Holographic Training LMS Core Wiki
This guide is for administrators using HT-LMS. It explains what each HT-LMS dashboard area does, when to use it, and how to fix the most common setup and course-building problems.
HT-LMS is organised around a simple course structure: Course → Module → Lesson → Quiz. Create the course first, add modules inside the course, add lessons inside each module, then attach quizzes to lessons where you want a knowledge check.
Use the contents below to jump to the area you need help with.
HT-LMS Help Contents
Useful starting point: if you are setting up a new HT-LMS site, build in this order: Courses, Modules, Lessons, Quizzes, Page Setup, HT-LMS Settings, then test everything with a learner account.
Courses
A course is the main container for training. Modules and lessons sit inside a course. A learner is normally granted access to the course, then works through the modules and lessons inside it.
Course List
The Courses screen lists the course title, slug, published status and available actions. The main actions are:
- Edit Content – opens the linked WordPress/page-builder content for the course page.
- Settings – edits LMS course settings such as title, slug, progression and published status.
- Tools – opens Course Tools for duplicate, template, backup, archive, map and export actions.
- Preview – opens the course front-end view.
- Delete – opens course deletion confirmation.
Add Course / Course Settings
The course settings form controls the LMS record for the course. It is different from the page-builder content editor.
| Field | What It Does | Best Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Title | The course name shown to admins and learners. | Use a clear, human-readable title. Avoid internal code names. |
| Slug | The URL-friendly identifier for the course. | Keep it short, lowercase and descriptive. Do not change it after launch unless you understand the URL impact. |
| Short Description | A brief summary shown in course listings or front-end course views. | Use this to explain who the course is for and what the learner will gain. |
| Progression | Controls how learners move through the course. | Use Strict for ordered learning. Use Free Navigation when learners may jump between lessons. |
| Published | Controls whether the course is available to learners. | Keep unpublished while building. Publish only after modules, lessons and pages are ready. |
| Hide From Course List | Removes the course from public course listings while keeping it available by direct access where applicable. | Use for private/internal courses or test courses that should not appear in the catalogue. |
Strict Progression Versus Free Navigation
Strict means the course is intended to be completed in order. This is the safer option for structured training because the learner follows the sequence you created.
Free Navigation allows a less restricted learning experience. Use it for reference libraries, optional learning resources, knowledge bases or short awareness courses where learners do not need to complete one lesson before viewing another.
Edit Course Content
HT-LMS creates or links a WordPress content page for each course. Use Edit Course Content to design the course’s front-end content with the WordPress editor or your page builder. Use this area for visible course copy, images, introduction text, layout and supporting content. Use the LMS settings form for structured LMS data such as progression and published status.
Learner Data Cleanup
On an existing course, HT-LMS includes learner data cleanup actions:
- Remove Course Access Records – removes learner access records for this course.
- Remove Course Progress Records – removes progress records for this course.
These tools are useful when deleting test data before launch. Do not use them casually on a live course, because they may remove records that learners or administrators expect to remain available.
Delete Course
Deleting a course opens a confirmation screen that shows how many modules, lessons and quizzes are linked to the course. HT-LMS asks whether to delete the course’s modules, lessons and quizzes as well. Review this carefully. If the course is live, consider archiving it in Course Tools instead of deleting it.
Back to topModules
A module is a section inside a course. Modules keep lessons organised and make long courses easier for learners to follow.
Module List
The Modules screen shows each module’s title, order, published status and actions. The actions are similar to Courses:
- Edit Content – opens the linked page-builder content for the module.
- Settings – edits module LMS settings.
- Preview – opens the module front-end view.
- Delete – deletes the module after confirmation.
Add Module / Module Settings
| Field | What It Does | Best Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Course | Assigns the module to a course. | Always choose the correct course. A module without a course will not sit correctly in the learner journey. |
| Title | The module name shown to admins and learners. | Use a clear section title, such as “Module 1: Introduction” or “Payment Fraud Warning Signs”. |
| Slug | The URL-friendly module identifier. | Keep it stable after launch to avoid confusing URLs. |
| Short Description | A short module summary. | Explain the purpose of the module in one or two sentences. |
| Order | Controls the module’s position inside the course. | Use numbers with gaps, such as 10, 20, 30, so you can insert modules later. |
| Published | Controls whether the module is available. | Do not publish until the lessons inside the module are ready. |
Module Content
Like courses, modules can have linked editable WordPress content. This is useful for module introductions, learning outcomes, instructions or a summary page before the learner starts the lessons.
Deleting Modules
Deleting a module should be done carefully. Check whether lessons are attached to the module first. If you want to reorganise a course, it is normally safer to move lessons or unpublish the module rather than delete content immediately.
Back to topLessons
Lessons are where the learner consumes the actual training content. A lesson belongs to a module, and a module belongs to a course. HT-LMS groups the Lessons list by course and module so you can see the course structure more clearly.
Lesson List
The Lessons screen shows title, module, order, published status and actions. The action links are:
- Edit Content – opens the linked lesson content page for editing.
- Settings – edits the lesson’s LMS settings.
- Quiz – opens the quiz screen for that lesson.
- Preview – opens the lesson front-end view.
- Delete – deletes the lesson after confirmation.
Add Lesson / Lesson Settings
| Field | What It Does | Best Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Module | Assigns the lesson to a module. | Always assign a lesson to the correct module before publishing. |
| Title | The lesson name shown to admins and learners. | Use a direct title that explains what the lesson teaches. |
| Slug | The URL-friendly lesson identifier. | Keep slugs readable and stable after launch. |
| Order | Controls the lesson’s position inside its module. | Use spaced numbers such as 10, 20, 30 so later insertions are easy. |
| Published | Controls whether learners can access the lesson. | Leave unpublished until the lesson content and quiz are ready. |
| Lesson Quiz | Shows whether the lesson has a quiz and links to add/edit it. | Add a quiz if you want a knowledge check at the end of the lesson. |
Editing Lesson Content
Use Edit Content to design the lesson page. This is where you add text, images, video embeds, downloads, examples, scenarios or instructions. HT-LMS supports page-builder editable lesson content, so you can use a builder layout for the learner-facing content while keeping LMS settings separate.
Lesson Quiz Link
The Lesson Settings screen includes a link to add or edit the quiz for that lesson. A quiz belongs to a lesson. If you delete the lesson, its linked quiz and quiz-related learner records may also be deleted depending on the deletion path.
Deleting Lessons
Lesson deletion is destructive. The confirmation warns that deleting a lesson can also permanently delete its quiz, quiz answers, quiz attempts and learner progress for that lesson. For live courses, unpublish the lesson first if you are not sure.
Back to topQuizzes
HT-LMS quizzes are basic multiple-choice lesson quizzes. They are intended for knowledge checks and simple progression support. They are not the same as Pro assessments, tutor-marked work or final exams.
Quiz List
The Quizzes screen lists lessons and shows whether each lesson has a quiz. Use Add Quiz for lessons without a quiz and Edit Quiz for lessons that already have one.
Quiz Settings
| Field | What It Does | Best Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Quiz Title | The quiz name shown to admins and learners. | Use the lesson name plus “Quiz” or “Knowledge Check”. |
| Pass Mark | The percentage required to pass. | Use a realistic pass mark. For awareness checks, 70–80% is common. |
| Published | Controls whether the quiz is active. | Publish only after all questions and answers have been checked. |
| Questions | Up to 15 multiple-choice questions. | Leave unused question boxes empty. Write clear questions and avoid trick wording. |
| Answers | The answer options for each question. | Mark one correct answer and make the distractors plausible. |
Question Limit
HT-LMS allows up to 15 multiple-choice questions per lesson quiz. Unused question boxes can be left empty. Keep HT-LMS quizzes focused on checking the lesson’s main learning points rather than turning the quiz into a full formal assessment.
Writing Good Quiz Questions
- Ask about the lesson content, not unrelated course administration.
- Make all answer options plausible.
- Avoid making the correct answer obviously longer or more detailed every time.
- Check the selected correct answer before publishing.
- Preview the learner flow after saving.
Quiz Troubleshooting
If a learner cannot access a quiz, check that the learner is logged in, their email is verified, the lesson is published, the quiz is published, and the required front-end quiz page exists. Also check that the lesson is attached to a module and the module is attached to the correct course.
Back to topImport / Export
The Import / Export screen moves complete course packages between sites. It is designed for course structure and content transfer, not learner record transfer.
Import Course Package
Use this to upload a course package file. HT-LMS validates the package first and shows an import preview before creating the course. The preview includes package information such as course title, slug, package schema, export date, modules, lessons, quizzes, attached files and page-builder content pages.
Import Preview
The preview step is important. Check the course title, slug, module count, lesson count and quiz count before importing. If the package contains page-builder content pages, confirm that the receiving site has the necessary page builder or compatible editor setup.
Export Course Package
Use export when you want to move a course to another site, keep a course package copy, or prepare course content for reuse. The export package contains the course structure and course content. Learner accounts, learner progress and private training records stay on the original site.
Important Notes Before Importing
- Live learner accounts stay on the original site.
- Learner progress records stay on the original site.
- Payment records stay on the original site.
- Use a full site backup when you need to preserve the whole WordPress installation.
- For third-party page-builder widgets, make sure the destination site uses the same builder setup and supporting plugins.
Best practice: import course packages on a staging site first when moving an important course between live websites.
Course Tools
Course Tools contains maintenance, reuse, readiness and export tools for existing courses. Select a course from the dropdown first, then use the available actions for that course.
Selected Course
The selected course controls which course the tools act on. Always check the selected course before duplicating, exporting, archiving or downloading backups.
Course Template, Duplicate, Backup And Archive
| Tool | What It Does | When To Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate Course | Creates a copy of the selected course structure. | Use when creating a new course based on an existing course. |
| Export Basic Template | Exports a lightweight course template. | Use when you want to reuse a course layout or structure. |
| Download Backup | Downloads a course backup archive. | Use before major editing or as a safety copy. |
| Archive Course | Marks a course as archived rather than actively used. | Use when a course is no longer current but you do not want to delete it. |
| Restore From Archive | Restores an archived course. | Use when an archived course needs to become available again. |
Import Basic Course Template
This imports a basic course template. It is useful for rebuilding common structures without importing a full package. Use full Import / Export for complete course packages.
Restore Course Backup
Restore Course Backup uploads a backup file and recreates the saved course structure. Use this carefully and test on staging first if the course is important.
Course Structure Visual Map
The visual map shows the selected course’s modules, lessons and quiz links. Use this to confirm that the course structure makes sense before launch. It is also useful for spotting missing lessons or modules in the wrong order.
Broken Lesson / Module Link Checker
The link checker looks for broken course, module, lesson or quiz relationships. It helps identify records that point to missing parent items. Run this after importing courses, deleting content, reorganising modules or restoring from backup.
LMS Readiness Checklist
The readiness checklist shows whether important setup items appear to be complete. Use it before launch. A course may be technically saved but still not ready for learners if pages are missing, content is unpublished or required shortcodes are not present.
Basic CSV Exports
HT-LMS includes basic CSV exports for learner rows and course completion rows. These are intended for simple admin review and spreadsheet checks. Advanced reporting, scheduled reports and audit export packs are paid-version features.
Back to topLearners
The Learners screen manages plugin learner accounts. These accounts are separate from WordPress users. Learners log in through the front-end learner login page, not through /wp-admin.
Add Learner
The Add Learner form lets an administrator create a learner manually. It includes:
- First name – the learner’s given name.
- Last name – the learner’s family name.
- Email – the learner’s login identity and email destination.
- Password setup – HT-LMS sends a one-time password setup email to the learner.
Use manual learner creation when you are enrolling learners yourself, creating test accounts, or supporting a learner who cannot register normally. Do not create a WordPress user account for the learner unless they also need access to the WordPress admin area for another reason.
Learner Table
The Learner table shows each learner’s name, email, verification status, account status, last login and course access. The table helps you answer common support questions such as “has this learner verified their email?”, “does this learner have access to the course?” and “has this learner logged in yet?”.
Grant Course Access
In HT-LMS, course access is granted manually. To give a learner access to a course, use Grant Course Access on the Learners screen. Select the course and grant it to the learner. The learner should then see the course in their dashboard after logging in and verifying their email.
Revoke Course Access
Use Revoke next to a course when a learner should no longer access that course. This removes the access entitlement. It does not automatically delete all progress records unless you use the separate clear progress action.
Learner Actions
| Action | What It Does | When To Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Send Password Email | Sends the learner a password setup email. | Use when a learner has not completed password setup or cannot find the original email. |
| Resend Verification | Sends another learner email verification message. | Use when the learner registered but has not verified their email address. |
| Deactivate | Disables the learner and ends active sessions. | Use when a learner should temporarily lose access without deleting records. |
| Activate | Re-enables a deactivated learner account. | Use when a learner should be allowed back in. |
| Revoke All Access | Removes all course access for that learner. | Use when the learner should no longer access any courses. |
| Clear Progress | Deletes progress and quiz-attempt records for the learner. | Use carefully when resetting a test learner or correcting a setup mistake. |
| Delete Learner | Deletes the learner account. | Use only when the account is no longer needed. Check whether training records should be retained first. |
Be careful with destructive actions. Clearing progress and deleting learners can remove records that may be needed later. For live training sites, check your organisation’s record-retention requirement before using these actions.
Setup
The Setup screen is a hub that links to the most important configuration areas: Page Setup, HT-LMS Settings and System Health. Use Setup immediately after activating HT-LMS and again whenever you are diagnosing front-end page or configuration problems.
Setup Links
- Page Setup – creates and checks required front-end shortcode pages.
- HT-LMS Settings – controls basic LMS settings.
- System Health – checks runtime versions and required database tables.
If a learner-facing screen is missing, broken or showing only a shortcode, start with Page Setup. If styling or privacy/session behaviour is wrong, start with HT-LMS Settings. If the plugin appears partly installed or database records are missing, start with System Health.
Back to topPage Setup
Page Setup creates the required front-end pages that display LMS shortcodes. These pages are essential because learners interact with HT-LMS through front-end pages, not through the WordPress admin area.
Required HT-LMS Pages
| Page | Shortcode | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Learner Register | [hotlms_register] | Displays the learner registration form. |
| Learner Login | [hotlms_login] | Displays the learner login form. |
| Verify Learner Email | [hotlms_verify_email] | Handles learner email verification links. |
| Forgot Password | [hotlms_forgot_password] | Lets learners request a password reset. |
| Reset Password | [hotlms_reset_password] | Lets learners set a new password from a reset link. |
| Learner Dashboard | [hotlms_dashboard] | Shows the learner’s course access and progress. |
| Courses | [hotlms_course_list] | Shows the public course list. |
| Course | [hotlms_course] | Displays a single course based on the course query parameter. |
| Module | [hotlms_module] | Displays a single module based on the module query parameter. |
| Lesson | [hotlms_lesson] | Displays a single lesson based on the lesson query parameter. |
| Quiz | [hotlms_quiz] | Displays the lesson quiz screen. |
Status Column
The Page Setup table shows whether each required page is Created or Missing. If a page is missing, use Create Page. If a page exists, use Edit Page to view or adjust it.
When To Recreate Pages
You may need to recreate pages if they were deleted, if the shortcode was removed, or if a staging/live migration lost page associations. Recreating a page is usually safer than manually guessing page setup, but check for duplicate pages afterwards.
Permalinks After Setup
After creating required pages, save WordPress permalinks from Settings → Permalinks. You do not usually need to change the permalink structure; simply saving the settings can refresh rewrite rules.
Back to topHT-LMS Settings
HT-LMS Settings controls site-level LMS behaviour. These settings affect learner-facing styling, privacy erasure behaviour, learner sessions and uninstall cleanup.
| Setting | What It Does | Recommended Use |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Colour | Sets the main LMS colour used in front-end LMS styling. | Use a brand colour with strong contrast. |
| Accent Colour | Sets the secondary LMS colour used for highlights and accents. | Use a supporting colour that works with the primary colour. |
| Privacy Erasure Mode | Controls what happens when learner erasure is requested. | Choose the mode that matches your training record policy. |
| Anonymise Learner Account And Retain Training Records | Removes personal identity from the learner account while keeping training records. | Use when training records must be retained for operational, legal or compliance reasons. |
| Delete Learner Account And All Linked Training Records | Deletes the learner and linked training records. | Use only when complete deletion is appropriate and allowed by your record policy. |
| Learner Sessions | Can end a learner’s existing sessions when they log in from a new browser. | Enable for tighter account control. Disable only if learners legitimately need several active sessions. |
| Uninstall Data Removal | Deletes Holographic Training LMS tables and settings when the plugin is uninstalled. | Leave disabled on live sites unless you are certain you want all plugin data removed during uninstall. |
Uninstall warning: “Uninstall data removal” is destructive. If enabled and the plugin is uninstalled, HT-LMS data may be removed. Keep a backup before enabling this on any live or production site.
System Health
System Health checks whether the basic environment and required HT-LMS database tables are present. It is a diagnostic screen, not a course-building screen.
Checks Shown
- WordPress Version – confirms the WordPress version running the site.
- PHP Version – confirms the PHP version running the site.
- Database Tables – checks that required HT-LMS tables are present.
When To Use System Health
- After activating HT-LMS for the first time.
- After updating HT-LMS.
- After moving the site to new hosting.
- When pages load but learner/course data appears missing.
- When a support request mentions missing tables, failed activation or incomplete setup.
If A Table Is Missing
If System Health reports a missing table, first make a full site backup. Then deactivate and reactivate the plugin on a staging site if possible. If the table still does not appear, collect the WordPress version, PHP version, plugin version and any PHP/database error logs before opening a support request.
Back to topDashboard
The HT-LMS Dashboard gives you quick access to the main setup and course-management areas. It shows a suggested build order and links to Courses, Modules, Lessons, Quizzes, Import / Export, Learners and Setup. Use the course, module and lesson content editors when you are ready to write or design learner-facing content.
Quick Start Guide
The Quick Start Guide shows the safest order for building a course:
- Create your course. This creates the main course container.
- Add a module. This gives the course a section structure.
- Add a lesson. This creates the actual teaching item and its editable content page.
- Optional: attach a quiz. This adds a multiple-choice knowledge check to the lesson.
Dashboard Cards
The dashboard cards are shortcuts. Use them to jump into the correct admin area for the job you are trying to complete. If an admin user cannot see a card, check that the user has the correct WordPress capability for that LMS area.
Version Information
The dashboard may show links to Professional and Corporate information. These links are separate from the HT-LMS setup tools. Continue using the HT-LMS dashboard cards when you are setting up courses, learners, pages and diagnostics.
Back to topFront-End Pages And Shortcodes
HT-LMS uses shortcodes to place learner-facing LMS screens on WordPress pages. Page Setup creates the required pages automatically, but you can also add shortcodes manually if needed.
| Shortcode | What It Displays | Notes |
|---|---|---|
[hotlms_register] | Learner registration form. | Used for front-end learner sign-up. |
[hotlms_verify_email] | Email verification handler. | Required for verification links to work. |
[hotlms_login] | Learner login form. | Separate from WordPress admin login. |
[hotlms_logout] | Learner logout link. | Can be used inside learner-facing areas. |
[hotlms_forgot_password] | Forgot password form. | Used when learners need a reset email. |
[hotlms_reset_password] | Reset password form. | Used from password reset links. |
[hotlms_dashboard] | Learner dashboard. | Shows course access and progress for logged-in learners. |
[hotlms_course_list] | Course list. | Shows published courses unless hidden from listing. |
[hotlms_course_catalogue] | Course catalogue block. | Useful for broader catalogue layouts. |
[hotlms_course_search] | Course search/filter screen. | Supports a limit attribute for number of courses shown. |
[hotlms_course] | Single course view. | Normally used on the Course page created by Page Setup. |
[hotlms_module] | Single module view. | Normally used on the Module page created by Page Setup. |
[hotlms_lesson] | Single lesson view. | Normally used on the Lesson page created by Page Setup. |
[hotlms_quiz] | Lesson quiz screen. | Displays the quiz for the current lesson query parameter. |
[hotlms_next_lesson] | Next lesson navigation. | Can be used in lesson layouts where next-lesson guidance is needed. |
[hotlms_continue_learning] | Continue learning block. | Helps logged-in learners return to their current place. |
[hotlms_progress] | Progress bar. | Supports scope and id attributes, for example course progress. |
Manual Shortcode Use
Manual shortcode placement is useful for custom page layouts, but avoid deleting the required shortcode from system pages. If a required page no longer contains its shortcode, HT-LMS may not be able to route learners correctly.
Common Shortcode Mistakes
- Putting a course shortcode on the learner dashboard page.
- Deleting the verification shortcode from the email verification page.
- Using WordPress user login instead of the learner login shortcode.
- Creating duplicate pages and not knowing which one HT-LMS is using.
- Changing a page URL and not checking the front-end learner flow afterwards.
Recommended Workflow For Building A HT-LMS Course
The safest way to build a HT-LMS course is to work in structure-first order, then content, then learner testing.
- Run Page Setup. Create all required front-end pages.
- Save WordPress permalinks. Refresh URL routing after the pages are created.
- Check HT-LMS Settings. Confirm colours, session behaviour, privacy mode and uninstall behaviour.
- Create the course. Add title, slug, short description, progression mode and keep unpublished while building.
- Create modules. Add each course section in the correct order.
- Create lessons. Add lessons inside the correct modules and set their order.
- Edit content pages. Use the WordPress editor or page builder to add course, module and lesson content.
- Add quizzes. Attach lesson quizzes where needed and set pass marks.
- Run Course Tools checks. Use the visual map, broken link checker and readiness checklist.
- Create a test learner. Use a real email address you can access.
- Grant course access. Give the test learner access from the Learners screen.
- Test the learner journey. Register, verify email, log in, open dashboard, enter course, complete lessons and take quizzes.
- Publish the course. Only publish when the full journey works.
Common Problems And Fixes
The learner cannot log in
- Check that the learner is using the learner login page, not WordPress admin login.
- Check that the learner account exists under HT-LMS → Learners.
- Check that the learner has verified their email.
- Use Send Password Email if the learner has not set a password.
- Use Resend Verification if the learner did not receive the verification email.
The learner can log in but cannot see the course
- Check that the course is published.
- Check that the learner has been granted course access.
- Check that the learner’s email is verified.
- Check that the course is not only visible through a hidden/direct route you are not using.
The course appears but modules or lessons are missing
- Check that modules are assigned to the correct course.
- Check that lessons are assigned to the correct module.
- Check that the modules and lessons are published.
- Use Course Tools → Course Structure Visual Map to inspect the structure.
- Use Course Tools → Broken Lesson / Module Link Checker.
The shortcode shows as text on the page
- Check that HT-LMS is active.
- Check that the shortcode has been typed correctly.
- Check that the shortcode is placed in a normal WordPress page or Elementor HTML/shortcode area that executes shortcodes.
- Use Page Setup to recreate the required page if the shortcode has been removed.
The quiz is missing
- Check that the lesson has a quiz attached.
- Check that the quiz is published.
- Check that the Quiz page exists and contains
[hotlms_quiz]. - Check that the learner is logged in and email verified.
Progress is not updating
- Check that the learner is logged in as a learner.
- Check that the lesson and quiz are accessed through HT-LMS front-end pages, not only admin preview links.
- Check that the required shortcode pages exist.
- Check that the learner has course access.
- Use Learners → Clear Progress only if you deliberately want to reset a learner’s records.
Imported course content does not look right
- Check whether the source course used a page builder or plugin that is not installed on the destination site.
- Check imported course, module and lesson pages in the WordPress editor or page builder.
- Run the Course Structure Visual Map to confirm structure imported correctly.
- Import on staging first for important courses.
System Health reports missing tables
- Take a backup before attempting repair.
- Check that the plugin is active.
- Check WordPress and PHP versions.
- Deactivate and reactivate on a staging site if possible.
- Collect error logs before raising a support ticket.
Before opening a support ticket: include the HT-LMS plugin version, WordPress version, PHP version, affected page URL, exact steps to reproduce the issue, screenshots if useful, and any visible error message. Do not include passwords, licence keys or sensitive login details.