> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.deandesk.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Platforms and school setup > Create schools, review each platform, edit configuration, and enter its Admin Dashboard. > [!NOTE] > > This guide covers **institution-level** setup at `deandesk.com`. See [Institutions & Schools](/getting-started/institutions-and-schools.md) for how these levels relate.## Video walkthrough \ \[Download the video](/videos/tutorials/institution-platforms.mp4) · Download English captions > [!NOTE] > > This walkthrough uses the real DeanDesk interface with the fictional Northstar Academy demo school and a calm, AI-generated English voice. Payments and outside services are not connected in the demo.Screenshots use fictional Northstar demo data. Payment and integration screens illustrate the demo setup; no live transactions or connections are shown.Open **Platforms** in the institution dashboard. Each platform represents one school portal. Your institution owns the school, while its courses, school Users, admissions, and student billing are managed in the school's Admin Dashboard.![Northstar demo: Platforms](https://mintcdn.com/deandesk/w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4/images/dashboard/institution/platforms.jpg?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4\&q=85\&s=78865ba4dc96578a44c25e46a905984a)Northstar demo — Platforms[Open full-size screenshot](/images/dashboard/institution/platforms.jpg)## Create a schoolClick **Create new platform** on Platforms. The setup workspace saves your progress so you can return through **Continue a saved setup**.**1. Starting point**Choose the starting point closest to your school or program. Available starting points depend on your DeanDesk plan. Use **How DeanDesk works** to replay the introductory tour.![Northstar demo: School setup](https://mintcdn.com/deandesk/w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-new.jpg?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4\&q=85\&s=e73612293fdc9f65b87ec66bc91bc0eb)Northstar demo — School setup[Open full-size screenshot](/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-new.jpg)**2. Enrollment**Answer each displayed enrollment question. These choices determine the initial registration and admissions experience. Admissions review and program-selection questions appear where applicable to the enrollment method.**3. School details**Enter **School name**, **DeanDesk web address**, and **Timezone**. Choose the payment account country and sales currency. The web address uses lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens. Expand **Address and branding (optional)** to add location and visual details.**4. Review and create**Save and review the proposed setup, resolve missing choices, and confirm that you reviewed it before creating the school. If creation is interrupted, use **Refresh status** to check the existing setup.**5. Continue inside the school**After creation, click **Continue to school setup**. Work through the [school onboarding checklist](/school-setup/index.md) for people, courses, products, website content, and launch review.> [!NOTE] > > Sales currency is fixed after creation. Choose the currency your school will charge before confirming the setup.## Review a platformOpen a school from Platforms or Overview. The detail page has four tabs:### Overview tabManaged hostname, custom domain, creation details, and school location![Northstar demo: Platform detail — Overview](https://mintcdn.com/deandesk/w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id--overview.jpg?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4\&q=85\&s=0213a8e7d2808dd6aec34dc4b91ce472)Northstar demo — Platform detail — Overview[Open full-size screenshot](/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id--overview.jpg)### Branding tabPrimary and header colors, font theme, logo/title dimensions, header-title visibility, and current logo![Northstar demo: Platform detail — Branding](https://mintcdn.com/deandesk/w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id--branding.jpg?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4\&q=85\&s=11d95ebf5714d883ff5e7f2eb9a90a34)Northstar demo — Platform detail — Branding[Open full-size screenshot](/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id--branding.jpg)### Features & Policies tabConfigured feature and policy switches, plus adult and child onboarding forms![Northstar demo: Platform detail — Features & Policies](https://mintcdn.com/deandesk/w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id--features-policies.jpg?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4\&q=85\&s=fc59993608e255db66e2142aab3c12d7)Northstar demo — Platform detail — Features & Policies[Open full-size screenshot](/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id--features-policies.jpg)### Navigation tabMain sidebar and profile menu items that are enabled for the schoolWhen your Identity has access, click **Admin Console** on the platform detail page or Overview (the button reads **Admin** on a Platforms list card) to open the school as its administrator. Check the school name after switching. Use the public-site link to inspect the school's public experience.![Northstar demo: Platform detail — Navigation](https://mintcdn.com/deandesk/w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id--navigation.jpg?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4\&q=85\&s=dafe53646ebcb8087eec0398dd8a10ca)Northstar demo — Platform detail — Navigation[Open full-size screenshot](/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id--navigation.jpg)## Edit platform configurationClick **Edit Configuration**. The editor has a different set of tabs from the read-only detail page:### General configurationName, hostname, read-only sales currency, description, tagline, custom-domain information, and location![Northstar demo: Platform configuration — General](https://mintcdn.com/deandesk/w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id-edit--general.jpg?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4\&q=85\&s=dfcc03c683f278498e2974c972f37dc4)Northstar demo — Platform configuration — General[Open full-size screenshot](/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id-edit--general.jpg)### Branding configurationColor presets, primary/header colors, font theme, logo URL, logo and title sizing, and title visibility![Northstar demo: Platform configuration — Branding](https://mintcdn.com/deandesk/w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id-edit--branding.jpg?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4\&q=85\&s=2b3767ae024e8bb2077f2de1c494af92)Northstar demo — Platform configuration — Branding[Open full-size screenshot](/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id-edit--branding.jpg)### Policies configurationCapability switches, registration and enrollment choices, onboarding form assignments, and application statuses with descriptions, order, and email templates![Northstar demo: Platform configuration — Policies](https://mintcdn.com/deandesk/w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id-edit--policies.jpg?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4\&q=85\&s=196062ca6b07714cf75997d4ee20cee3)Northstar demo — Platform configuration — Policies[Open full-size screenshot](/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id-edit--policies.jpg)### Interface configurationMain sidebar and profile view visibilityReview the changes and click **Save**, or click **Cancel** to discard them. Fields marked **Immutable**, such as the hostname and sales currency, can't be changed. For the complete school admissions journey and rounds/tracks, enter the school and use [Enrollment & Admissions](/sis/admissions.md). For public pages, menus, media, and styling, use the school's [Website workspace](/setup/website.md).![Northstar demo: Platform configuration — Interface](https://mintcdn.com/deandesk/w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id-edit--interface.jpg?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=w4Aa5fKkcT4IMz-4\&q=85\&s=e022019495262b7d7d5d98163c1496d7)Northstar demo — Platform configuration — Interface[Open full-size screenshot](/images/dashboard/institution/platforms-id-edit--interface.jpg)## Keep the two settings levels separateThese pages configure an individual school owned by the institution. [Settings → Institution](/institution/settings.md) controls the institution's own name, branding, domain, and public portal. [Billing & Payments](/institution/billing.md) controls the institution's subscription to DeanDesk. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.