Tools and systems
This page provides an overview of the key digital tools and platforms used across the University for managing websites, communications, data, teaching, and Library services. Each section includes information on what the tool is used for, how to access it, and where to find training or support.
Website and communications
If you are adding any kind of content to a web or comms platform, you should look to take the accessibility for web editors training course. This course provides you with the basic principles of writing and displaying accessible online content. It is a legal requirement for the University to comply with accessibility regulations.
T4 - Content Management System
- Use: Content Management System used for University websites.
- Training: Speak to your Faculty or Department Digital and Web Team for their T4 training provision.
General guidance for all: TerminalFour (T4) training guide - Login:
T4 login - Related training:
Accessibility for web editors - Related guidance:
Sub-domains
Campaign landing page guidance
Marketing URL's
Logo usage - Contact:
T4 Connect form
WordPress (locally hosted) - Content Management System
- Use: Content Management System used for University websites.
- Training: Speak to your Faculty or Department Digital and Web Team for their WordPress (WP) training provision.
General WP training for all. - Login:
WP login (add website name at the end) - Related training:
Accessibility for web editors - Related guidance:
Sub-domain policy
Marketing URL's
Logo usage - Contact:
Digital teams - contact details
WordPress (cloud hosted) - Content Management System
- Use: Content Management System used for University websites.
- Training: Speak to your Faculty or Department Digital and Web Team for their WordPress (WP) training provision.
General WP training for all. - Login:
WP login (add website name at the end) - Related training:
Accessibility for web editors - Related guidance:
Sub-domain policy
Marketing URL's
Logo usage
Digital inclusion and accessibility - Contact:
Digital teams - contact details
Shorthand - web and magazine platform
- Use: Platform for creating storytelling websites, magazines, publications.
- Training: Speak to your Digital team before choosing this platform – no training available internally.
- Login: Shorthand login
- Related training:
- Related guidance: Logo usage
- Contact: Digital teams
SharePoint - communication/collaboration platform
- Use: collaboration platform – internal communication sites.
- Training: Microsoft 365 support site
- Login: SharePoint login
- Related training: 365 accessibility resources
- Related guidance:
- Contact: Digital Champions
Campus Solutions - student records system
- Use: System used to administer student records and courses
- Training: Training document
- Login: Campus Solutions login
- Related training: Accessibility for web editors
- Related guidance:
- Contact: Access request form
PressPage - news
- Use: Platform to create news items
- Training: Speak to your Faculty or Department for their News training provision.
- Login: PressPage login
- Related training: Presspage-user-guide-v3.docx
- Related guidance: Digital inclusion and web accessibility
- Contact: uninews@manchester.ac.uk
Columba - events
- Use: Platform for adding events.
- Training: Training guide
- Login: Columba login
- Related training:
- Related guidance: Events guidance
- Contact: Columba contacts
Spotler - emails/newsletters
- Use: Email software for creating internal and external emails/newsletters.
- Training: CommuniGator information
- Login: Spotler login
- Related training: Email template guidelines
- Related guidance: Digital inclusion and guidance
- Contact: Spotler owners/approvers
Gecko - forms
- Use: Software for creating forms
- Training: UTMs and forms
- Login: Gecko login
- Related training:
- Related guidance:
- Contact: Speak to your Digital Team
Qualtrics - online surveys
- Use: Tool for creating online surveys.
- Training: Getting started with surveys, Qualtrics FAQs
- Login: Qualtrics login
- Related training:
- Related guidance:
- Contact: Information Governance Office
Hootsuite - social media
- Use: Social media tool
- Training: Hootsuite guidance
- Login: Hootsuite login
- Related training: Social media guidelines
- Related guidance:
- Contact: socialmedia@manchester.ac.uk
Data and analytics
Google analytics and Looker Studio - web analytics
- Use: Web analytics tool.
- Training: Getting started with GA, GA metrics
- Login: GA login
- Related training:
- Related guidance: Google analytics policy
- Contact: Team contacts
Clarity - web data capture
- Use: Website data capture and heatmaps
- Training: MS Clarity documentation
- Login: Clarity login
- Related training:
- Related guidance:
- Contact: Web Development Team
Documents, images and multimedia
Document portal
- Use: The University’s portal for uploading documents.
- Training: Document guidelines
- Login: Documents login
- Related training:
- Related guidance: Digital inclusion and accessibility
- Contact: documents@manchester.ac.uk
Chorus - visual assets
- Use: The University’s visual asset management system.
- Training: N/A
- Login: Chorus login
- Related training:
- Related guidance:
- Contact: Access request form
Video portal
- Use: The University’s internal video platform.
- Training: Staff FAQ's
- Login: Video portal login
- Related training: Subtitles guidance
- Related guidance:
- Contact: Get help
Teaching, learning and library
Canvas - CLE
- Use: Central learning environment (CLE)
- Training: Canvas microsite
- Login: Canvas login
- Related training: Accessibility for web editors
- Related guidance:
- Contact: Canvas project team
Figshare - research data
- Use: A general purpose, research data repository to enable researchers to share research data and meet the evolving requirements of research funders and academic publishers.
- Training: Figshare training guides
- Login: Figshare Home Page
- Related training: n/a
- Related guidance: Digital inclusion and accessibility guidance
- Contact: researchdata@manchester.ac.uk
LibAnswers (Library Help)
- Use: LibAnswers is a web-based platform for managing and responding to library users’ queries, enabling staff to efficiently handle FAQs, tickets and communication through a centralised interface.
- Training: Ask Springshare
- Login: Library Help login
- Related training: n/a
- Related guidance: Google Analytics policy
- Contact: Submit ticket or chat: Library Help home page
Primo (Library Search)
- Use: Primo from Ex Libris is a discovery and delivery platform that provides library staff and users with a unified search interface to access and manage physical, electronic and digital resources seamlessly.
- Training: Ex Libris Training Centre
- Login: ALMA log in (Primo back end)
- Related training:
- Related guidance:
- Contact: uml.eresources@manchester.ac.uk