Okay, so you have installed SPS, successfully configured your workspace, and are now face to face with the dashboard portal. Even though the default dashboard site has a Microsoft look and feel, chances are it does not meet corporate guidelines for color scheme, font, and logo usage. One of the most satisfying parts of customizing your portal is seeing it transform to incorporate your own look and feel. In order to achieve this nirvana, you will have to perform a number of customizations. This chapter introduces you to the customization capabilities of SPS, and guides you through some of the more common customizations you are likely to encounter.

8.1 The importance of usability

Before we delve into the customization capabilities of SPS, we will visit the topic of usability. We are by no means experts on this subject, but feel that it is an extremely important aspect of any portal design. There are numerous sources of expert knowledge on usability available from such authors as Jakob Nielsen and Louis Rosenfield. We recommend that you take the time to research this subject because it will increase the acceptance and overall user satisfaction of your portal deployment.