---
title: "Database activity settings"
slug: "database-activity-settings"
tags: ["Totara Learn", "Reference", "Content Creator"]
updated: 2026-08-13T16:01:17Z
published: 2026-08-13T16:01:17Z
canonical: "totara.help/database-activity-settings"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://totara.help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Database activity settings

When [creating or editing a database activity](/totara-20/docs/set-up-a-database-activity) you can configure the following settings.

| **Setting** | **Description** | **Notes** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Approval required | If enabled, entries require approving by a teacher before they are viewable by everyone. | - |
| Allow editing of approved entries | If disabled, approved entries are no longer editable or deletable by the user who added them. This setting has no effect unless **Approval required** is enabled. | - |
| Allow comments on entries | Enables commenting on entries. The comments field appears on the single view template when this is enabled. | - |
| Entries required for completion | The total number of entries a learner has to to enter before the database activity is complete. A reminder is displayed if the number of entries is not met. | - |
| Entries required before viewing | The number of entries submitted before the learner can see entries by others. If this is not met, they will see the entry page only. | The database auto-linking filter should be disabled if entries are required before viewing, because the database auto-linking filter can't tell if a user has submitted the number of entries required. |
| Maximum number of entries | The maximum number of entries the learner can submit before being blocked. This prevents people from spamming the system. | - |
| Available from/to | The dates between which the database is both visible to learners and open for data entry. | - |
| Read only from/to | The dates the database is available for viewing, but not open for data entry. | - |
| Grade category | This setting controls the category in which this activity's grades are placed in the gradebook. | - |
| Grade to pass | This setting determines the minimum grade required to pass. The value is used in activity and course completion, as well as in the gradebook, where pass grades are highlighted in green and fail grades in red. | - |
| Ratings Aggregate type | The aggregate type defines how ratings are combined to form the final grade in the gradebook. - **Average of ratings:** The mean of all ratings. - **Count of ratings:** The number of rated items becomes the final grade. Note that the total cannot exceed the maximum grade for the activity. - **Maximum:** The highest rating becomes the final grade. - **Minimum:** The smallest rating becomes the final grade. - **Sum:** All ratings are added together. Note that the total cannot exceed the maximum grade for the activity. | If **No ratings** is selected, then the activity will not appear in the gradebook. |
| Scale | Select the type of grading used for this activity. If **scale** is chosen, you can then choose the scale from the **scale** dropdown. If **point** is chosen, you can then enter the maximum grade available for this activity. | - |
| Restrict ratings to items with dates in this range | Select the dates **From** and/or **To** that you want to restrict ratings to be entered. | - |
| Tags | See the [tags](/totara-20/docs/what-are-tags) documentation to learn more. | - |

![Course badge](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/course-badge_database.svg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T06%3A17%3A05Z&se=2026-11-06T07%3A17%3A05Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=CLSRD%2FsRMzswqhY6qHUngyaMgXF6NcsiCpjf2p1HXzE%3D)The [Database activity](https://totara.community/course/view.php?id=458) course in the Totara Academy contains more resources and learning materials, including best practice and the chance to give it a go yourself.

Join the [Totara Community](https://totara.community/) for more resources to help you get the most out of Totara.

© Copyright 2025 Totara Learning Solutions. All rights reserved. Some content originally obtained via [GPLv3 license](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html#GPL) and continues to be available under GPLv3. All other content is the sole copyright of Totara Learning Solutions.