---
title: "How to Use the Course Catalog?"
slug: "course-catalog"
tags: ["lgc"]
updated: 2024-09-27T20:31:03Z
published: 2024-09-27T20:31:03Z
canonical: "docs.skillable.com/course-catalog"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.skillable.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Use the Course Catalog?

Our {{Glossary.Course Catalog}} allows Users to browse an Organization’s available courses; having a catalog is the organization’s prerogative. The courses can be displayed in three different ways: Find Courses, Simple Course Catalog Version 1, and Simple Course Catalog Version 2. A **Courses** link may appear on the Navigation bar to open the course catalog; however, the name of the link can be changed based on an organization’s preference.

## Find Courses

Find Courses displays as a standard search page. Some features include the ability to add a title to the page and output options add columns to the search results. A search for courses may be viewed in by accessing the {{glossary.Organization}} profile; to do this, from any page select on the **organization name** link, then select the **Find Courses** link from the organization’s quick links bar.

![find courses page](https://cdn.document360.io/a298db04-a0fe-47e0-bfe3-c52d6f9d7c8c/Images/Documentation/course-cat-legacy.png)

**Find courses page**

1. **Add filter** - Select the **Add filter** field to display filtering options, select on the **filter** you wish to use and input any needed settings. Then select **Search** to refresh the results.
2. **Open**, **Save**, and **Remove All** - Reuse any search by selecting **Save** and **naming it**, then access it to use again from the **Open** link. **Remove All** clears all filters.
3. **Output Options** - Select **Output Options** to show choices to add as columns, select on the **column heading** you wish to add, then select **Search** to refresh the search results displaying your additions. Uncheck any Output Options you wish to remove and select search to make changes.
4. **Print** and **Export** - Send your search results to print or export into a CSV file by using the **Print** or **Export** links.
5. **Course name** and **Details** - Selecting the **Course name** or **Details** link opens the Course details page with more information about the course.

## Simple Course Catalogs Common Features

The Simple course catalogs display as tiles showing a course graphic if one is available, show icons to depict Activities in the courses, and have the ability to mark Favorites. Courses are shown in alphabetical order; however, any **Featured** courses show first. Filter categories and filters are custom created to allow searches.

## Simple Course Catalog Version 1

![simple course catalog version 1](https://cdn.document360.io/a298db04-a0fe-47e0-bfe3-c52d6f9d7c8c/Images/Documentation/simple-course-catalog-v1.png)

*Simple course catalog version 1*

1. **Custom course catalog title** – Displays a name at the top of the course catalog page. *optional feature*
2. **Open** and **Save** - Reuse any search by selecting **Save** and **naming it**, then access it to use again from the **Open** link.
3. **Export** and **Bookmarks** - Export your search results into a CSV file by using the **Export** link. **Bookmarks** displays all courses you have marked as a favorite by selecting the star.
4. **Search** - Use the word search to find courses; this searches the title and course description.
5. **Filters** - Toggle to show or hide the filter section.
6. **Status** - Search Self-Paced training course assignments you are working on by filtering for the status of your training for that course. Filtering options include: **Any**, **Not Started**, **In Progress**, or **Completed**.
7. **Match** - Allows you to choose between Any and All. Selecting **Any** expands your search to include courses that match to any of the filters selected. **All** restricts the search to only include courses that meet all the filter requirements.
8. **Filter category** - Displays the types of filters grouped beneath it.
9. **Filters** - Check the box of any filter to apply it.
10. **Rating** - Displays the rating of the course based on users' reviews.
11. **Course title** - Displays the name of the course.
12. **Icons** - Presents icons based on course activities. Hovering your mouse over the tile displays what each icon represents and the number of those activities in the course.
13. **Favorite** - Select the star on a course to bookmark it as a favorite; select again to remove it. Bookmarks can be opened from the link at the top of the page.
14. **Course images** - Shows custom images on catalogs and the course assignments. Courses without images remain blank.
15. **Zoomed tile** - Hovering your mouse over a tile zooms in to show icon descriptions, a written description of the course if available, and the **More** button to open the course description.

## Simple Course Catalog Version 2

Version 2 of the Simple course catalog includes revised tiles giving more room for {{glossary.Course}} descriptions, a tile or list view, an updated filter to save space in the browser window and triangulated images for courses that do not have an image set up.

The list view gives more space for descriptions.

![simple course catalog version 2 list view](https://cdn.document360.io/a298db04-a0fe-47e0-bfe3-c52d6f9d7c8c/Images/Documentation/coursecat-list.png)

*Simple course catalog version 2 list view*

The grid view is the default view, showing each course as a tile.

![simple course catalog version 2 grid view](https://cdn.document360.io/a298db04-a0fe-47e0-bfe3-c52d6f9d7c8c/Images/Documentation/simple-course-catalog-v2.png)

*Simple course catalog version 2 grid view*

1. **Custom course catalog title** – Displays a name at the top of the course catalog page. *optional feature*
2. **Filter Options** and **Search** - Click **Filter Options** to open a filter menu, [described below](/docs/course-catalog#filters). Use the word search to find courses; this searches the title and course description.
3. **Course title** - Displays the name of the course.
4. **Course images** - Shows custom images or triangulated images on catalogs and the course assignments.
5. **Icons** - Presents icons based on course activities. Hovering your mouse over the icon displays a description and the number of those activities in the course.
6. Lab Fabric**logo** - Displays the logo of the platform used in the labs, such as, Azure or AWS.
7. **Details** - Click **Details** to view more information about the course.
8. **Rating** - Displays the rating of the course based on users' reviews.
9. **Grid** and **List** - Toggles between showing the courses as tiles or as a list.
10. **Matches** and **per page** - Displays the number of courses that match your search inquiry. Per page shows the number of courses shown per page and allows you to adjust it.
11. **Open saved filters**, **Save filter**, **Export results** - Reuse any search by selecting **Save filter** and **naming it**, then access it to use again from the **Open saved filters** link. Export your search results into a CSV file by using the **Export** link.

### Filters

Filters in version 2 of our course catalog are effective and save screen space.

**Simple course catalog version 2 filters**

Selecting **Filter Options** displays a menu with standard and custom filter categories, selecting most options will display a sub-menu to choose a filter. Standard options appear in the top portion of the menu with options like, Favorites, Review Rating and Current Status. If options appear below the line are custom filter categories created for the catalog.

1. **Favorites** - Filters to display all courses you have marked as a favorite by selecting the heart on a course.
2. **Review Rating** - Opens a sub-menu to select the number of stars you would like to filter for based on the course ratings. Choose one or more filters then click away from the menu to display your search results.
3. **Current Status** - Search self-paced training course assignments you are working on by filtering for the status of your training on that course. Filtering options include: **Any**, **Not Started**, **In Progress**, or **Completed**. Choose one or more filters then select away from the menu to display your search results.
4. **Custom filter categories** - Custom filters can be set up by an organization for their courses. Choosing a filter category displays a sub-menu showing the filters. Choose one or more filters then select away from the menu to display your search results.

Any of the filters on the menu can have sub-menus with more filtering options. Filtering works differently from the main menu options to the sub-menu options. Main menu options filter as "AND" meaning all filters selected must match filters assigned to the course for it to appear in the results; while sub-menu options filter as "OR" which shows courses that match at least one matching filter assigned to the course, as opposed to all of them.

**Menu and sub-menu filtering**

1. **Main menu selection** - Selecting a main menu item will display its available sub-menu
2. **Sub-menu** - Select one or more sub-menu items to filter for courses
3. **Apply** - Select apply once sub-menu items are chosen to run the filter
4. **Add New** - Select to add more filters
5. **Clear Filters** - Select to remove filters

Filters that are added can be directly edited or removed, all filters can be removed at once, and new filters can be added.

**Simple course catalog version 2 editing filters**

1. **Filter Options number** - View the number of filters applied which is shown in the circled number.
2. **Clear Filters** - Select to remove all applied filters.
3. **Filter's edit icon** - Use the edit icon on a filter to change the filter selection(s).
4. **Filter's X** - Select the filter's **X** to remove that filter.
5. **Add New** - Opens the original filter menu for selections.

### Icons table

| Icons | Description |
| --- | --- |
| ![](https://cdn.document360.io/a298db04-a0fe-47e0-bfe3-c52d6f9d7c8c/Images/Documentation/course-length-icon.png) | **Course length** - Estimated time to complete course activities. |
| ![](https://cdn.document360.io/a298db04-a0fe-47e0-bfe3-c52d6f9d7c8c/Images/Documentation/link-to-video-icon.png) | **Video link** - Contains an external video link as a course activity. |
| ![](https://cdn.document360.io/a298db04-a0fe-47e0-bfe3-c52d6f9d7c8c/Images/Documentation/lab-icon.png) | **Lab** - Contains a lab as a course activity. |
| ![](https://cdn.document360.io/a298db04-a0fe-47e0-bfe3-c52d6f9d7c8c/Images/Documentation/scorm-icon.png) | SCORM**module** - Contains a SCORM module as a course activity. |
| ![](https://cdn.document360.io/a298db04-a0fe-47e0-bfe3-c52d6f9d7c8c/Images/Documentation/assessment-icon.png) | **Assessment** - Contains an assessment as a course activity. |
| ![](https://cdn.document360.io/a298db04-a0fe-47e0-bfe3-c52d6f9d7c8c/Images/Documentation/document-icon.png) | **Document** - Contains a link to an external document as a course activity. |
| ![](https://cdn.document360.io/a298db04-a0fe-47e0-bfe3-c52d6f9d7c8c/Images/Documentation/external-links-icon.png) | **External website** - Contains a link to an external website as a course activity. |
| ![](https://cdn.document360.io/a298db04-a0fe-47e0-bfe3-c52d6f9d7c8c/Images/Documentation/external-activity-icon.png) | **External activity** - Contains an external activity in the course. |

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your articles or dissertation, it’s a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. Your glossary only needs to include terms that your reader may not be familiar with, and it’s intended to enhance their understanding of your work. Glossaries are not mandatory, but if you use a lot of technical or field-specific terms, it may improve readability to add one.

A course catalog surfaces courses to allow viewing of available content.

People who interact with the platform. Typically, we can break down users into three categories: Operations Managers, Instructors and Basic Users..

An organization is assigned to each entity in the TMS, such as, users, classes, subscriptions, and courses. The organization is a basis to determine access given based on roles within the organization and management over the organization.

Bundles together content to then be set up for training through classes, subscriptions, and course assignments. Courses can include labs, videos, SCORM, LTI, external links, assessments, and documents. Courses must be assigned to a Content Provider and a Publishing Group to be available to set up for training.

Activities are configured in the instructions editor and represented in the lab instructions by a replacement token. Activities fall into two broad categories: Questions and Automated.

- Questions are multiple choice or short answer questions.
- Automated Activities interact with the lab environment (Virtual Machine/Container/Cloud Platform).

Gallery templates can be favorited in the template gallery for quick access. They will then appear when the available lab profiles are filtered by favorites. Lab Profiles can also have the favorite flag set to make them stick to the user’s Skillable Studio dashboard.

Self-Paced or On-demand training is associated with course assignments or subscriptions. Users are assigned training which can be accessed at any time by the learner at their leisure. Outside guidance or mentorship is often not provided with this type of training.

Lab Fabrics are the various platforms we offer for the delivery of labs. Fabrics can either be different virtualization technologies and containers hosted in a Skillable datacenters or be public cloud.

Azure represents Microsoft Azure - Microsoft's public cloud computing platform.

AWS is the acronym for Amazon Web Services - Amazon's public cloud computing platform.

SCORM is e-Learning content that organizations can create and upload to the TMS to then be added to courses for students to access as course activities.