Overview
Display label: Enable Custom message for Staff on Dashboard
Setting ID: Enable_Custom_Message_For_Staff_On_Dashboard
Location: Main Settings > General Settings > Dashboard Settings > Dashboard Info Messages
What This Setting Does
This setting turns on or off a custom announcement banner that appears at the top of the dashboard for staff-type portal users. It is the on/off switch for the message; the actual wording is entered separately.
Where It Is Used
The banner appears automatically on the dashboard home page immediately after login for portal users with the Owner, Administrator, or Secretary role. There is no separate screen to preview it; the toggle and the message text are both configured from Main Settings > General Settings > Dashboard Settings > Dashboard Info Messages.
Business Logic / Behavior
- When enabled and the Custom message for Employees on Dashboard (Custom_Message_For_Staff_On_Dashboard in Dashboard Settings > Dashboard Info Messages) setting has text saved, that text is displayed as a highlighted banner on the dashboard.
- When disabled (the default), the banner never appears, regardless of what text is stored in the message setting.
- The same toggle and message are shared by Owner, Administrator, and Secretary logins; there is no way to show the banner to only one of these roles.
- The message text supports rich formatting (bold, colors, links, lists) and is rendered exactly as entered.
- The banner is evaluated every time the dashboard loads, so turning the toggle on or off, or editing the message, takes effect the next time an affected user opens the dashboard.
Example(s)
Alpha Institute’s IT office plans a scheduled system maintenance window on Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 22:00 to 02:00. Before the maintenance, the administrator enables this setting and enters the maintenance notice in Custom message for Employees on Dashboard. Owner, Administrator, and Secretary users who log in afterward see a banner reading: “Scheduled maintenance July 11, 22:00 to July 12, 02:00. The portal will be unavailable during this window.” After the maintenance window passes, the administrator switches the toggle back off, and the banner disappears for everyone.
When to Use
When to Enable
- You need to broadcast a temporary announcement to back-office staff, such as a maintenance window, a policy reminder, or a new procedure, without emailing each person individually.
- You want every Owner, Administrator, and Secretary user to see the same notice the moment they open their dashboard.
When to Disable
- The announcement is no longer relevant and you want the staff dashboard to return to its normal, notice-free appearance.
- You are drafting or updating the message text and do not want it visible to staff until it is finalized.
Notes
Prerequisites: requires a portal account with the Owner, Administrator, or Secretary role to see the banner; no other setup is needed.
- Related settings: Custom message for Employees on Dashboard (Custom_Message_For_Staff_On_Dashboard in Dashboard Settings > Dashboard Info Messages)
K-12 vs Higher Education: behaves the same regardless of institution type.
