Scheduling Content with Goes Live Dates
Overview
The "Goes Live" feature allows you to prepare content in advance and schedule it to become visible to learners on a specific future date. Until that date arrives, the content remains hidden from users—giving you time to build, review, and perfect your learning materials before they're released.
This is particularly useful for coordinated launches, seasonal content, or when you need to align learning materials with business events or campaigns.
Functionality Breakdown
How Goes Live Works
When you set a "Goes Live" date on content:
The content remains hidden from learners until the specified date
On the scheduled date, the content automatically becomes visible according to its visibility settings
Admins and content creators can still view and edit the content before it goes live
Optional email notifications alert you when content goes live
Content Types That Support Goes Live
Content Type | Goes Live Supported |
|---|---|
Items | ✅ Yes |
Learnlists | ✅ Yes |
Events | ✅ Yes |
Channels | ❌ No |
What Happens on the Goes Live Date
At midnight (based on your platform's timezone) on the scheduled date:
The content's "active" status is updated automatically
The content becomes visible according to its visibility settings
If notifications are enabled, the content creator receives an email confirmation
The content appears in search results and on relevant pages
💡 Tip: The goes live date works alongside visibility settings. If content is set to "Hidden", it will remain hidden even after the goes live date. Ensure visibility is set to "Selected" or "Everyone" for the content to appear.
Pre-requisites
Before scheduling content to go live, ensure you have:
Edit access to the content you want to schedule
A clear publication date in mind
Your visibility settings configured for when the content goes live
Role Requirements
Action | Roles Required |
|---|---|
Set a Goes Live date | Owner, Admin, Learning Designer, Curator |
Edit scheduled content | Owner, Admin, Learning Designer, Curator |
Receive goes live notifications | Content creator (automatic) |
Quick Start Guide
Setting a Goes Live Date on an Item
From the sidebar, select Manage → Items
Find your Item and click to edit, or create a new one
Navigate to the Visibility settings section
Enable the Add a goes live date option
Select your target publication date using the date picker
Optionally enable Receive goes live email to get notified when the content becomes active
Save your changes
Setting a Goes Live Date on a Learnlist
From the sidebar, select Manage → Learnlists
Find your Learnlist and click to edit, or create a new one
Navigate to the Visibility section
Enable the Add a goes live date option
Select your target publication date
Optionally enable email notifications
Save your changes
Setting a Goes Live Date on an Event
From the sidebar, select Manage → Events
Find your Event and click to edit, or create a new one
Look for the Goes Live section in the form
Enable the goes live option and select your date
Configure notification preferences
Save your changes
Removing a Goes Live Date
Edit the content
Navigate to the Goes Live settings
Disable the goes live option or clear the date
Save your changes
The content will immediately become visible (according to its visibility settings) if the goes live option is removed.
FAQs
Q: What time does content go live on the scheduled date?
Content goes live at midnight based on your platform's configured timezone. The exact time may vary slightly as the system processes scheduled content.
Q: Can I set a goes live date in the past?
No. The goes live date must be in the future. If you need content to be visible immediately, simply don't set a goes live date and ensure visibility is configured appropriately.
Q: Does the goes live date affect assigned Tasks?
Users cannot access content that hasn't gone live yet, even if they have a Task assigned for it. Consider setting Task deadlines after the goes live date.
Q: Can I change the goes live date after setting it?
Yes. You can edit the goes live date at any time before the content goes live. Simply edit the content and update the date.
Q: What happens if I set both a goes live date and an expiry date?
The goes live date must be before the expiry date. Content will become visible on the goes live date and remain accessible until the expiry date.
Q: Can learners see that content is scheduled to go live?
No. Learners cannot see content that hasn't gone live yet. Only Admins, Learning Designers, and Curators can view and manage scheduled content.
Troubleshooting
Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
Content didn't go live on the scheduled date | Check the content's visibility settings—if set to "Hidden", it will remain hidden. Also verify the timezone settings for your platform. |
Can't set a goes live date | Ensure the date is in the future. If setting both goes live and expiry dates, the goes live date must come first. |
Users can access content before the goes live date | Verify the goes live option is enabled and the date is correctly set. Admins and Curators can always access content regardless of goes live status. |
Didn't receive the goes live notification | Check that email notifications are enabled for the content. Verify your email address is correct in your profile settings. |
Need to make content visible immediately | Edit the content, disable the goes live option, and save. The content will become visible according to its visibility settings. |
Last Reviewed: 27/11/2025