This article covers how to grant CMS admin access to the Finalsite Chat feature, including how to navigate to the Permissions panel and how admin-level access differs from Chat Manager roles.
💡Quick answers
- Where are Chat permissions configured? Navigate to Mobile Apps > Permissions in the CMS module menu. Locate the Chat column for each admin user group.
- What does Admin-level Chat access grant? Access to the Chat module in the CMS backend. It does not control which locations a user sees inside Chat. That is managed separately by the user's Chat role in Chat > Settings.
- What does "Not Allowed" mean in the Chat permissions column? That admin user group will not see the Chat feature in the Mobile Apps module at all.
- Does granting CMS Chat admin access make someone a Chat Manager? No. CMS Admin-level access controls who can manage Chat from the CMS backend. Chat Manager is a separate in-app role assigned to specific users (typically teachers). See Assign chat roles for details on the role hierarchy.
In this article
- Important Note on Granting Chat permissions
- Two separate settings: CMS permission vs. Chat role
- Set Chat permissions
Important Note on Granting Chat permissions
Granting Admin level access to any constituent or group means that each person regardless of role will have the highest level of abilities to manage the chat feature in the module. This permission only controls whether the group can access the Chat module in the CMS. It does not affect which locations they see inside Chat. Those are two separate settings. See the section below for details.
Two separate settings: CMS permission vs. Chat role
Setting 1 - CMS permission (this article): Controls whether an admin group can open the Chat module in the CMS. Admin = can open it. Not Allowed = cannot see it at all. This setting has no effect on which locations appear once a user is inside Chat.
Setting 2 - Chat role (set in Mobile Apps module > Chat > Settings tab, or per person in the Members tab): Controls everything inside Chat, including which locations appear in the Location filter.
- District Admin: All locations appear automatically, regardless of Constituent Manager data.
- All other roles (School Admin, Chat Manager, participants): Only the locations tied to their Constituent Manager groups.
- Need users to see all locations? Assign the District Admin chat role in Chat > Settings (bulk) or the Members tab (per person).
Before you assign District Admin: This role also grants the highest level of Chat abilities, including viewing and moderating conversations at every location. Assign it only to staff the district is comfortable having that access within Chat.
See Assign chat roles for steps.
Set Chat permissions
You can set permissions for any admin users to be granted admin rights to the Chat feature. To access Chat permissions, navigate to Mobile Apps in the module menu and click on Permissions.
For each admin user group, locate the Chat column and select either Not Allowed or Admin.Â
- Not Allowed: This admin user group will not see the Chat feature in the Mobile Apps module.Â
- Admin: The Admin level for the group allows them to have all of the admin management abilities available within the Chat feature.
To learn more about the tasks that can be completed by each of your Roles, check out the article, "Chat for school leaders: Assign chat roles and create rooms"Â especially referring to the details on the Chat roles and permissions table.Â
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