Archived:Administration FAQs Version 1.0

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Why don't all of my menu items show up in the module assignment lists?

1.0.

Modules are assigned to specific pages using a list of menu links that is visible when you edit the module in the module manager (on the right of the page). In older versions of Joomla! this list does NOT include menu links of the type "URL." This is an anomaly from the history of the development of Joomla! carried over from Mambo. Although you can use the URL type for any link, including internal Joomla! links, the original idea was that these would be used for links to external sites which would not display Joomla! modules. Some Joomla! component extensions use URL links (rather than component links with parameters) as a simple way to access specific views of the components.

In Joomla! 1.0.12 and later this issue was partially addressed by allowing modules to be assigned to URL links that did not include ItemId. Therefore, one way to address this issue is to make sure that your site is running the current version of Joomla! and that URL links that are internal to your site do not include ItemId values.

How do I redirect users after a successful login?

After logging into the Administration backend, go the module manager. A list of all the modules installed on your site will appear. Edit the one that says "Login Form" under Module Name ("mod_login" under the Type column).

1.0.x

Under Parameters, enter the URL of page where you want to redirect successful logins to where it says "Login Redirection URL."

1.5

Select the redirection page from the list of menu links offered. Make sure that the link is to a published item.

Note: The same procedure is used for redirecting users on successful logout except you enter the page where you want to redirect successful logouts to where it says "Logout Redirection URL."

What do the types of links for menus mean?

VERSION 1.0

When you create a new link on a menu you need to select from a number of different types of links. Which type you select depends on what you are linking to and how you want it to appear. The following types exist:

Content

These types allow you to link to a section, a category or individual content items, static content and archives. Sections and categories can be linked either blog style or list/table style. In addition there is a link type that allows submission to specific content sections.

Miscellaneous

Separator/placeholder allows you to insert a non active link.

Wrapper creates an Iframe which displays an external page within your Joomla! site.

Submit

Submit--Content allows you to link to a form to submit content to specific sections.

Components

Component links allow you to link to components you have installed or that are preinstalled in Joomla!. In some instances components will allow you to set parameters to define the display in more detail. There are also some predefined links to components that are included with Joomla! by default, such as weblinks and contacts.

Links

Links include specific kinds of links, most of which are also included under other headings. URL link is a generic link that allows you to link any specific url, either internal to Joomla! or externally.

VERSION 1.5

Articles

This gives you access to content.

You can then choose from section, category, archive, articles, front page.

Within section, category and archive you can choose list or blog layouts.

Blog Layout

Blog layout will show a listing of all Articles of the selected blog type (Section or Category) in the mainbody position of your template.

List Layout

Table layout will simply give you a tabular list of all the titles in that particular Section or Category.

Wrapper

Wrappers allow you to place stand alone applications and Third Party Web sites inside your Joomla! site. The content within a Wrapper appears within the primary content area defined by the "mainbody" tag and allows you to display their content as a part of your own site. A Wrapper will place an IFRAME into the content Section of your Web site and wrap your standard template navigation around it so it appears in the same way an Article would.

Each Component

Each component will have its own link. Some may require you to make additional choices of options.

External Link

Lets you link to an external site. There may be occasions where you also want to point to a link directly to a apage on your site.

Separator

This lets you make a text or image only (non-linkable) menu item.

Alias

Lets you make a link matching an existing menu item. This avoids the problem of having multiple URLs pointing to the same content.

How do I get rid of "This Category is Currently Empty"?

1.0

When you make a content category table link to an empty category, by default a "This Category is Currently Empty" message will display (or the equivalent in another language). You can eliminate or modify this message by editing your language file.

In /language/english.php change line 113 from

  define('_EMPTY_CATEGORY', 'This Category is currently empty');

to

  define('_EMPTY_CATEGORY', ''); 

You can also change the text in the menu link to weblinks.

How do I add a link to a menu?

To add a new item to an exisiting menu, you must log in to the administrative interface (back end) of Joomla!

• Go to the menu manager (Menu>>Menu Manager).

• Find the menu you wish to add to and click on the icon in the Menu Items column.

This will give a list of existing menu items.

• To create a new item, click on the New icon.

1.0.x

• Select the type of link you want.

• Click on the continue icon.

• Fill in or select the appropriate information and parameters.

• Save.

Note: For some component links you need to edit the new link in order to apply parameters.

compat_15_native.png

1.5

• Select the menu item you want from the list displayed.

• Continue making selections until you have reached the end of the choice tree for your menu link type.

What is php defined( '_VALID_MOS' ) or die( 'Restricted access' ) or defined('_JEXEC') or die('Restricted access')?

1.0 Most php files within Joomla! 1.0.x begin with the following statement:

     defined( '_VALID_MOS' ) or die( 'Restricted access' )

This statement checks to see if the file is being called from within a Joomla! session. This protects your site by making it more difficult for a cracker/hacker to damage your site.

However, this line should NOT be included in your main index.php file, since this is the program that starts the Joomla! session.

1.5

Most PHP files within Joomla! 1.5 begin with the following statement:

    defined('_JEXEC') or die('Restricted access');

This statement checks to see if the file is being called from within a Joomla! session. This protects your site by making it more difficult for a cracker/hacker to damage your site.

However, this line should NOT be included in your main index.php file, since this is the program that starts the Joomla! session.

How do I stop users from being able to register?

Go to your site >> global configuration and change "allow user registration" to no.

How do I control whether modules are vertically or horizontally arranged?

1.0

If you edit the html of your template, you will see that each position is assigned to a location using mosLoadModules.

Usually it looks something like this:

<?php if (mosCountModules('top')>0) mosLoadModules ( "top" ); ?>

By default, modules are arranged in a vertical list. However, you can control this by changing the line. For example, to make a horizontal layout use

<?php if (mosCountModules('top')>0) mosLoadModules ( "top", 1 ); ?>

For vertical

<?php if (mosCountModules('top')>0) mosLoadModules ( "top", 0 ); ?>

Here are the definitions of the numbers for mosLoadModules: 1 = horizontal, 0 = normal, -1 = raw, -2 = XHTML and -3 = extra divs.

1.5

See jdoc statements

The optional style="" attribute is available for the module and modules types of <jdoc:include /> statements. The attribute value refers to the "chrome" style used to wrap the output generated by a module. If no style is provided, a value of "none" is used by default. The standard styles which are declared in /templates/system/html/modules.php include:

• table
• horz
• xhtml
• rounded
• outline

Template designers may add additional chrome names by adding a custom version of this file to /user-template/html/modules.php.

How do you display an RSS feed?

The easiest way to display an RSS feed is:

In administrator,

1.0

• go to modules>>site modules
• Click new.
• Give it a title
• Scroll down and put the link for the rss feed where it says RSS URL
• Set your details.
• Then display your feed as you would any module.

1.5

• Go to extensions>>Module Manager
• Find the Feed Display module
• Enter the URL of the feed.
• Save and display the module like any other module.

Both A second way is to use the News Feeds component that comes with Joomla!

• In the administrator go to components>>News Feeds
• In the component you can manage your news feeds and assign them to categories.
• To show the feeds on the front end make a component link in your menu.

How do I assign a module to a position?

You assign a module to a position using the module manager.

1.0

Modules>>Site Modules

On the left side of the page, on the third line, there is a drop down menu that lets you select the position. Modules that are not published will not display.

Modules can be assigned to unused positions (positions not in the template) if you want to have them published but not displayed in a position (for example, if you want to display a module in content).

Multiple modules may be assigned to the same position. They will be displayed in the order shown for modules in that position in the module manager.

If you want to display a module in more than one position, use the module manager to copy the module and assign the copy to the second position.

1.5

Extensions>>Module manager.

On the left side of the page, on the third line, there is a menu that lets you select the position. You also can create a new position name on the fly but typing it in the same space as the menu. (In that case, make sure the same position name also appears in the template file.)

Modules that are not published will not display.

Modules can be assigned to unused positions (positions not in the template) if you want to have them published but not displayed in a position (for example, if you want to display a module in content).

Multiple modules may be assigned to the same position. They will be displayed in the order shown for modules in that position in the module manager.

If you want to display a module in more than one position, use the module manager new icon to create an additional copy and assign that copy to the second position.

How do you put modules in or remove them from specific pages?

Modules are assigned to "pages" using the module manager. In the administrator (back end) go to

1.0 Module>>Site Modules of

1.5 Extensions>>Module Manager

Select the module you want to assign and edit it.

1.0

On the right you will see a list with a heading Pages/Items.

At the top of the list, you can pick all, none or unassigned to make an assignment for the entire site.

Underneath this list, there is a list of all the menu links in your site except those that are of type URL. Using this list you can select individual pages on which your module will or will not appear.

1.5

On the left there is a list of menu items. You can chose between None, All and Select Menu Item(s) from the List. To assign to some but not all pages choose the third option and select the menu links that you want the module associated with.

Notes: If your module is assigned to a position that does not exist in the template used to display a page, the module will not appear even if it is assigned to a specific page.

If your module is not published/enabled it will not appear even if assigned to a page.

You cannot assign a module to a URL link. This is because URL links do not have Itemids assigned to them. You also cannot assign modules to pages that are only linked via content or other, non-menu modules, because these also do not have Itemids.

One work-around for this problem is to have an unpublished menu that contains links to the items you wish to link through non-menus. This will create an itemid that can be included in the url you link to. You will see a list with a heading Pages/Items.

At the top of the list, you can pick all, none or unassigned to make an assignment for the entire site.

Underneath this list, there is a list of all the menu links in your site except those that are of type URL. Using this list you can select individual pages on which your module will or will not appear.

Notes: If your module is assigned to a position that does not exist in the template used to display a page, the module will not appear even if it is assigned to a specific page.

If your module is not published it will not appear even if assigned to a page.

You cannot assign a module to a URL link. This is because URL links do not have Itemids assigned to them. You also cannot assign modules to pages that are only linked via content or other, non-menu modules, because these also do not have Itemids.

One work-around for this problem is to have an unpublished menu that contains links to the items you wish to link through non-menus. This will create an Itemid that can be included in the URL you link to.

How do you change the title of a module?

From the adminisrator (backend) go to the module manager (1.0 Modules>Site Modules 1.5 Extensions>Module Manager). Find the module you want to change and click on its name. Change the name and save.

Can I control what is shown in the Latest News Module?

Waiting for licensing

What does This site is temporarily unavailable - Database ERROR NUMBER CODE mean

waiting for licensing

Why are the admin menus not working or missing?

waiting for licensing

How do I add my own php to a content item?

1.0 You can either create your own joomla component or else install a mambot, such as kl_php or moslate.

Another option is to use the wrapper menu item, so you can add your own custom made php files.

How do I recover my admin password?

waiting for licensing

How do I implement the core Search Engine Friendly URLs (SEF) on a Windows Server?

1.0

Many Joomla! Community members are using ther local Windows based PC's to test and develop Joomla! sites on and one of the most frustrating items about Apache on Windows is that Winodws cannot support many of the Apache functions that can be used on Linux/Unix based production sites.

Joomla! SEF Capability on Windows/Apache

1 ) Ensure that you have the Apache Rewrite Module ( mod_rewrite.so ) installed/available in the Apache " modules/ " directory.

2 ) Enable Apache " mod_rewrite " in httpd.conf by removing the " # " ( hash sign ) from the following line in httpd.conf

       # Remove the "#" if it exists from the following line in the modules section
       LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so 

3 ) Restart Apache to check that the ReWrite Module is loading correctly and not crashing Apache

       apache -k restart

4 ) Again, modify the following lines in your httpd.conf to support Windows File Naming conventions

          # AccessFileName: The name of the file to look for in each directory
          # for additional configuration directives.  See also the AllowOverride
          # directive.
          #
          #AccessFileName .htaccess
          # Allows for Joomla! SEF functionality on Windows (Notice, No dot)
          AccessFileName htaccess
         #
         # The following lines prevent .htaccess and .htpasswd files from being viewed by Web clients.
         #
         #<FilesMatch "^\.ht">
         # Allows for Joomla! SEF functionality on Windows (Notice, No dot)
         <FilesMatch "^\ht">
            Order allow,deny
            Deny from all
            Satisfy All
        </FilesMatch> 

3 ) Restart Apache to check that the FileMatch Rule is not in error and not crashing Apache

       apache -k restart

6 ) Rename htaccess.txt to " htaccess " (notice, no "dot", unlike the *nix equivalent)

7 ) Modify $mosConfig_sef = 0 to now be a 1 (turning on SEF)

8 ) Access you local WebSite and check your SEF is working.

Can I import users from a CSV file?

There is not a native bulk import function. However, users can be imported using MySQL. If importing, make sure that each user must have a record in the following tables: jos_users jos_core_acl_aro jos_core_acl_groups_aro_map (assuming that jos is your prefix) Passwords should be encrypted, i.e. in Joomla! 1.0.x md5(password).

Why does the html disappear when I edit in my wysiwyg editor?

Many of the wysiwyg editors strip all but a limited number of html tags. The list of tags is often configurable. This is to prevent potential problems on your site. You can overcome this limitation by selecting "no WYSIWYG" as your editor (in the user manager or your profile).

Some editors will also allow you to specify which html tags are allowed.

Will my existing extensions work in Joomla! 1.5?

There is a legacy system in place that will allow extensions that are not 1.5 compatible to continue to operate. However, we strongly reccommend that you update to the current version of all extensions prior to migration and that you check each extension's home page for specific recommendations about migration for that extension.

There is no guarantee that all extensions will work.

What do I do to prepare to upgrade?

Prior to migrating a site it is absolutely essential that your database and all files be backed up . It is recommended that you migrate on a copy of your database while leaving your existing site in operation. Once you are satisfied that your 1.5 site is working as expected, you can switch to the new site. If this is not possible because your host limits the number of databases you have available, you can still install the 1.5 files in a new folder. In this situation, you should use the global settings on your old site to take the site offline while you make the transition.

To make a backup of your site, you must backup both the files and the database. There are several extensions which can help with this or you can use the options offered by your host. Ask your host for instructions on how to do a backup if you are unsure.

How do I implement the core Search Engine Friendly URLs (SEF)?

1.5

1. Rename htaccess.txt to .htaccess
2. In Global configuration, select yes to all three SEF options.
3. Make sure that Mod_rewrite is working.

How do I block or delete a superadministrator?

1.5

First, demote to superadministrator to a lower category, such as registered. Then delete or block.