check your notification preferences or contact your administrator. |
Getting Help with Navigation
If you encounter navigation issues:
- Use Chat Support for immediate assistance from support agents.
- Contact Your Administrator for permission or access-related issues.
- Review Help Documentation if configured.
Best Practices
Organizing Your Workflow
- Bookmark Common Services: Add frequently used services to favorites.
- Use Search Effectively: Learn to use search filters and keywords.
- Set Up Notifications: Configure notifications for important events.
- Customize Your View: Adjust column selections and filters.