Add a Content Widget

You can add a content widget to Citizen Portal that will present important information you’d like to communicate to citizens. With a content widget, you can easily display links to your website and important information like job opportunities, holiday hours, new programs and more.

Engagement opportunities widget listing how to provide feedback

Set-up instructions

In the administrator side of Citizen Portal:

  1. Select the “Widgets” tab from the top menu
  2. Select the “Add widget +” button near the top right of the page
  3. Select “Content” from the page of available widgets

This will take you to the new content widget details page.

Content widget details

Once you’ve added the content widget, you can customize the way the widget will appear on Citizen Portal. This includes setting up the configuration, content and notifications for the widget. 

Configuration

To configure the Content widget, select "Configuration" from the side menu. Then complete each of the necessary fields. Once you've completed all necessary fields, select the "Next" button at the bottom of the screen to take you to the "Content" screen. Alternatively, you can select "Content" from the side menu.

 In the “Widget Name” field, enter a name for the content widget. For example, you could use one of the following names:
  • Holiday Hours of Operation
  • Job Opportunities

The widget name will appear at the top of the widget on the public-facing side of the portal.

If you would like this widget to be fixed on the user’s portal, select the “Set as fixed widget” checkbox. If you select this option, a user will not be able to remove the widget.

In the “Widget Colour” field, enter the hex code for the background icon colour. You may type the hex code into this field using the format of #XXXXXX. You may also select this colour from the colour grid that appears when you click into the widget colour field. 

You can select a widget icon from our library or upload your own widget icon. If you'd like to choose an icon from the library:

  • Choose the "Select icon from library" option
  • Then, choose the "Select icon" button to view the library
  • Choose the icon you'd like from the library
  • Select the "Save and close" button to complete the process 

If you'd like to upload your own icon:

  • Choose the "Upload icon" option
  • Then, select the  “Add icon”
  • From the pop-up box, choose the widget icon file from your documents

Please note that this must be a .svg file that is less than 5KB.

Content

Once you've completed the "Configuration" set-up, you can add content to the widget. Select "Content" from the side menu and complete all necessary fields. Once you've added content, you can select the "Next" button at the bottom of the screen or select "Notifications" from the side menu.

Enter any text you would like to appear in the dashboard widget view. This is the text that will appear directly on the widget before a user decides to expand the widget to read more. You can also add images and hyperlinks to additional content on your website. 

Empty text field box with Dashboard text title

If you would like the text in the expanded view to mirror the dashboard view, select the checkbox next to “Use dashboard text for expanded view”.

If you would like to add additional content in the expanded view, add text within the “Expanded view” field. This text will not be visible to users unless they open the widget.

Empty checkbox and empty text field for expanded view text

Notifications

When adding or editing a widget, if you would like Citizen Portal to notify users that have subscribed to updates, select the “Notify users” checkbox. For example, you may select this box when you want to notify citizens of important changes in operating hours or road closures. You may choose not to select this checkbox if you are fixing a spelling error or making a minor change to widget content.

You can customize your own notification text for when users receive an Email or App notification for Content widgets. If you do not specify the text, a default notification will be generated for Content widgets. To customize notification text:

  1. Select the "Widgets" tab at the top of the page and find the Content widget you want to customize notification text for
  2. Click on the "Actions" button next to the widget and select "Edit"
  3. Select the "Notifications" tab from the left menu
  4. Add your App notification text in the “Notification text for App notifications” text box, or add your Email notification text in the “Notification text for Email notifications” text box
  5. Click "Save"

Saving the widget settings

To save these settings and add the content widget to Citizen Portal, select the “Save” button. 

Don't have this widget?

If you don't have access to this widget or would like to buy another widget for Citizen Portal, please reach out our sales team or your project manager and they can work with you to get it added.