Announcements

The Announcements feature in OSPROV allows administrators to create and manage system-wide announcements that are displayed to users. Announcements can be used to communicate important information, system updates, maintenance schedules, or other relevant messages to all users of the system.

Accessing Announcements

1. Log in to OSPROV with an administrator account
2. Navigate to Settings in the sidebar menu
3. Select Announcements

Announcements List

The Announcements page displays a list of all announcements in the system, including:

• Title
• Start date
• End date
• Status (Active/Inactive)
• Action buttons (Edit, Delete)

Announcements are automatically displayed to users when the current date falls between the start and end dates.

Creating a New Announcement

To create a new announcement:

1. Click the Create New Announcement button on the Announcements page
2. Fill in the following fields:
   • Announcement Start Date: The date when the announcement will start displaying
   • Announcement End Date: The date when the announcement will stop displaying
   • Title: A clear, concise title for the announcement
   • Announcement Content: The detailed message using the rich text editor
3. Click Save to create the announcement

Rich Text Editor

The announcement content can be formatted using the built-in rich text editor, which allows you to:

• Apply text formatting (bold, italic)
• Create lists (bulleted, numbered)
• Align text (left, center, right, justify)
• Insert tables
• Add links
• Format paragraphs and headings

Editing an Announcement

To edit an existing announcement:

1. Find the announcement in the list
2. Click the Edit button (pencil icon) for that announcement
3. Modify any of the fields as needed
4. Click Save to update the announcement

Deleting an Announcement

To delete an announcement:

1. Find the announcement in the list
2. Click the Delete button (trash icon) for that announcement
3. Confirm the deletion when prompted

How Announcements Are Displayed

Active announcements (those with a start date before or equal to the current date and an end date after or equal to the current date) are displayed to users:

• On the dashboard/home page after login
• As a notification banner at the top of the page
• The most recent announcements are displayed first

Best Practices for Announcements

1. Be concise: Keep announcement titles and content clear and to the point
2. Set appropriate dates: Ensure announcements are only visible during the relevant time period
3. Use formatting: Utilize the rich text editor to make announcements more readable
4. Prioritize: Avoid having too many active announcements at once
5. Include action items: If users need to take action, clearly state what they need to do
6. Remove outdated announcements: Delete or update announcements that are no longer relevant

Common Use Cases

System Maintenance Notifications

Create announcements to inform users about upcoming system maintenance:

• Set the start date a few days before the maintenance
• Include the maintenance window in the title and content
• Clearly state any actions users need to take
• Set the end date to when the maintenance will be completed

New Feature Announcements

Announce new features or updates to the system:

• Include a brief description of the new feature
• Provide links to documentation or help resources
• Consider keeping the announcement active for 1-2 weeks

Policy Changes

Inform users about changes to organizational policies:

• Clearly state the policy change
• Include the effective date
• Provide contact information for questions
• Link to the full policy document if available

Holiday Schedules

Announce holiday closures or modified schedules:

• List the dates affected
• Include any changes to service availability
• Set the announcement to expire after the holiday period

By effectively using the Announcements feature, administrators can ensure that all users are informed about important information in a timely manner.