SchoolProtect - Editing a Filtering Policy
After clicking Edit on a policy group, please choose Edit on the policy you would like to change in the table titled "Filtering Policies". This will be to the left of the policy name you wish to modify.
This will show the different components of that policy.
The different types of items are separated in tabs. These are:
- Local List
- Categories
- Linked Bundles
- Schedules
- Properties
Local List
This list contains a set of entries which are either allowed or denied. These entries are used to increase the flexibility of the rules created by the definition of categories.
It allows you to allow an individual resource which is in a blocked category or to block a resource that is in an allowed category.
Adding an individual entry
To add an entry to the allow or deny list, please click the appropriate colored Add button. Green for allowed & red for denied.
Once the button has been pressed, a green or red box will pop up, asking for information. Once completed, please click Save to add the entry.
Information on the different item types is visible here
In this example, www.youtube.com is being added as an allowed URL, to give access to the website.
Once an entry has been added you will see it in the list that is has been added to.
The previous example has been saved & so the entry now appears in the allowed item table.
Changing an entry
To edit an entry, please click Edit next to the item. This will load a pop-up containing the entry's current details. Please make any required changes and then click Update.
This allows the entry or entry type to be changed.
Adding multiple entries
It's possible to make changes to a policy on bulk, without having to add entries one at a time.
This can be done via a spreadsheet containing the entries that need to be added.
Please use the example spreadsheet as a template, available via the Download Sample File button, to ensure the file will process correctly.
Once a spreadsheet has been filled out, simply upload the file via the import button & the changes will be made. The validation report will show any issues with any of the entries.
The contents of a policy's local list can be exported into a spreadsheet if required via the export button. This will export is into a format that can be uploaded to another policy if required.
Categories
Each filtering policy contains definitions for all the categories available in SchoolProtect. Categories will show as either blocked or allowed and can be changed at the establishment's discretion.
A number of categories are blocked at the system level, meaning that the school is not able to change the definitions of those categories. These categories are outlined in a separate list at the bottom of the screen.
To change a category definition from allowed to denied or vice versa, select one or more categories and use the arrows to move the categories into the other list.
When such a change is made, the effect takes effect nearly instantly and no saving of the setting is required.
Linked Bundles
The bundles tab allows you to link pre-existing bundles of URLs, IP addresses, keywords and other entries to the policy being edited.
There are three types of bundles, ones created by your establishment, a group you are part of and others which are available from the system level.
If you wish to allow access to resources like YouTube, a bundle will be available that is maintained at the system level. You can choose to link this bundle to your policy and it will serve the desired purpose as well as get automatically updated if any other items need to be added to it in future.
A list of the available bundles is visible on the screen. You can easily view the contents of each bundle. If you decide to use a bundle simply link it to the policy. The same bundle can be used in multiple policies.
Schedules
The schedules tab within a filtering policy allows you to create and edit a schedule for the selected policy. Each policy in a group must have its own schedule in order to take affect. Existing schedules can be edited to change the day and/or the time.
The simplest way to change a schedule is to delete an exiting schedule entry and create a new one in its place.
To see how the different schedules of the various policies relate to each other, use the View on Calendar button to get a visual overview. A policy without a schedule will never be active.
This example is set to always run and never stop.
Properties
Each policy has a unique name which can be changed using the Properties tab. This setting must be saved via the button provided on screen.
