Need the Platform to look the same for new users? Look no further than User Preferences! With this feature, an administrator can set global default settings for all new users.

For example, you can set global defaults for:

• Navigation to show the Basic or Advanced menu
• Charts to be shown or hidden
• Layout to show as a grid or list
• Record insights to be shown or hidden

Since a user's settings are stored in their browser's cache, this also comes in handy when you need to clear your cache. No need to start over and try to get your settings back the way you had them.

How are User Preferences Generated?

Before you set global defaults, you may already see some User Preferences in your system. That's because each time a user changes a preference in the Platform, the system generates a User Preference entry. So, for example, if someone changes their Contacts page to show in Grid Layout by clicking the grid icon, that preference is recorded.

Note that user preferences are not meant to be copied from one user to another. You should create a default set for new users, then let each user make changes based on how they want their system to look.

Creating a Set of Global Defaults

You must have the Administrators security role to do this.

1. Go to Administration > User Preferences.
2. Locate a user whose settings match or are most similar to what you want the global defaults to be. (For details on these settings, see the User Preferences Glossary.)
3. Select all the settings associated with the user that you want to set as the global default.
4. Click the Actions menu, and select Assign.
5. Select the checkbox beside User, and clear the User field.
6. Click Assign.

That's it! You've just created the default set of user preferences.

Individual users can override the defaults you set based on their own preference. Don't be afraid to let your users choose how their Platform looks! For example, if an individual works best when they can see charts, don't change their setting to remove charts just so it matches everyone else.

And be careful when impersonating a user. If you're impersonating and change a preference (e.g., turn of charts), that preference is changed for the impersonated user, and they won't see their charts next time they log in.

How-To Video