Configure Menus & Modules

Menus and modules are an important part of your Joomla site's structure. Menus control navigation, while modules display content and features in specific positions around your pages.

JoomShaper templates may include predefined menu layouts, mega menus, off-canvas navigation, and module positions that are already configured in a Quickstart installation.

If you installed the standalone Template package, you'll need to configure these elements yourself.

Before You Begin

Make sure you have:

• Your pages set up
• Your template installed and configured
• Your content and modules ready
• Access to the Joomla administrator area

If you're using a Quickstart installation, review the existing menus and modules before creating new ones. They can help you understand how the template's demo site is structured.

Set Up Your Main Menu

Your main menu provides the primary navigation for your website.

To create or edit a menu:

1. Go to Menus in the Joomla administrator.
2. Select the menu you want to manage.
3. Create a new menu item or edit an existing one.
4. Select the appropriate menu item type.
5. Choose the page or content the menu item should open.
6. Enter the menu title.
7. Save your changes.

You can also arrange menu items into parent and child items to create dropdown navigation.

Create a Dropdown Menu

To create a submenu:

1. Open Menus and select your main menu.
2. Create a new menu item or edit an existing one.
3. Set the Parent Item to the menu item under which you want it to appear.
4. Save the menu item.

The submenu will appear under its parent item when the template's navigation supports dropdown menus.

Configure the Mega Menu

Some JoomShaper templates include a Mega Menu feature through Helix Ultimate.

A mega menu allows you to create larger navigation panels with multiple columns and menu groups.

Depending on the template, you may be able to configure:

• Multiple menu columns
• Menu groups
• Column widths
• Icons
• Descriptions
• Custom content
• Module-based content

If your template includes a predefined mega menu, review its existing configuration in the Quickstart installation before modifying it.

You can follow the full tutorial to create your mega menu from the ground up.

Configure the Off-Canvas Menu

Many JoomShaper templates use an off-canvas menu for mobile navigation or additional website content.

Depending on the template, the off-canvas area can contain:

• Navigation
• Search
• Login or account links
• Social links
• Custom modules
• Other content

The available settings and layout depend on the template and Helix Ultimate configuration.

Add and Configure Modules

Joomla modules display content in specific positions on your website.

Common modules include:

• Menu
• Custom HTML
• Search
• Login
• Breadcrumbs
• Articles
• Banners
• Social links
• Contact information

To manage your modules, open the Site Modules section in the Joomla administrator.

1. Select an existing module or click New.
2. Choose the module type.
3. Configure the module settings.
4. Select the position where it should appear.
5. Choose the pages where it should be displayed.
6. Save your changes.
7. Choose a Module Position

Each JoomShaper template provides predefined module positions.

When configuring a module, select the position where you want it to appear.

The available positions vary between templates. You can usually identify them from the template's documentation or by checking the module position layout provided with the template.

Note: A standalone Template package does not include the demo modules. You need to create and configure the modules yourself.

Assign Modules to Pages

You don't always need a module to appear across your entire website.

Joomla lets you control where a module is displayed.

When editing a module:

1. Open the Menu Assignment section.
2. Choose whether the module should appear on all pages or selected pages.
3. Select the relevant menu items.
4. Save the module.

This is useful for displaying page-specific content such as banners, sidebars, forms, or promotional sections.

Use Custom HTML Modules

The Custom module type can be used to add your own content to a module position.

You can use it for:

• Text
• Images
• Buttons
• Promotional content
• Contact information
• Custom HTML

Some JoomShaper demo layouts use Custom modules for sections that appear outside the main page content.

Configure the Footer Modules

Many templates use multiple module positions in the footer.

You can create modules for:

• Footer navigation
• About information
• Contact details
• Social links
• Newsletter forms
• Copyright information

Assign each module to the appropriate footer position provided by your template.

Check Your Navigation and Modules

After configuring your menus and modules, open the frontend and check:

• Main navigation
• Dropdown menus
• Mega menu
• Off-canvas menu
• Module placement
• Page assignments
• Footer content
• Mobile navigation

Test the navigation on both desktop and mobile devices to make sure menus and modules appear as expected.

Before You Move On

Before continuing with your site setup:

• Configure your main menu
• Create any required dropdowns
• Set up the mega menu if your template supports it
• Configure the off-canvas menu
• Create and assign your modules
• Check module positions
• Review page assignments
• Test your navigation on different screen sizes

Your site's navigation and supporting content are now in place and ready for the final step: keeping your template and extensions up to date.