Navigating the Portal
Optima Orbit offers three navigation styles, all designed to give you fast access to every module your role permits. The navigation is fully permission-aware — you only see modules and features your organization has subscribed to and your role has access to.
Navigation modes
You can switch between three navigation modes from your profile preferences (Profile → Preferences). All modes provide access to the same features; choose the one that suits your workflow.
Sidebar navigation (default)
The classic collapsible sidebar on the left edge of the screen.
- Categories are shown as expandable groups (e.g. Organization, Marketing, Administration)
- Modules appear as items under each category with an icon and label
- Collapse/expand the sidebar with the chevron button to maximize workspace
- Search — type in the sidebar search to filter modules instantly
- On mobile, the sidebar becomes a slide-out drawer
Floating navigation
A floating overlay that appears on demand — ideal for users who prefer a minimal interface.
- Activated from the preference switcher
- Modules appear as floating cards grouped by category
- Click any module card to navigate; the overlay dismisses automatically
Dock navigation
A macOS-style dock with magnification hover effects — fixed to the bottom or side of the screen.
- Module icons are displayed in a horizontal dock strip
- Icons magnify on hover, showing the module name as a tooltip
- Provides the fastest access for power users who know their module icons
Top bar elements
Regardless of navigation mode, the top bar is always visible and contains:
| Element | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Project Selector | Left area | Switch between organization projects (context-sensitive) |
| Global Search | Center | Search across all modules, tasks, documents, and records |
| Quick Create | Center-right | Create new items (tasks, tickets, etc.) from anywhere |
| Calendar Events | Right area | Upcoming calendar events dropdown |
| Notification Bell | Right area | Real-time notifications with badge count |
| Check-In/Out | Right area | Attendance check-in/out button |
| Voice Assistant | Right area | AI voice assistant (uses LiveKit) |
| Settings Gear | Right area | Quick access to Organization Settings, Experience Manager, Billing |
| Help | Right area | Privacy policy and terms of service |
| Theme Switcher | Right area | Toggle between light, dark, and custom themes |
| User Avatar | Far right | Profile menu with logout, profile, and preferences |
Settings dropdown
The gear icon in the top bar opens a quick-access dropdown for settings pages. The items shown depend on your permissions:
| Item | Permission required |
|---|---|
| Organization Settings | Any org.config.* permission |
| Experience Manager | Storefront, marketing, or pages permissions |
| Accounts and Billing | org.config.billing.view |
| Leave & Holiday Config | Any org.lvhdcf.* permission |
| Additional settings modules | Module-specific .tmenu permissions |
Permission-based visibility
The navigation system filters items at multiple levels:
- Package filtering — Only modules included in your organization's subscription package appear
- Permission filtering — Within visible modules, only features your role grants access to are shown
- Super admin bypass — Super admins see all modules regardless of packages or role permissions
If a menu item is missing, it usually means your role lacks the required permission. Contact your organization admin or check Settings → Roles to review your assigned permissions.
Recent visits
The system tracks your recently visited pages. Access them via the clock icon in the top bar to quickly return to your last few destinations.
Background job indicator
When background jobs (exports, bulk operations, AI processing) are running, a subtle indicator appears in the top bar. Click it to see job progress.
Keyboard shortcuts
- / — Focus the global search bar
- Esc — Close any open dropdown, modal, or drawer
FAQs & troubleshooting
Q: I can't see any modules in the sidebar. A: Your account may not have a role assigned, or your organization's subscription may have expired. Contact your administrator.
Q: The sidebar is collapsed and I can't find the expand button. A: Look for the chevron icon at the top of the narrow sidebar strip, or hover over the left edge of the screen.
Q: I switched navigation modes but nothing changed. A: The preference is saved automatically. Try refreshing the page. If the issue persists, clear browser cache.