In This Article: This guide walks you through accessing Ontario and understanding its navigation structure. You'll learn how to move efficiently between the Overview, Projects, Users, and Groups, as well as how to navigate within individual projects using the sidebar and header controls.
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Accessing Ontario
Ontario uses your organization's Microsoft Single Sign-On (SSO) credentials for secure access. Once your account is provisioned, you'll access Ontario through your organization's authentication system.
Login Process
Visit your organization's Ontario URL provided by your administrator
Use your organization's Microsoft credentials to authenticate
After authentication, you'll arrive at the Ontario Overview (landing page)
Note: Contact your Ontario administrator if you encounter issues accessing the platform or if you need your credentials provisioned.
The Ontario Overview (Landing Page)
After logging in, you land on the Ontario Overview—your command center for monitoring activity, accessing projects, and managing your workload. The Overview provides real-time visibility into what matters most across your organization's projects.
Overview Components
Cards displaying your pinned projects with quick entry points and urgent task indicators
Visual metrics showing task completion rates and on-time performance across all your projects
Toggle between tasks due in the next 72 hours and tasks past their due date for immediate action
Stream of recent actions taken by team members who have recently uploaded files
Most recent files uploaded across your projects for quick access and reference
Filter all Overview data by specific projects to focus on what's relevant to your current priorities
Main Navigation Structure
Ontario's navigation is organized around four primary areas accessible from the top-level navigation tabs. Understanding this structure helps you move efficiently between different operational views.
Navigation Tabs
| Tab | Purpose | Key Functions |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Central dashboard for activity monitoring | View pinned projects, track tasks, monitor uploads, see user activity |
| Projects | Manage and access all projects | Browse projects table, create new projects, pin favorites, filter and search |
| Users | User administration and management | Add users, assign roles, manage permissions, bulk actions |
| Groups | Organize users into teams | Create groups, assign group owners, manage membership, activate/deactivate |
Coming Soon: Future releases will include dedicated Tasks and Uploads tabs for comprehensive task management and file tracking across all projects from the top level.
Header Navigation Elements
The header remains consistent throughout Ontario, providing quick access to key functions regardless of where you are in the platform.
Header Components
Located in the top-left corner of every page. Click the Ontario logo at any time to return to the Overview tab on the Ontario landing page. The Home button in the project sidebar works the same way — it brings you back to the landing page Overview.
The bell icon in the top-right header will provide access to your Notification Center — a central feed for task updates, mentions, and activity alerts across your projects. Unread notifications will display a badge indicator on the icon. Full notification functionality is coming in an upcoming release.
The question mark icon launches an interactive guided tour of Ontario. The tour walks you through each element on the current page — highlighting key features and explaining what they do. It's a great way to get oriented quickly or revisit an area of the platform you want to explore further.
Click your profile avatar in the top-right corner to open the user menu. From here you can open the Ontario Help Center or Sign Out. This is also the only point in the application from which you can sign out.
COMING SOON In a future release, the user menu will also let you access your user profile to update account details and manage your personal preferences.
Project-Level Navigation
When you enter a specific project, the interface shifts to project-focused navigation with a left sidebar providing access to project-specific areas.
Project Sidebar Navigation
Project overview with recent files, task tracker, overdue items, and user activity specific to this project
File and folder structure management with tree view, favorites, and file actions
View and manage tasks with filters for urgent, all, and completed tasks within the project
Manage project members, view user roles, and control project-level access permissions
Understanding Project Context
When working within a project, the left sidebar highlights your current location and the header displays the project name. You can always return to the top-level Overview by clicking the Ontario logo in the header.
Navigation Tip: Use the "Back to all projects" link in the project header to return to the Projects table without going through the Overview.
Navigation Best Practices
Mastering Ontario's navigation patterns will significantly improve your productivity. Here are proven strategies for moving efficiently through the platform.
Quick Access Patterns
| Action | Method | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Return to Overview | Click Ontario logo (top-left) | Works from anywhere in the platform |
| Enter a project | Click project card or table row | From Overview or Projects tab |
| Pin frequently used projects | Use pin icon in Projects table | Pinned projects appear at top of list |
| Navigate within project | Use left sidebar tabs | Switch between Dashboard, Harness, Tasks, Users |
| Access urgent tasks | Click task count on project card | Takes you directly to that project's Task Manager |
| Find specific project | Use search bar in Projects tab | Filter by name, status, or other attributes |
Keyboard Shortcuts
Ontario supports keyboard shortcuts for power users. Additional shortcuts will be documented as they become available.
Common Interface Patterns
Ontario uses consistent design patterns throughout the platform. Recognizing these patterns helps you predict where to find specific functions.
Standard Elements
Appear at the top of tables and lists for quick filtering by name or attributes
Three-dot menus provide contextual actions for projects, files, users, and other objects
"Create +" buttons in top-right corners initiate new projects, users, groups, or tasks
Dropdown filters refine views by status, date, user, or other relevant criteria
Manual refresh icons update data views to show the latest information
Temporary messages appear top-right confirming actions or reporting errors
Troubleshooting Navigation Issues
Common Issues
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Cannot see expected projects | Check that you have been granted access to those projects. Contact your project administrator if access is needed. |
| Navigation tabs not responding | Refresh your browser. If the issue persists, clear your browser cache or try a different browser. |
| Data not updating | Use the manual refresh button if available, or refresh your browser page to load the latest data. |
| Cannot find specific function | Functions may vary based on your role and permissions. Consult your administrator or use the Help Center. |
What's Next
Now that you understand Ontario's navigation structure, you're ready to start working with projects and data. Here's where to go next:
Learn about project structure, types, and how projects organize your data and workflows
Read Article →
Step-by-step guide to setting up new projects with the right configuration for your needs
Read Article →
Get started with file management by learning how to upload and organize your documents
Read Article →
Related Articles
Efficient navigation is the foundation of productivity in Ontario. As you become familiar with the interface patterns, keyboard shortcuts, and quick access methods described in this guide, you'll move seamlessly between projects, data, and team collaboration tools. The more you use Ontario's navigation structure, the more intuitive it becomes, allowing you to focus on analysis and decision-making rather than finding your way around the platform.
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