# Focus spaces — Academium SMS

[View the HTML page](https://academium.com.ng/sms/features/focus-spaces/)

> Narrow the SMS sidebar to academics, people, finance, operations or system, so only the part of the school you are working on is in view.

Focus spaces

## Only the part of school you are working on.

SMS covers a whole school, so its sidebar is long. Choose a focus space above it and the menu narrows to one area. Choose All Modules to see everything again.

[Download to get started](https://academium.com.ng/downloads?product=sms) [All SMS features](https://academium.com.ng/sms/features)

Choosing a focus space narrows the sidebar to one category. The dashboard always stays. Example menu items.

Five spaces

## Academics, people, finance, operations, system.

Every section of the sidebar belongs to one space. A bursar can stay in Finance all day; an exams officer in Academics.

-   **Academics** Front desk, attendance, academics such as classes, subjects and timetables, and the exam centre.
    
-   **People** Students, parents, employees, human resources including payroll and leave, and alumni.
    
-   **Finance** Student accounting, transportation, hostel and boarding, and school accounting.
    
-   **Operations** The school gallery, holidays and events, extracurricular activities, sales and inventory, printables and reports.
    
-   **System** Devices and access, subscription, school branches and school settings.
    

The six choices and the sidebar sections in each.

Always there

## The dashboard never disappears.

The dashboard belongs to no space, so it stays at the top whichever space you choose. A space only shows the sections your role can open, so two colleagues in Finance may see different lists.

-   **Nothing is out of reach.** A focus space only narrows the sidebar. Search still finds pages in every area.
    

An example with two fictional roles: each sees only the sections it allows.

With your arrangement

## Works with the menu you arranged.

A focus space narrows your own sidebar arrangement, in your order. Items you hid stay hidden in every space.

-   **Arrange one space at a time.** Rearrange the sidebar while a space is chosen to see exactly what it holds. Your order is saved against the whole menu, so it stays right when you go back to All Modules.
    

An example sidebar narrowed to Finance.

FAQs

## Focus spaces questions

Using focus spaces in SMS.

[Still have a question?](https://academium.com.ng/main/page-contact)

### Does a focus space change what I can open?

No. It only narrows the sidebar. Your role still decides what you can open, and search still finds pages in other areas.

### Where is the focus space control?

At the top of the sidebar, showing “All Modules” until you choose a space.

## Focus on one part of your school.

Download Academium SMS and set up your school, try a demo, or start in free mode.

[Download to get started](https://academium.com.ng/downloads?product=sms) [Explore other features](https://academium.com.ng/sms/features)