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Course Catalog & Training Catalog: Choosing the Right Architecture
Before you create a catalog, answer these four questions
"We need a course catalog" sounds like a simple request—but it rarely is. Behind this question usually lie four independent architectural decisions: Who should be able to view the catalog? Does access require authorization? Is the content sold, or is it free? And are we dealing with structured courses or freely searchable knowledge resources?
This page organizes the four decisions and provides specific links to the corresponding SoftDeCC topic page for each one.
Public
E-commerce
Internal
for external partners
Definition
What is a course or training catalog?
A course catalog is a structured, searchable presentation of your entire training offering—courses, seminars, learning paths, and certification programs—all in one place, complete with descriptions, dates, and booking options. It thus serves as the central showcase through which training offerings are published and made discoverable to the respective target audience.
However, the technical and organizational structure of this showcase depends heavily on the specific use case: A public training provider needs a different setup than an internal compliance department. That is precisely why it’s worth considering the following four architectural questions before setting it up.
Types of Training Catalogs
Four Questions That Shape Catalog Architecture
The four questions should be answered independently of one another—for example, a catalog can be target-group-specific, subject to approval, and free of charge at the same time, or it can be public, freely bookable, and contain learning content that requires payment.
Who should see the catalog?
Publicly available on the Internet · Intranet only · Target-group-specific portal with its own branding
Do I need permission to enter?
Can be booked freely or requires approval (supervisor/budget)
Is the property for sale?
Free for internal use · Sold externally (subscription, one-time purchase, license)
Structured courses or open media offerings?
Course catalog with registration and certification · freely accessible video and podcast library requiring no registration
Added Value: Interfaces and Data Exchange
Typical Scenarios
| Scenario | Recommended Architecture |
|---|---|
| Mandatory internal training for all employees | Intranet portal, self-scheduling, free of charge, structured course catalog |
| Executive Development with Budget Responsibility | Target-group-specific portal, requires approval, free of charge |
| Public seminar offerings from a training academy | Publicly available online, open for registration, subject to a fee |
| Partner and Reseller Training | Target-Audience-Specific Portal (Extended Enterprise), requiring approval or freely accessible, with optional paid access (vouchers) |
| Supplementary explanatory videos and product information | Intranet or portal, freely accessible without authorization, free of charge, media library instead of a course catalog |
Checklist
Before You Start Creating Your Catalog
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Has it been determined which target groups should have access—internal, external, or both?
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Has a decision been made as to whether a class registration requires approval or not?
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Has it been decided whether the service will be sold or remain free?
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Is it clear whether this is a structured course catalog that requires proof of completion or freely accessible educational resources?
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Should different rules apply to different target groups or specific courses?
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Questions about course and training catalogs?
Contact us for a free consultation and discover how SoftDeCC manages access to your training offerings through granular role- and permission-based concepts
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Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Course Catalogs
What is the difference between a course catalog and a learning portal?
The course catalog is the searchable content (which courses are available). The learning portal is the access layer surrounding it—who sees which catalog, with what branding, and with what permissions.
Can a course catalog be both free and subject to approval?
Yes. Monetization and the requirement for approval are separate decisions—a free internal offering may still require approval from a supervisor, for example, due to capacity or budget constraints.
When should I use a media library instead of a course catalog?
When content does not need to be formally scheduled or tracked, but should be freely accessible—such as instructional videos or product information for customers and employees that can be accessed on the fly.
Is it possible to make a training catalog available publicly on the Internet and internally on the intranet at the same time?
Yes, through separate learning portals, each with its own branding and access rights—both of which access the same database.
