Skip to main content

Creating your SSO

Create the SSO

PickAtime can link directly from the Blackbaud Resource Board to your Parent-Teacher Conference event via Single Sign-On. (For help building a Resource Board, see Blackbaud's Resource Board help file.)

Choose your path:

  • New schools (no existing pickAtime/Blackbaud integration) — follow Part 1 and Part 2A below.
  • Current schools (already integrated, updating your SSO link) — follow Part 1 and Part 2B below.

Part 1: Establish the SSO Connection Between Blackbaud and pickAtime

(This part is identical whether you're setting up SSO for the first time or updating an existing connection.)

This requires copying a Redirect URL from pickAtime into Blackbaud, then copying a Secret Key from Blackbaud back into pickAtime. You'll need to be logged into both accounts to copy/paste between them.

  1. Log into pickAtime, go to Global Setup / Business / Show Advanced Options, and under Single Sign On Options, select Blackbaud as your SSO Provider.
  2. Copy the Redirect URL shown — you'll need it in step 4.
  3. In Blackbaud (as a Platform Manager), go to Core / Security / Authentication Settings / SSO Settings.
  4. Click Add New.
  5. Enter a Name for your SSO — saving will auto-generate a Slug based on this name.
  6. Paste your Redirect URL (from step 2) into the appropriate field.
  7. Be sure to include the {token} placeholder, with the curly braces.
  8. Check Allow Impersonation.
  9. Click Save.
  10. Edit the item you just created, then select and copy the Secret Key.
  11. Return to pickAtime, go to Global Setup / Business / Show Advanced Options, and paste the Secret Key into the SSO Secret Key field.

💡 Tip: The Secret Key is 88 characters — longer than the visible field. Triple-click the text field to select the entire string.

You've now connected Blackbaud and pickAtime. Next, you'll need a Blackbaud Resource Board tile that points to pickAtime — see Part 2 below.

Part 2A: Add the SSO Link to a Resource Board (New Schools)

📺 Watch our video: Setting Up Your School's Single Sign-On

  1. From SSO Settings, copy the URL next to the SSO item you just created.
  2. As a Platform Manager or Content Editor, go to Core / Content / Additional Content Types / Links.
  3. Click Add New Category, and name it.
  4. Click Save & Add Link.
  5. Enter a Title.
  6. In the URL field, combine your school's app URL with the SSO segment from step 1, replacing the slug: https://SCHOOLNAME.myschoolapp.com/app/sso/auth/SLUG
  7. Click Save.
  8. Go to Core / Content / Resource Boards.
  9. Next to View Boards, choose the relevant role/security group (e.g., Parent).
  10. Click Add Post.
  11. Enter a Title, Description, and Cover Photo.
  12. For Post Cover, select Direct Link.
  13. Select the Category you created earlier.
  14. Select your Link (the SSO link from step 6).
  15. Click Save.

Part 2B: Update Your Resource Board (Current Schools)

📺 Watch our video: Setting Up Your School's Single Sign-On

  1. From SSO Settings, copy the URL next to the SSO item you just created.
  2. As a Platform Manager or Content Editor, go to Core / Content / Additional Content Types / Links.
  3. Locate and click your existing pickAtime link.
  4. Click the edit icon, locate the link destination, and click Change.
  5. Select Link / URL.
  6. In the URL field, combine your school's app URL with the SSO segment from step 1, replacing the slug: https://SCHOOLNAME.myschoolapp.com/app/sso/auth/SLUG
  7. Click Save.

Testing Your SSO

  1. Go to Security / Authentication Settings / SSO Settings, and edit your SSO link to confirm Allow Impersonation is enabled.
  2. Under your profile menu, select Impersonate User.
  3. Find a user to impersonate. (Make sure this user also exists in pickAtime — Blackbaud User IDs determine the user's role in pickAtime.)
  4. While impersonating, go to that user's Resource Board.
  5. Click the pickAtime link to confirm it opens the event correctly.

Notes

    • The relevant board(s) must be selected for the SSO link post to appear under the Resources tab.
    • When manually adding users to pickAtime, you'll need their First/Last Name, Email, and their Teacher ID or Parent ID.
    • For more on Blackbaud SSO, see Blackbaud's SSO Tutorial.
Back to top