Creating Users#

After setting up CODA and creating a superuser, you can add additional users who will be able to access and work with CODA. This guide explains how to create regular users through the administration interface.

Prerequisites

You must be logged in as a superuser to create new users. See the Installation guide for instructions on creating a superuser.

Accessing the User Management Interface#

  1. Navigate to the CODA administration by adding /admin/ to the url (e.g. https://www.my-coda-url.com/admin/)

  2. Log in to CODA using your superuser credentials

  3. You are redirected to the site administration of CODA

  4. In the administration panel, locate the “Users” section

  5. Click on “Users” to access the user management interface

Creating a New User#

To create a new user:

  1. Click the “Add user” button in the top-right corner of the Users list

  2. Fill in the required information:

    • Username: Choose a unique username for the new user

    • Email: Adding an Email address is optional

    • Password: Enter a secure password

    • Password confirmation: Re-enter the password to confirm

  3. Click “Save” to create the user

After saving, you’ll be taken to the detailed user edit page where you can configure additional settings.

Configuring User Permissions#

Once the basic user is created, you can configure additional details and permissions:

Personal Information#

  • First name: The user’s first name

  • Last name: The user’s last name

  • Email address: The user’s email address

Permissions#

Configure the user’s access level:

  • Active: This checkbox must be selected for the user to be able to log in

  • Staff status: Allows the user to access the admin interface

  • Superuser status: Gives the user all permissions without explicitly assigning them (use with caution)

Groups and Specific Permissions#

  • Groups: Assign the user to groups for easier permission management

  • User permissions: Assign specific permissions for fine-grained access control

Important

Currently, CODA provides basic group and user assignment functionality. While users can be organized into groups and permissions can be defined at a technical level, a comprehensive permission management system has not yet been fully designed or implemented. As a result, users effectively have unrestricted access within the application at this stage. A more meaningful user management will be part of future development.

Resetting User Passwords#

If a user forgets their password, a superuser can reset it:

  1. Go to the administration interface

  2. Navigate to Users

  3. Click on the user whose password needs to be reset

  4. In the Password section, click “reset password” to set a new password

  5. Enter the new password twice and click “change pasword”

Managing Existing Users#

You can modify existing users at any time:

  1. Access the administration interface

  2. Navigate to Users

  3. Click on the username you want to modify

  4. Make the necessary changes

  5. Click “Save” to apply the changes

Deactivating Users#

Instead of deleting users, it’s recommended to deactivate them:

  1. Open the user’s profile in the administration interface

  2. Uncheck the “Active” checkbox

  3. Save the changes

This preserves the user’s history and associated data while preventing them from logging in.