Site Builder is the part of the platform where you set up what learners see on your site. It includes Layouts that define how different types of content are presented, as well as Pages for core site and custom needs like your homepage, catalog, and support page. If you'd like to add pages for your site's unique experience, you can create custom pages.
Use Case Information
Use Site Builder to shape a consistent learner experience across your site—by configuring how content is presented through Layouts and by setting up the Pages learners use to navigate, browse, and access content and help.
When configured you can control the following:
- Design the learner experience by choosing how content groups are structured on pages and what learners see first.
- Add widgets to Article, Video, or Learning Path layouts to feature related content, lead to other resources, or simply include text or image context for your learners.
- Add widgets to Detail Page sidebars to highlight information that helps learners decide to continue.
- Guide discovery and engagement by surfacing related or supporting content in the right places (for example, utilities, discussions, or related items).
- Shape core site journeys by configuring Standard Pages like the homepage, catalog, and support page.
- Create tailored experiences with Custom Pages for specific programs, campaigns, audiences, or internal workflows.
The overall aim is to create a clear, consistent learner experience, so learners can quickly find what they need, understand where they are, and move through your site and content in an intentional way with minimal friction.
Layouts
In Site Builder, the Layouts area includes two layout types: Content Layouts and Detail Page Sidebar Layouts. Content Layouts control the main structure of some content items, like what the learner will see when they access an article for example. While Detail Page Sidebar Layouts define the information and widgets shown alongside the content details on detail pages.
To access Layouts:
- From your homepage, select Site > Site Builder.
- Click Layouts.
Let's break down Layouts a little further.
Content Layouts
Content Layouts define how some content types are structured and presented to learners. They provide default, content-type-specific layouts with widgets that automatically surface relevant content.
Video
This is the default layout for any content item built on the video content type, which includes a standalone video, utilities, related content, and discussions.
Slug: /learn/video/unique_content_name
Article
This is the default layout for any content item built on the article content type, which includes standalone text, utilities, related content, and discussions.
Slug: /learn/article/unique_content_name
Learning Path
This is the default layout for any content item built on the learning path content type, which includes a learning path hero image, a progress widget, and milestones with included content.
Slug: /learn/article/unique_content_name
Tip
If one piece of content needs to be different than the default, content layouts can also be customized for a specific item. Go to Courses > All Courses > Click Content Title > Design step > Display tab > Add Custom Layout. You can always revert back to the default later.
Detail Page Sidebar Layouts
Every piece of content, as well as, any eCommerce item has its own detail page. Think of it like a “profile page” for that item. The main area shows the item’s basic information, and the right-hand sidebar is an extra space where you can show things like purchase options, related content, or helpful resources. Use sidebar layouts to guide learners on what to do next.
Content
This layout applies to detail pages for all content items except learning paths.
Learning Path
This layout is used to customize the right sidebar for all learning path detail pages.
Course Collection
This layout is used to customize the right sidebar for all collections.
A la carte Collection
This layout is used to customize the right sidebar for all a la carte collection detail pages.
Product
This layout is used to customize the right sidebar for all product detail pages.
Subscription
This layout is used to customize the right sidebar for all subscriptions.
Tip
If one item needs to be different than the default, detail page sidebar layouts can also be customized for a specific item. Go to the Design or Display settings for each item to customize. You can always revert back to the default later.
Pages
Use Pages to build and manage the learner-facing pages on your site, like where learners land, how they browse what’s available, and where they go for help. Pages are split into two sections: Standard Pages (built-in pages like the homepage, catalog, and support page) and Custom Pages (pages you create for your organization’s specific needs).
To access Pages:
- From your homepage, select Site > Site Builder.
- Click Pages.
Next, we’ll walk through each section in more detail.
Standard Pages
Standard Pages come with predefined URL paths and prebuilt widgets, so you start with a working page right away. From there, you can adjust the layout and update what appears on the page, so it fits the experience you want learners to have.
Homepage
The main landing page of your learning site, hosted on the domain of your choice.
Slug: Your Custom Domain
Transcript Page
The learner's transcript related to awards. If you set up an award and choose to display it on the learner's transcript, this is what they'll see.
By default, the transcript layout has the Transcript Header and Transcript Body widgets. These widgets don't have any customization options in the page builder, however, you can use the page builder to add additional information to every transcript.
Support Page
The Thought Industries default Support/FAQ page, always hosted at www.yourcustomdomain.com/support. See our article on Managing Learner FAQs for more information.
Slug: /support
Registration Page
The Thought Industries registration page, always hosted at www.yourcustomdomain.com/register. This applies to sites using a free with registration model, where a learner registers for the site and then receives access to all content within the site. See our Offering Free Content on Your Site article for more information.
Slug: /register
Redemption Page
The Thought Industries redemption page, always hosted at www.yourcustomdomain.com/redeem. This applies to sites using the redemption code model where a learner receives a redemption or registration code, self-registers on the site, and then enter the code(s) to receive access to particular content. See our Managing Learners with Redemption Codes article or Managing Learners with Registration Codes article for more information.
Slug: /redeem
Dashboard Page
The default learner dashboard layout. This is what your learner sees after logging in.
Slug: /learn/dashboard
Catalog Page
The Thought Industries default catalog page, always hosted at www.yourcustomdomain.com/catalog. All released content will populate as image thumbnails by default. You can choose to customize what displays above or below the primary Catalog widget.
Slug: /catalog
Custom Pages
Don’t see a page that fits your workflow? Custom Pages let you create learner facing pages that are specific to your site. You choose what the page is for, what it’s called, and where it lives on your site, then build the page layout with the content you want learners to see. You can also control when it’s available and who can access it, so it fits the exact experience you’re creating.
- From your homepage, select Site > Site Builder.
- In the left menu, select Pages.
- Click the plus sign icon, on the top right of the page.
- Enter a Title for your page.
- The Path will mimic your title by default. Update the path as needed.
- (optional) Fill in Meta Title and Meta Description.
- (optional) Add a Prerequisite to require your learners to complete certain courses in order to gain access to this page.
- Enable Publish Page once you're ready for the page to be live.
Tip
Custom pages start off blank so we recommend saving without publishing the page, designing the layout, then coming back to publish the page when you're ready.
- Enable Limit access to only logged in users? to prevent users from being able to view this page unless they are logged in.
- Click Save.
To design the layout of your new page:
- Click on the title of the page you just created.
- Use the available widgets on the left to edit/add layouts on your page.
- Don't forget to Save each widget as you edit the layout.
- If you didn't enable Publish Page at the time of creation, click the back arrow icon on the top left of the page. Click the gear settings icon to go back into the page's settings. Enable the Publish Page? toggle. Be sure to Save. You'll see a green light next to the page title to affirm it's been published.
- You can also clone a Custom Page to reuse it as a template for new pages.
- You can preview a Custom Page at any time to see how it will look to learners.
Managing Custom Layouts
When you need to deviate from a default layout, you can customize individual layouts. For example, imagine your global learner dashboard is designed to provide a consistent experience for all users accessing their content. However, within a Panorama, you want learners to have a completely different experience. To achieve this, you need to break the connection with the global dashboard and customize a unique dashboard for those Panorama learners.
If this scenario resonates with you, here are some important facts you need to know:
Customizable Layouts
Below is a list of layouts you can customize to fit your needs:
- Panorama Dashboards
- Articles & Videos
- Detail Sidebars
- All Content detail sidebars
- All Ecommerce detail sidebars
Note
You have a single global layout that can be applied across multiple elements (and is applied as long as you have not selected to apply a custom layout). If you have a group of Panorama dashboards that require unique layouts, you'll need to customize the Panorama dashboards individually.
Revert to Default
Should you need to revert back to a global layout in content:
- From your homepage, select Courses > All Courses.
- Click Content Title.
- Choose the Design step > Edit Catalog Settings.
- Select the Detail Page tab > Revert to Default.
You can also revert to the global dashboard layout in Panoramas:
- From your homepage, select Panorama.
- Click on the Panorama title.
- Choose Site.
- Click Revert to Default.