Introduction to Catalogs
A catalog consists of learning content - much like a collection. The term 'Catalog' is an Admin only feature. Admins create and manage catalogs. Members do not see 'catalogs', they see the library and content. Published content in a public catalog is seen by all members.
Catalogs help admins manage the library. As a library grows it becomes more and more difficult to place all content in a single catalog. Admins may wish to group content into different catalogs - much like a physical library.
Some content may only be for a particular group of members e.g., Managers. So, admins can create Private catalogs and set up access rules so only those permitted can see the content.
Typically, a piece of learning content e.g. course will live in a single catalog as this is the easiest way to manage content. However, learning content can be in zero, one, or multiple catalogs. Admins setup Catalogs and library content taxonomy.
Catalog Types
There are three types of catalogs: Public, Private, and Group (which are also private).
Public means every member can access the learning content.
Private always means only those permitted via access rules, can view. If admins wish to restrict access to any content, they place an approval on learning [Edit Details > Advanced Fields > Require an Approval to Enrol]. Learning with an approval can be in a public or private catalog.
Catalogs created manually by admins have associated meta which grants access to anyone with that meta. For example, if there was defined meta called location and access was granted to people with Melbourne on their profile then those members in their library would be able to access all content placed by admin in the private catalog.
A Group catalog is private to a group and is automatically generated when a group is created. Only group members can see and access the content in the catalog (unless some content appears in one or more other catalogs).
Default Catalog
One catalog can be set to be the Default catalog – this means when creating new learning it appears by default as the catalog where the learning will be stored. The default catalog can be easily changed anytime.
Why can’t anyone see this published content?
Reason 1: Content can be published and not seen by anyone because it’s not in any catalog (Public or Private). This may be intentional. An example is a Program where the creator may want members to find the program in the library but not published content. So, they may wish for the published learning to not be in any catalog.
Reason 2: Content can be published and is in a Private Catalog and not seen by anyone because the private catalog currently has no access rules, so no associated meta stating who can access the catalog.
How do I place existing learning in a catalog?
There are two ways. Via a Catalog, or Via the learning itself.
Via a Catalog
As admin, go to the library and select catalogs.
Then select the catalog, and then click add learning.
Select add existing learning, and add to the catalog.
Via the Learning
Go to the library. Find the learning e.g. a course.
On the course page click 'Manage Catalogs'.
Select the catalog you wish to add the learning.