Chapter 6. Portlets and Gadgets
- 6.1. Import Portlets and Gadgets
- 6.2. Manage Portlets and Gadgets
- 6.3. Display Gadgets
- 6.4. Add a new Category
- 6.5. Edit a Category
- 6.6. Delete a Category
- 6.7. Add Applications to a Category
- 6.8. Set Access Permission on Portlets
- 6.9. View/Edit portlet/gadget information
- 6.10. Add a Gadget
- 6.11. Manage Gadgets
- 6.12. Edit a Gadget
6.1. Import Portlets and Gadgets
This feature imports portlets/gadgets found in web applications on your server
Note
The Application Registry looks in all webapps of your application server for a file located at WEB-INF/portlet.xml and registers the portlets found there. When the user clicks on "Auto Import" the portlets of all webapps are imported. If there is a portlet.xml file in a webapp a new category is created whose name is the webapp war name (or the webapp folder name). All the portlets that are configured in the portlet.xml file are added to the new category.
- In the Group menu, select Administration then Application Registry:
- Click Import Applications on the right hand side. A confirmation message will appear.
- Click OK to accept.
6.2. Manage Portlets and Gadgets
Portlets and gadgets are organized in different categories. Each category contains one or several portlets or gadgets. You can also mix portlets and gadgets into one category. By default all gadgets are placed in the Gadgets category.
Important
Ensure gadgets are added to the Dashboard only.
Preferences and user data will not persist between sessions if gadgets are added to other portal pages.
This limitation will be corrected in a later version of the product.
6.3. Display Gadgets
You can change the number of columns available in the Dashboard.
- Go to the Dashboard (by clicking Dashboard in the Toolbar)
- Hover over Dashboard Editor and click Edit Page in the drop-down menu.
- The Page editor will appear.
- Hover over the Dashboard Portlet and click on the Edit icon (the 'pencil').

- Change the number of columns in the Number of columns field. The maximum number of columns is four (4).
- Click the Save button to accept the change.
- Click Close and then click Finish.
6.4. Add a new Category
You easily add a new category by following this guide:
- Hover over the Group menu, then Administration and click on Application Registry.
- Click the Add Category button on the action bar:The Category Setting tab: includes common information about a category.
- Category name
- The name of the category. This field is required and its length must be between 3 and 30 characters. Only alpha, digit, dash and underscore characters are allowed.
- Display name
- The display name of the category and its length must be between 3 and 30 characters.
- Description
- A brief description of the category. Any length from 0 to 255 characters is allowed.
The Permission Setting tab provides access to the Permission manager.The permission criteria are used whenever a user creates or modifies a page. In that case the user can only see and use portlets in those categories on which he or she has access to (as defined by groups and memberships).
6.5. Edit a Category
- Click the Edit icon located next to the title bar.
- Update the category information.
- Click the Save button to apply changes.
6.6. Delete a Category
- Click the Trash can icon located next to the title bar.
- Accept the deletion by clicking OK
6.7. Add Applications to a Category
- Click the "Plus" icon located next to the category (in the list on the left) to which you want to add an application.The image below shows the available application. You will see this list when you click the "Plus" icon.

- Display name
- The display name of a portlet/gadget.
- Application Type
- Either Portlet, Gadget or WSRP application.
- Enter the display name and select a type
- Select an application by checking the radio button. Note that there several pages of Portlet applications to choose from and that the content of the list changes when you select a different type of application from the Application Type drop-down menu.
- Click the Save button to add the selected application to the category.
6.8. Set Access Permission on Portlets
- In the Group menu, select Administration and then Application Registry.
- Select a category in the Category pane that includes the portlet you want to set permissions on. All portlets of that category will be listed underneath.
- To set permission for a portlet:
- Click the Add Permission button to add access permissions to more groups.
- Or check Make it public to allow everyone to access.
Whenever the user creates or modifies a page, he or she can only see and use gadgets/portlets that fulfill two conditions: the portlet is in a category which the user has access permission too and the user has access permission on the portlet
6.9. View/Edit portlet/gadget information
In the Group menu, select Administration then Application Registry.
- Left pane
- All portlets and gadgets grouped by categories
- Right pane
- shows detail information about a portlet: Name, Display name, Description and Portlet preferences.
To see the details of any portlet select it from the list on the left.
To edit a portlet, click the edit button to the right of the portlet's name:
6.10. Add a Gadget
In the Group menu, select Administration then Application Registry. Click on the Gadget icon.
You may add a remote gadget using its URL or create a new gadget.
Procedure 6.1. Add a Remote Gadget
- Click on Add a remote gadget:

- Enter the url of the remote gadget in the URL field.
- Click Add. The new remote gadget is visible in gadget list on the left pane.
Procedure 6.2. Create a new Gadget
- Click on Create a new gadget:
- Enter the xml code of the new gadget in the
Sourcefield.
6.11. Manage Gadgets
You can edit or refresh a gadget using the icons in the top right of the Gadget Details pane.
You can delete a local gadget using the trashcan icon to the right of the appropriate gadget in the gadget list.
6.12. Edit a Gadget
Click the Edit Gadget icon located in the header of the Gadget Details page to display the following window:
