A link is a single entry on the dashboard. Each link points to a URL, an internal page or a mobile app, and is assigned to a link category that groups related links on the dashboard.
Where to manage links
Go to Dashboard → Links → New link.
Fields
Basic
- Label — the text shown to users (e.g. Canvas, Library Catalogue).
- URL — the destination. Must be an absolute URL starting with
http://orhttps://. - Dynamic URL — optional alternative for URLs that depend on the user (e.g. a Canvas link that includes the user’s ID). PortalHQ replaces tokens like
{user_id}at render time. - Category — which link category this link sits in.
- Ordering — number controlling sort order within the category. Lower numbers first.
- Disable — tick to hide the link without deleting it.
Display
- Open in new tab — open the URL in a new browser tab rather than replacing the current page. On by default and almost always what you want.
- Font Awesome icon — icon shown next to the link label.
- Show as tile on dashboard — display the link as a large tile rather than a text link. Use for high-traffic links.
- Show image as full tile — for tile links with an image, fill the tile with the image rather than showing the image as a small thumbnail.
- Show only inside dashboard — hide from any navigation menus; show only on the dashboard.
Mobile app
- Show in mobile app — include this link in the mobile app’s dashboard.
- Open in external browser — when tapped on mobile, open in the device’s web browser rather than the in-app web view.
- Mobile app URL — alternative URL for the mobile app (useful if the desktop URL doesn’t work in a mobile context).
- Mobile app scheme — if the link should open a native app (Canvas, Sentral, etc.), pick the app from the dropdown. PortalHQ uses the app’s URL scheme to launch it directly.
- Android package name — for Android-only apps, the package name (e.g.
com.tass.parentorbit) used to open the app.
Using a mobile app scheme
When set, the mobile app scheme is preferred over the regular URL. On a device with the app installed:
- The user taps the link.
- The native app opens directly.
- The user is taken to the relevant section (if the URL scheme includes a path).
On a device without the app installed, the regular URL is used as a fallback — typically a web version of the same service or the app store page to install it.
Disabling vs deleting
- Disable — keep the link record so you can re-enable later. The link is hidden from dashboards but data is intact. Use when you’re temporarily turning off access.
- Delete — remove the link permanently. Use only for links added in error or no longer needed.
Common link types
| Use case | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Web link | Label + URL + category + ordering. |
| Tile link | As above + tick Show as tile on dashboard. Optionally upload a tile image. |
| Mobile app deep link | Web URL + tick Show in mobile app + mobile app scheme (and Android package). |
| Internal page | Use a relative URL like /timetable/ or full URL with school domain. |
| Dynamic / user-specific link | Use Dynamic URL with {user_id} or similar tokens. |
Auditing your links
Once a month, check your links list for:
- Broken URLs (services moved, accounts changed). Click each link to verify it still goes where it should.
- Disabled links you’ve forgotten about — either re-enable or delete.
- Old links no longer relevant.
A dashboard cluttered with stale links is less useful than a tight, current one.
Tips
- Match labels to what users call the service. Canvas not Learning Management System.
- Keep tiles visually clean. If you’re using tile images, use the same aspect ratio across tiles so the dashboard looks tidy.
- Test mobile schemes on a real device. What works on the simulator sometimes doesn’t on production phones.
- Get a parent and a student to walk through your dashboard. Their feedback is the best signal on whether the structure works.