This article guides you through enabling and creating Collection Links. A dedicated space within a Kendis Collection (e.g., an Agile Release Train or Portfolio) to centralize important external URLs, documentation, and tools relevant to your team or organization. This functionality allows users to create structured groupings of links that can be shared across the entire Collection or kept private for personal use.
Key Benefits of Using Collection Links
Feature | Description | Contextual Benefit |
Centralized Access | Provides a single, easy-to-find location for all critical external resources. | Eliminates time spent searching for common links like API documentation, design standards, or team channels. |
Contextual Grouping | Links are organized into custom, logical groups (e.g., "Technical Design & Standards," "My Go-To Planning Tools"). | Improves navigation and ensures users can quickly find resources relevant to their current task. |
Flexible Sharing | Choose to make groups private (Personal) or visible to all members of the Collection (Shared). | Supports both individual productivity and team collaboration without cluttering the shared view. |
1: Enabling the Collection Links Feature
The Links feature is an optional module that must be toggled ON within the Collection's settings before it can be used. This step is typically performed by a Collection Administrator.
Step-by-Step Navigation (Enabling the Feature)
Access the Collection: Navigate to the specific Collection where you want to enable the feature (e.g., ADO ART2). You can select the Collection from the organization structure overview.
Open Settings: From the Collection's default view (like the About screen), locate and click the Settings button in the top-right corner of the page.
Go to Configuration: In the modal that appears, select the Configuration tab at the top.
Enable Links Module: Scroll down the list of configurable modules within the Configuration tab until you find Links. Click the toggle switch next to it to turn it ON (the toggle will turn Green).
Save Changes: Click the Save button (green) in the top-right corner of the modal to apply the changes.
Verify Navigation: The Links menu item will now appear in the Collection's left navigation sidebar, located below Program Boards.
2: Customizing the Page Header
The Links page comes with a default title and summary, which you can customize to fit the context of your Collection.
Step-by-Step Navigation (Editing the Page Title and Summary)
Initiate Edit: Hover your mouse over the main page title (e.g., Release Train 1 Links) at the top left of the screen. A Pencil icon will appear next to the title. Click this icon.
Edit Fields: A customizable text box will appear. It contains two editable fields:
The main Page Title (defaulted from the Collection name).
The Page Summary (e.g., Manage shared and personal links relevant to this Collection.).
Save Changes: After editing the text, click the Checkmark icon (green) to save your changes, or the X icon (red) to cancel.
3: Creating and Configuring Link Groups
Once the module is enabled and you navigate to the Links page, you can begin creating groups to categorize your important links. These groups will organize your shared and personal links.
Step-by-Step Navigation (Creating a Link Group)
Access Links Page: Click on Links in the left navigation sidebar of your Collection.
If this is the first time, the page will show "No link groups found. Start by adding one!"
Initiate Group Creation: Click the + Add New Link Group button.
The "Add New Link Group" Modal: A modal window will appear.
Group Title: Enter a descriptive name for the grouping (e.g., Technical Design & Standards). This field is required.
Description (Optional): Provide a brief description to clarify the group's purpose.
Set Sharing: Under the Sharing section, select one of the following radio button options:
Personal (Only Me): The link group will only be visible to you and will appear under My Personal Links.
Shared (Everyone): The link group will be visible to all members of this specific Collection and will appear under Shared Links.
Finalize Creation: Click the Save button (green) to create the Link Group.
Step-by-Step Navigation (Adding Links to a Group)
Once a group is created, you can add individual links to it.
Identify Group: On the Links page, find the group you created under either Shared Links or My Personal Links.
Open Link Creation: Click the text link + Create Link located at the bottom of the group box. This will open the "Add New Link" modal window.
Define Link Details: In the modal:
Link Title: The display name of the link (e.g., System Context Diagram).
Link Description (Optional): Short note about what the link contains.
URL: The full, valid web address for the resource.
Save Link: Click the Save button (green) in the modal. The new link will now appear as an interactive item under the group.
4: Navigation and Organization (Search, Filter, Sort)
Located in the top right section of the Links page, these controls help you quickly find and organize your link groups.
Step-by-Step Navigation (Search, Filter, and Sort)
1. Search Groups and Links
Locate Search Bar: Find the Search groups and links... input box at the top right.
Execute Search: Type in the title of any group or link you are looking for. The system will filter the content in real-time, displaying only the groups and links that match your text.
2. Filter Links (All / Shared / Personal)
Access Filter Dropdown: Click the dropdown menu located next to the Search bar, currently labeled as All.
Select Filter Option: Choose one of the following options to refine your view:
All (Default): Shows both Shared Links and My Personal Links.
Shared: Displays only the links and groups visible to everyone in the Collection.
Personal: Displays only your private links and groups.
3. Sort Links
Access Sort Dropdown: Click the dropdown menu located to the far right, currently labeled as Default.
Select Sort Criteria: Choose how to order the link groups within their respective sections (Shared or Personal):
Default: Sorts groups based on the system's standard criteria.
Title (A-Z): Sorts groups alphabetically in ascending order.
Title (Z-A): Sorts groups alphabetically in descending order.
Created (Newest): Sorts groups based on creation date, showing the newest first.
Created (Oldest): Sorts groups based on creation date, showing the oldest first.
5: Managing Groups and Links
This section details how to manage the groups you have created, including editing, duplicating, deleting, and sharing them across your organization.
Key Context: Group Ownership and Visibility
Group Owner Display: The Collection or user who created the group is indicated on the top right of the group header (e.g., a "DT" chip for "Demo Team" or the owner's name/initials). Hovering your mouse over the Group Title will reveal a tooltip showing the Owner and which other Collections the group is Shared with (if applicable).
Shared Links appear at the top of the Links page and are visible to everyone who has access to the Collection.
My Personal Links appear below the shared section and are only visible to you.
Important Permission Note: Only the Owner (the user or Collection that created the group) can:
Add, Edit, or Delete individual links within the group.
Edit the group's Title or Description.
Delete the group entirely.
Non-Owners: If you are viewing a shared group that is not owned by your current Collection, you cannot edit the links or the group, nor can you delete it. To remove it, you must ask the original owner to stop sharing it with your Collection.
Recommended Action: If you need to modify a shared group's links or customize it, use the Duplicate Group icon (see below) to create your own copy under My Personal Links (or as a new Shared Link group), making you the owner.
Quick Actions for Link Groups
When you mouse over a group's title, several quick-action icons appear next to the owner chip. These actions are only available to the group owner.
Edit icon (Pencil): Opens the Edit Link Group modal, allowing you to modify the Group Title, Description, and Sharing options.
Sharing icon (Arrow/Fork): Opens the Share Group modal, allowing you to share the link group with other Collections (detailed below).
Duplicate Group icon: Click to create an exact copy of the group, including all nested links. This is useful for quickly templating new resource sections. (Available to all users, regardless of ownership)
Delete Group icon (Trash Can): Click to permanently remove the entire Link Group and all associated links.
Quick Actions for Individual Links
These actions are only available to the group owner.
When you mouse over an individual link item, three action icons will appear to the right of the link text:
Pencil icon: Click to open the Edit Link modal, allowing you to modify the link title, description, or URL. Click Save Changes (green) in the modal to update.
Move/Copy icon: Click this to perform a Move/Copy Link action, allowing you to relocate the link to another group or duplicate it.
Trash Can icon: Click to Delete Link permanently from the group.
Description Tooltip: If a link has a description, an Information icon () will appear next to the link title. Hovering your mouse over this icon will display the link's full description in a tooltip.
Step-by-Step Navigation (Sharing a Group Across Collections)
The sharing functionality allows a single link group to be instantly made available in other Collections, ensuring consistency across the organization.
Initiate Sharing: On the Links page, hover over the title of the Shared Link Group you wish to share and click the Sharing icon (Arrow/Fork) that appears in the quick actions bar. (Only available to the group owner)
The "Share Group":
Modal will appear. This modal window will present two radio button options for selecting target Collections: Collection Type and By Organization. The group title will dynamically appear in the modal title to confirm the group you are sharing.
Select Collections by Type (Recommended for wide sharing):
Select the 'Collection Type' radio button.
This option displays a list of all existing Collection types in your organization (e.g., Portfolio, Solution Train, Agile Release Train).
Expand the type you wish to share with (e.g., Agile Release Train).
Select the specific Collections you want to share the group with by clicking on their names, or select the top-level type to share with all Collections of that type.
Select Collections by Organization (Recommended for targeted sharing):
Select the 'By Organization' radio button.
This option displays the hierarchy of your organization's Collections.
Drill down into the organizational structure by expanding the nodes (e.g., Operations Security).
Select the specific Collections (groups or individual Collections) you want to share the link group with by clicking on their names.
Finalize Sharing: Click the Share button (green) in the top right of the modal to immediately apply the sharing settings. The link group will now appear in the Shared Links section of the selected target Collections.