Basic Navigation

Learn how to navigate the Shifts platform interface, including using the sidebar menu, top navigation bar, breadcrumbs, and other navigation elements to efficiently access the features you need.

Overview

The Shifts platform provides an intuitive interface designed to help you quickly access the features and information you need. This article explains the main navigation elements including the sidebar menu, top navigation bar, breadcrumbs, search functionality, and keyboard shortcuts. Understanding these basic navigation concepts will help you work more efficiently within the system.

The Main Interface Layout

The Shifts interface consists of several key elements:

1. Top Navigation Bar: Contains global controls, notifications, and user options
2. Sidebar Menu: Primary navigation for accessing different modules and features
3. Main Content Area: Displays the active screen (dashboard, schedule, reports, etc.)
4. Action Toolbar: Context-specific actions for the current screen
5. Footer: Contains version information, support links, and legal notices

Sidebar Navigation

Using the Sidebar Menu

The sidebar menu is your primary navigation tool:

1. The menu is organized by functional areas (Dashboard, Scheduling, Employees, etc.)
2. Each main menu item may contain sub-items when clicked
3. The currently active section is highlighted
4. You can collapse the sidebar by clicking the toggle button (« icon) at the bottom
5. When collapsed, hover over icons to see menu item names

Common Sidebar Sections

The sidebar typically includes these main sections:

• Dashboard: Home screen with key information and widgets
• Schedule: All scheduling and shift management functions
• Employees: Employee records and management
• Time & Attendance: Clock-in/out, timesheet, and attendance tracking
• Time Off: Leave requests and management
• Reports: Analytics and reporting functions
• Settings: System configuration options (for administrators)

Some sections will vary based on your role and permissions.

Top Navigation Bar

Global Controls

The top bar contains important navigation elements:

1. Company Logo: Click to return to the dashboard/home page
2. Business Selector: Switch between multiple businesses (if applicable)
3. Global Search: Search across the entire system
4. Notifications Bell: Access your system notifications
5. Help Icon: Access help resources and support
6. User Menu: Your profile, preferences, and logout option

Notification Center

Access your notifications:

1. Click the Bell Icon in the top bar
2. View notifications organized by type:
   • Approvals: Requests needing your attention
   • Alerts: Important system notifications
   • Updates: General information updates
   • Messages: Communications from other users
3. Click any notification to navigate to the relevant screen
4. Mark notifications as read or dismiss them
5. Adjust notification settings from the gear icon

User Menu

Access your account options:

1. Click your Profile Picture/Name in the top-right corner
2. The dropdown menu provides options:
   • My Profile: View and edit your personal information
   • Preferences: Set your system preferences
   • Switch Role: Change between different roles (if applicable)
   • Help & Support: Access support resources
   • About: System version and information
   • Log Out: End your session

Secondary Navigation

Breadcrumb Navigation

Track your location in the system:

1. Breadcrumbs appear below the top bar
2. They show your current location path (e.g., Schedule > Week View > Edit Shift)
3. Click any segment to navigate back to that level
4. The rightmost item is your current screen

Tab Navigation

Within many screens, tab navigation provides access to different views:

1. Tabs appear below the screen title
2. Click any tab to switch to that view
3. The active tab is highlighted
4. Tab options change based on the current section

Action Toolbar

Context-specific actions for the current view:

1. Appears at the top of the content area
2. Contains buttons for common actions:
   • Create/Add: Add new items (shifts, employees, etc.)
   • Edit: Modify selected items
   • Delete: Remove selected items
   • Filter: Filter the current view
   • Export: Export data from the current view
3. Available actions change based on your context and permissions

Search Functionality

Global Search

Search across the entire system:

1. Click the Search Icon in the top bar
2. Type your search term
3. Results are grouped by category:
   • Employees
   • Shifts
   • Locations
   • Documents
   • Settings
4. Click any result to navigate directly to that item
5. Use advanced search operators for more precise searches:
   • name:John to search for “John” in names
   • shift:tomorrow to find tomorrow’s shifts
   • location:downtown to find items for the downtown location

Contextual Search

Search within specific sections:

1. Many sections have their own search box
2. These searches are limited to the current context
3. Look for the search icon or box within the screen you’re using
4. Type your search terms to filter the current view

Customizing Your Navigation

Favorites

Create shortcuts to frequently used screens:

1. Navigate to the page you want to bookmark
2. Click the Star Icon in the page header
3. The page is added to your favorites
4. Access favorites from the Favorites section in the sidebar
5. Rearrange favorites by dragging and dropping
6. Remove items by clicking the star again

Recent Items

Quickly return to recently viewed pages:

1. Click the Recent icon in the sidebar
2. View a list of recently accessed pages
3. Click any item to navigate directly to it
4. Recent items are automatically updated as you use the system

Mobile Navigation

When using the mobile app:

1. Access the main menu by tapping the Menu Icon (≡)
2. The bottom navigation bar contains frequently used functions
3. Swipe left/right to navigate between related screens
4. Swipe down to refresh content
5. Use the back button to return to previous screens

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up navigation with keyboard shortcuts:

1. Press ? from any screen to view available shortcuts
2. Common shortcuts include:
   • D: Go to Dashboard
   • S: Go to Schedule
   • E: Go to Employees
   • T: Go to Time & Attendance
   • F: Focus search box
   • Esc: Close popup/modal
   • Ctrl+S / Cmd+S: Save current form
3. Enable keyboard shortcuts in your user preferences

Navigation for Different Roles

Navigation varies by user role:

Employee View

Employees typically see:

• Personal schedule
• Time off requests
• Time card information
• Notifications and messages
• Limited reporting options

Manager View

Managers typically see:

• Team schedules and management
• Approval workflows
• Departmental reporting
• Time and attendance management
• Employee management tools

Administrator View

Administrators have access to:

• System configuration
• All location and department data
• Complete reporting suite
• User management
• Security settings

Your visible navigation items depend on your role and permissions.

Accessibility Navigation

For users with accessibility needs:

1. Screen Reader Support:
   • All navigation elements are properly labeled
   • Focus indicators clearly show the active element
   • Semantic markup provides clear navigation cues
2. Keyboard Navigation:
   • Tab to move between interactive elements
   • Enter to select/activate elements
   • Space to toggle checkboxes and buttons
   • Arrow keys for menu navigation
3. Access Keys:
   • Predefined access keys provide quick navigation
   • View available access keys in the Accessibility settings

Navigation Help and Support

If you need assistance:

1. Click the Help Icon (?) in the top bar
2. Options include:
   • Help Center: Access all documentation
   • Tour: Interactive tour of the current screen
   • Ask AI: Get context-aware help from the AI assistant
   • Contact Support: Reach out to the support team

Best Practices

For efficient navigation:

1. Learn Shortcuts: Memorize keyboard shortcuts for common actions
2. Use Favorites: Bookmark frequently accessed screens
3. Master Search: Use search instead of clicking through menus
4. Customize Views: Adjust layouts and favorites to match your workflow
5. Keep It Simple: Collapse panels you don’t need to maximize workspace
6. Explore Mobile: Use the mobile app for on-the-go access
7. Update Preferences: Configure the interface to suit your working style

Related Resources

• Dashboard Overview
• User Interface
• Accessibility
• Mobile App

This article should be updated when:

1. Navigation structure changes
2. New menu items or sections are added
3. Keyboard shortcuts are updated
4. Search functionality is enhanced
5. User interface elements are redesigned