Currently, creating a site using the YooTheme Cloud template - eptest3.bbttest.com

I would like to create a series of course content pages that contain content (articles) and a specific set of Custom HTML sidebar-A modules to appear stacked on the right side of these content pages. These articles will be accessible via a Widgetkit Accordian found on the "Course Catalog" page and will not be listed on the main menu or any menu.

It appears that Custom HTML modules cannot be assigned to these pages unless they appear on the main menu (or another menu). It also seems that the pages will inherit the sidebar if it appears on a parent menu item. For example, if you look at the "Training" menu item (and page), the Sidebar-A item appears on that page and the "Course Catalogue" page which is a sub-menu item of "Training". However, because the "Security+" page is in the same category, but is not listed on the main menu, it inherits the same sidebar-A module. I need the "Security+" page and all the other course pages to have different set of Custom HTML Sidebar Modules (even though they are in the same Training category), yet not listed on any menu.

Can someone tell me how to create these content pages and assign Custom HTML modules in their stacked sidebar-A or sidebar-B module positions, even though they will not appear on the main menu?

I've done this in other templates without much of an issue, but it appears that because of the framework used by the YooTheme folks, it is done a little differently (though I could be wrong). Nonetheless, what I'm doing isn't working.

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you.
Arthur

Will be glad to send login info if needed.

Hi arthurrs,

I'll have to check out this template. I'm not as familiar with Yoo Theme as I am with some other products. However I can recommend a couple of things to try.

Create phantom menus. Make a menu, but don't assign it to any page or module position. That way you will have the menu item you need, but it won't show anywhere.

Another thing you can do is assign different templates to different pages. We have a tutorial on that.
www.ostraining.com/blog/joomla/different...tes-different-pages/

You can also look at the extension Modules Anywhere
www.ostraining.com/blog/joomla/modules-anywhere/ It also has a companion called Articles Anywhere.

There is usually more than one way to do anything in Joomla. I'll look at your site and in the meantime, if you check out these suggestions, let me know if they will help.

Cheers,
Ed

Hi Ed

Thanks for the quick response and suggestions. I actually did think about the phantom menu solution and lost my confidence and didn't try it. I'll read the blog entry and check out the suggested extension. Along with Modules Anywhere, I'll look at Advanced Module Manager.

Hey, if you haven't already, don't waste your time looking at my site (unless of course you just want too). :-) There's probably someone out here who could use your expertise more on one of their pressing issues. You've already helped me tremendously with your advice and suggestions.

I'll do some testing and get back to you on this.

Again, thanks so much for all you and the team do to help.
Arthur

Glad to help, Arthur.

A most courteous response! Thanks. Don't hesitate to ask more questions.

Cheers,
Ed

Glad to help, Arthur.

A most courteous response! Thanks. Don't hesitate to ask more questions.

Cheers,
Ed

Hi Ed

I'm back. I tried creating a phantom menu (Misc Pages), assigning the page (Security+) to that menu, then creating and assigning the module (Course Info Pages SideBarA1) to the "sidebar-a" position along with another module (Hot Offers) (they should be stacked).

However, the second module doesn't show at all. Even if I un-publish the other module that should be on top. Cleared the browser and Joomla caches. One other note, it appears that the sidebar-a module (Hot Offers) is inherited from the Course Catalog page. For example, if I un-publish it on the Course Catalog page in the sidebar-a position, it will un-publish on the Security+ page as well and neither module will show. But, if I publish both modules on the Course Catalog page, they both show-up on both pages.

Any thoughts? I'm going to try the module anywhere test now to see if that will work.

As always, thanks for your help
Arthur

Hi Arthur,

I looked at your page. On the home page I don't see anything in sidebar a and hot offers is in top a.

eptest3.bbttest.com/?tp=1

I checked an interior page eptest3.bbttest.com/training/?tp=1

And everything is as you described, but there's no way to tell if there's a module missing from the front end.

On the security page eptest3.bbttest.com/capabilities/cyber-security/?tp=1

You don't have any modules at all activated in the sidebar position so there's no way to tell what's supposed to be there.


I think it's just a complicated setup and you might have to work through it. Assuming the template is not causing you problems.

You should have one Hot Offers module assigned to the top-a and create a second one to appear in sidebar-a. Assign the one in top-a to the home page only. Assign the second copy to sidebar-a and specify which pages it goes to. CHeck to see if it's set up this way.

If you can solve the problem with that one, it will be less confusing to work on the stacking problem.

Let me know if you can get the hot offers problem solved.

Ed

Hi Ed

Thanks again for following up with me. Actually, while awaiting a response, I did exactly as you have suggested. Did you see the form I added as well as the test module in the sidebar-A positions? As mentioned in the earlier posts, anything that was assigned to the Course Catalog menu item (and sidebar-A position) was inherited by any other pages that were assigned to the "Course" category or one of its child categories (and listed in the accordian on the Course Catalog page).

I just thought this was odd since anything that was put on the "Training" page and associated menu item (in the sidebar-A position)wasn't inherited by the child items. The Course category is a child of the Training category.

The solution used was to assign the modules to the Course Catalog menu item and have them inherited by the other pages. Probably will also assign them to the "misc pages" phantom menu item I created for those pages as well.

If needed, I will be glad to send you information needed for you to look at the backend if you're interested. Otherwise, I'll keep you abreast on the progress.

Thanks again for your time and assistance
Arthur

Hi Arthur,

How are things going? Were you able to get things resolved?

Kind regards,
Nick

Hey Nick

Thanks for checking back with me. You and Ed have been very helpful. I used the solution in my last post and things are working fine.

"The solution used was to assign the modules to the Course Catalog menu item and have them inherited by the other pages listed in the accordion. Probably will also assign them to the "misc pages" phantom menu item I created for those pages as well."

As expected, everything placed in the Course Catalog was inherited by all of the pages. However, all is working well and the site is coming along well.

Thanks again for all you guys do to help and teach me. You and the team have been a valuable resource and increased my knowledge and confidence.

Thanks
Arthur

You're welcome, Arthur.

We're looking forward to hearing more from you in the future.

Cheers,
Ed