Closing Down A Pathable Event Site Follow

If your event has concluded, and you are ready to remove attendee access from your Pathable event site, there are multiple ways to proceed.

• Change the Event Site URL

• Remove Items from the Navigation Menu Bar

• Custom Permissions

• Additional Ways that Require Pathable Staff to Complete

Change the Event Site URL

The Benefit: This option forbids attendees to be able to log into the site, as the URL has changed.  As a result, the entire event site is unavailable.  Any bookmarks or old authentication links will be ineffective.

The Downside: When an attendee tries to access the site after changing the URL, they will see a page with the message ‘404 Not Found.’  They may interpret this as a personal error or an error by your event team.  Furthermore, if you don't change the URL enough, it's technically possible that a user may be able to guess the new URL, although unlikely.  Also, administrators that should still have access will need to be re-invited to the Host Tools Dashboard, since this method also invalidates their authentication links.

1. On the Host Tools Dashboard, navigate to Settings > Basics
2. Change the event site URL slightly. This could be adding a letter or another word to the URL.
3. Save.
4. Navigate to Dashboard > People and re-invite your administrators to your site. We recommend re-sending the Staff Invitation to them. This way, only your event administrators will have access to the site, since the URL was changed.

Remove Items from the Navigation Menu Bar

The Benefit: This option allows for attendees to still be able to log into the site, but they can only navigate to the menu options that are active.

The Downside: If you wanted to forbid all access, this isn't the right choice.  Also, there may be cross-links that become unavailable, leading to confusion by your attendees, so selecting elements to remove must be done carefully.  If links/ navigation are removed without warning or communication, attendees may be confused or surprised.

1.  On the Host Tools Dashboard, navigate to Content > Navigation > Desktop Header.  Here you will see all of the existing, visible menu options.
2. Select a menu option that you want to hide from attendees by clicking in the box, then uncheck the Show On options for Desktop and Mobile, and Save:

Note: If you choose this option, we recommend hiding all of the navigation menu except for the Home Page. You may also want to update your site's home page with messaging to explain the change in navigation.

Custom Permissions

The Benefit: You can set your permissions so attendees cannot see the attendee-facing site but administrators still have access. When trying to log in, attendees would see a page displaying the message ‘Sorry, you do not have permission to view this page.’

The Downside: Permissions must be managed carefully; not unlike the other options above, If links/ navigation are removed without warning or communication, attendees may be confused or surprised.

1. On the Host Tools Dashboard, navigate to Settings > Permissions > Manage the rules that govern the permissions system. Only for advanced community administrators.
2. Under Custom Permissions, select Pages from the dropdown menu
3. Set up your Pages permission to look like the below image and press the Save button.

Additional Ways that Require Pathable Staff to Complete

The Benefit: These options disable the attendee-facing event entirely, at the database level.  Your data will remain accessible on the Host Tools Dashboard.

The Downside: You'll need to contact your Implementation Specialist and wait for them to be able to complete the action; if you know this is an option you'd like to pursue, we recommend scheduling the expiration date early, during the planning phase.

Both of the options below require action from a Pathable staff member. Please contact your Implementation Specialist if you'd like either of these options.

1. Disable the Event: When done, this removes both event administrator and attendee access from the live site and the event dashboard.
   • When accessing the live site or the Host Tools Dashboard, the following 404 Error will be displayed:
   • 
2. Expire the Event: Administrators can still access the Host Tools Dashboard, but administrators and attendees cannot see the front end. This option is preferred.
   • When trying to access the live site, attendees see a page with the following message: ‘EVENT CONCLUDED: Access to this event has ended. If you would like more details, please contact the event host or support below.’