Navigation

Learn about the user interface (UI) and how to find your way around Phocas.

Phocas is organized into three areas: the Phocas menu, the top bar, and the content area, which initially displays your homepage. Phocas differs slightly depending on whether you view it on your desktop or mobile device.

Watch this Phocas Academy video: Find your way around Phocas

Desktop

1. Phocas menu (side navigation panel)

Use the Phocas menu on the left of your screen to move around your site. This menu is collapsible, allowing you to get a better view of whatever page you open. Hover over the menu to display and click the Collapse button. The menu options are still available, they just take up less space. Expand the menu in the same way.

The menu contains the following items:

• Home: Click this item to return to your homepage.

• Analytics, Financial Statements, Budgets & Forecasts, Rebates, and CRM: Click a module to either open its homepage or view a list of its items (the outcome depends on the module).

• Recents: Click this item to view a list of the items you last opened in Phocas. The Recents menu allows you to see where you've been and quickly pick up where you left off. Click an item in the list to open it in the corresponding module.

• Favorites: Click this item to view a list of your favorites. A favorite is an analysis point, such as a chart or particular grid view, that has been saved for quick reference. Filter the list by keyword and click a favorite to open it in the corresponding module.

• Dashboards: Click this item to view a list of your dashboards. A dashboard is a custom page with a collection of widgets that contain content such as charts, lists, nested tables, text, images, videos, and web content. Filter the list by keyword and click a dashboard to open it.

• Toolbox: Click this item to access the Connectors and Upload files tools. This item only displays if you have the required user permissions to use the tools.

• Administration (available for administrators only): Click this item to open the Administration module, where you can manage users and databases, configure your Phocas site, and more.

• Resource Centre: Click this item to launch the Resource Centre, where you can access the QuickStart checklists, in-product tours, video tutorials, and more. The content is contextual, so depending on whether you are on your homepage or in a database, the Resource Centre menu will show you relevant content. It’s a great way to get started with Phocas.

• Give Feedback: Click this item to launch a feedback form where you can provide feedback and comments to help us improve Phocas.

2. Top bar

The bar along the top of your screen displays the following items:

• A colored dot that identifies the database's build status, where applicable. The dot color indicates the status: Green = Available, Yellow = Queued, Blue = Building, and Red = Failed. Hover over the dot to view the status information.

• The title of the page you are viewing, such as the favorite, dashboard, or database you have opened.

• The Actions arrow (next to the page title). Click the arrow to display a context menu of related actions you can take. The available actions depend on the page and your user permissions. Common actions include setting your default view, saving favorites, and adding content to dashboards.

• The User menu (right-hand side): Click your initials or profile image to access your account settings page and sign out of Phocas.

3. Content area

The content in this area is dynamic. It displays whatever page you are on, which could be a favorite, dashboard, database, or module, such as Budgets & Forecasts or Rebates. Typically, this is where you view and analyze your data.

Mobile

The mobile version has the same three areas described in the Desktop tab. However, it has less functionality, as you are not expected to complete certain actions from such a small screen. For example, you cannot create new databases or dashboards.

After you sign in to your Phocas site, click the button in the top-left corner to display the menu. The menu takes up the full screen. Select an option as usual. The sub-menu displays over the top. Select an item in the list to open it.

If you want to switch to a desktop view, click the button with your initials or image on it (in the top-right corner of the screen), then select Desktop view.