Configure a Skillsoft Web Catalog

In order to offer Skillsoft training through the LMS, the content must be imported.  Generally, Skillsoft clients subscribe to thousands of courses, so it is not practical to import course data manually.  Instead, Skillsoft uses a service framework called Open Learning Services Architecture (OLSA) to share he catalog and course information with the LMS. 

Web catalogs are synchronized with the third-party catalogs to ensure that they are always up-to-date. You can allow the content to be included in the Catalog Search results. Like regular LMS catalogs, Web Catalogs have access permissions to specify who can view them and edit them.

Please note that Web Catalogs are available in the Learning and eLearning licenses only.  For additional information, please contact your PeopleFluent representative.

Prerequisite: You will need the Skillsoft URL, Customer ID and Shared Secret in order to perform this task.  Have this information handy.

To import learning content into web catalogs, your user role must have unrestricted access to the Content Package, AICC Course Structure, Resource, Web Catalogs and PENS Import feature in System Roles (Manage Features > Catalog Manager Features).

Add a Skillsoft Web Catalog

To add a Skillsoft Web Catalog

  1. Go to Manage Center > Learning > Catalog General Settings > Web Catalogs. 
  2. Click + Add Skillsoft Web catalog. 
  3. In the Name field, enter the name for the Skillsoft catalog.  This is the name learners will see in the Catalog Browser and Catalog Search results.
  4. In the Endpoint field, enter the URL of the Skillsoft server providing the catalog information.
  5. In the Customer ID field, enter your Skillsoft customer ID.
  6. In the Shared Secret field, enter the shared secret provided by Skillsoft for your organization's account.
  7. Select the Include OLSA Search and Learn categories in Universal Search check box if you want to include additional Skillsoft course information in standard searches.
  8. Configure where newly downloaded courses will be saved after synchronization with Skillsoft:
  • The Skillsoft-defined catalog hierarchy to be placed under this parent catalog - choose this option assign downloaded courses to the Skillsoft-defined catalog structure and locate it under a specific parent catalog in the LMS.  Click Select catalog to select the parent catalog.
  • This specific catalog - choose this option to assign the downloaded courses to a specific parent catalog in the LMS, disregarding the catalog structure specified by Skillsoft.  Click Select catalog to choose the appropriate catalog.
  1. The Catalog synchronization handling for existing courses options specify how course updates for existing Skillsoft courses are assigned to catalogs in the LMS.  Select one of the following options:
  • Preserve existing catalog assignments - Skillsoft courses downloaded with the same course ID as an existing course are assigned to the same catalog they are currently or previously assigned to in the LMS.
  • Add the catalog assignment defined above to existing assignments - Downloaded courses are assigned to LMS catalogs using the catalog assignment handling configured above for new courses, in addition to any current catalog assignments. This option preserves existing catalog assignments and assigns the downloaded courses to catalogs using the option specified for assigning new courses.
  1. Click Save. The new Web Catalog is added to the Web Catalogs page. 

Set Permissions for the Skillsoft Catalog

To set permissions for the Skillsoft catalog:

  1. Go to Manage Center > Learning > Catalog General Settings > Web Catalogs and locate the appropriate catalog.
  2. Click on the action menu and select Permissions. 
  3. Configure the permissions as required.

Refresh a Catalog

Refreshing a Web Catalog keeps the courses registered in the LMS synchronized with courses hosted by the third-party course suppliers.  For Skillsoft, the catalogs are updated according to their synchronization settings.  

When the catalog update is complete, the Last Update column on the Web Catalogs list page is refreshed to reflect the date.

To refresh a Skillsoft catalog

  1. Go to Manage Center > Learning > Catalog General Settings > Web Catalogs and locate the appropriate catalog.
  2. Click the action menu and select Refresh.  Alternatively, click Refresh All at the top of the screen to refresh all of the Web Catalogs.

Delete a Catalog

When you delete a Web Catalog, you can choose to delete all courses and training records associated with it. 

To delete a Skillsoft catalog

  1. Go to Manage Center > Learning > Catalog General Settings > Web Catalogs and locate the appropriate catalog.
  2. Click the action menu and select Delete. 
  3. Select the check box if you also want to delete all courses and training records associated with the catalog.
  4. Click OK.