How To: Create a Custom Workspace

This article illustrates how to create a custom workspace. You can specify a landing page and create a custom menu to personalize K2 Workspace (Desktop) with the items you use most.

A custom workspace

Steps

Use the Custom Workspace template to create and personalize your workspace interface. Add headers and menu items.

Setup Steps

The following steps guide you through the custom workspace process.

From the K2 Management site, create a custom workspace.
1. Launch the K2 Management site.
  If you do not know how to access the K2 Management site, see Accessing K2 Sites.
2. Expand the Users category. Select Custom Workspaces.
3. On the Workspaces page, you see a list of current workspaces in the central pane. Notice the default workspace. This is the page that opens when you launch the K2 Workspace site. You can change this to your custom page if desired. Click Add.
4. Click the Details tab if it is not already active. For the Name, enter
  My Custom Workspace
  and for the Description, enter
  This workspace contains my links and forms.
  For the Tooltip, enter
  My Custom Workspace.
5. Next, configure the Link. This URL points to the default page you want to load in your workspace central pane. You have two options: you can load a form or open a web page. Select Web URL and for the value, enter
  https://help.k2.com
  For the Properties, select Visible.
  There are three options for Properties: Visible, Use Cache, and Set as Default Workspace.
  - Visible: Hides your custom page from the list of available workspaces. For example, if you are still configuring your workspace and don't want it displayed.
  - Use Cache: Loads the last session from your cache, improving performance. Uncheck the cache option to load a fresh version of the page each time you visit.
  - Set as Default Workspace: Displays this workspace when K2 Workspace is launched. You can still access the previously default workspace from the menu.

Customize the menu by adding headings and links to tools, forms, and sites.

Next, you configure the menu you want for your workspace. The menu appears in the left column and can include links to other sites, forms, and tools.

Click the Menu tab. The first menu item is a link to a web site. Click Add menu item or click the Add(+) icon at the bottom of the left side column.

Complete the settings for the menu item. Use the table below as a guide for completing the menu item fields. Notice your menu item name appears as a sample in the left column. This gives you an idea of how your menu looks when you load your custom workspace.

Setting	Value	Notes
Name	K2 Home Page	This link takes you to the K2 home page.
Description	K2 Home Page
Tooltip	K2 Home Page	This value appears when you hover over the link.
Type	SmartForm or URL	You are adding a link to a web site.
Icon	Generic	You can add icons to your menu that help distinguish target types.
Link	Web URL https://k2.com	This link takes you to the K2 home page.
Properties	Visible Use Cache	You want the link displayed and you use the cache to load the last session.

Next, you add a link to a form. Note that the SmartForm must already exist on the server. Click the Add (+) icon. Use the table below as a guide for completing the menu item fields. (Configure your own menu item to point to an existing SmartForm in your environment. Your values may be different than the table and image below.)

Setting	Value	Notes
Name	Leave Requests Form	This link launches the Leave Request Form.
Description	Leave Requests Form
Tooltip	Leave Requests Form	This value appears when you hover over the link.
Type	SmartForm or URL	You are adding a link to an existing SmartForm.
Icon	Form	You can add icons to your menu that help distinguish target types.
Link	Form	Click the search icon. When you see the Search screen, enter the name of your form, then click the search icon once again. Select your form and click OK.

Properties	Visible Use Cache	You want the link displayed and you use the cache to load the last session.

The final menu item opens your task list. Click the Add(+) icon. Use the table below as a guide for completing the menu item fields.

Setting	Value	Notes
Name	My Tasks	This link opens your workspace inbox.
Description	Opens my workspace inbox.
Tooltip	My Tasks	This value appears when you hover over the link.
Type	Task List	The Task List is a predefined type that points to the current user's workspace inbox.
Icon	Inbox	Use either the Inbox or Task icon.
Properties	Visible	You want the link displayed.

The final task is to add a header to your menu. Use headers to group your menu items and keep them organized. Click the Add(+) icon. Use the table below as a guide for completing the header fields.
Setting Value
Name Forms
Description
Header for forms menu items.
Tooltip
Forms
Type Header
Properties Visible
With the Forms header selected, click the Up icon to move it above your form. If you like, add other headers and arrange your menu using the up and down icons.
Click OK to save your custom workspace.

Launch K2 Workspace (Desktop) and open your custom workspace menu. If you need to make changes, edit the workspace from K2 Management > Users > Custom Workspaces. Select the workspace, then click Edit.
1. After saving a custom workspace (and if it is visible), you find the link on the K2 Workspace > Workspaces menu. Launch K2 Workspace (Desktop).
2. Click the K2 logo to switch to the Workspaces menu. Click My Custom Workspace.
3. If you need to make a change to your custom workspace, return to the K2 Management site > Users > Custom Workspaces page. Select your workspace and click Edit. After making changes, click OK to save the latest version.

Setting	Value
Name	Forms
Description	Header for forms menu items.
Tooltip	Forms
Type	Header
Properties	Visible

Review

Custom workspaces allow you immediate access to the K2 forms, sites, and tools you use most often. Use headers and icons to group links, such as forms. You can create as many custom workspaces as desired, personalized for your needs.