Things to keep in mind when planning and using Action Centres, plus recommendations for getting the most out of them.
Limitations & things to know
- Data Table multiplicity — a single profile can appear on multiple rows in a Data Table Action Centre. This is by design: data tables support a flexible number of entries per profile, and each entry becomes its own row.
- Financial Batch depends on setup — actual batch processing and exports depend on your configured payment providers and your integration capabilities. If you need to set this up, reach out via the Resource Centre for support.
- Website features require enablement — directory/website configuration only appears once Enable website configuration is toggled on, and only on List builder Action Centres.
- Live vs fixed behaviour — Live lists auto-update their membership as criteria-match changes; Fixed lists do not change unless the underlying list is edited. Choose deliberately so the table behaves the way you expect.
- Permissions gate editing — in-table editing requires both an editable field and Full or View & Edit permission. View Only users can search, filter, sort and export but cannot change records.
- Feature must be enabled first — Action Centres can only be created once Action Centre Management is turned on for the relevant user group.
Best practice
- Plan your areas and sections first. Group Action Centres by domain (finance, membership, cases) into areas, and use sections to cluster related views, so the sidebar stays navigable as you add more.
- Use default filters to build purpose-built views. Rather than one broad table, create focused Action Centres (for example "failed receipts — last year" or "open cases — my team") so each opens ready to act on.
- Pick the right list source. Use a Live list for views that should always reflect current membership, and a Fixed list when you need a stable working set that will not shift.
- Only make columns editable when needed. In the Columns step of a List builder Action Centre, tick Editable only for fields you genuinely want users updating in-table, to avoid accidental changes.
- Set permissions to match the audience. Give View Only to people who just need to read or export, and reserve Full / View & Edit for those who maintain the data.
- Export after filtering. Apply your filters before exporting so the CSV contains exactly the records you need.
- Lean on the Resource Centre for integrations. For payment-provider batches and Umbraco website directories, contact the Resource Centre for setup help.