Joomla! can be extended via the use of "Extensions". These extensions fall into three categories: Components, Modules, and Plugins. Modules are a larger 'catch all' than components. Where components add functionality to the Joomla! core framework, modules add functionality that allows the user to interact with parts of the system. Other types of modules are those that can 'contain' code or images within your site.

This article by Tom Canavan, author of Joomla! 1.5 Cookbook, covers the installation, creation and management of modules. Occasionally, you will need to enable, disable, or uninstall a module. This step is simple and is covered in a brief recipe.

Joomla! 1.5 Cookbook

Over 60 quick and direct recipes to help you overcome common Joomla! queries. Find quick solutions to common Joomla! problems Part of Packt's Cookbook series: Each recipe is a carefully organized sequence of instructions to complete the task as efficiently as possible Look at recipes that cover the portions of Joomla! 1.6 that are brand new Over 60 practical recipes covering a range of site management and core Joomla! activities

(For more resources on Joomla!, see here.)

In this recipe, we'll look at all aspects of a module.

How to do it...

Installing a Module

1. Login to your Administrator Console.
2. Click Extensions | Install/Uninstall.
   

   

   Once you are in here, you'll have a few options to choose from:

   There are three methods to install a module, in this section we'll focus on the first method. We'll examine the other two in a moment.

3. Click Browse... and find the file.
4. Click Upload File & Install.

   Once you successfully installed the module, Joomla! will indicate this with this message:

   

How it works...

Module installation is a very similar process to components. The Joomla! universal installer has made it very simple.

The installer will write the appropriate settings to the database and will copy the files down to their respective locations.

There's more...

There comes a time when you no longer need a module. Or you may wish to disable it or even create a new one that didn't exist before.

As modules are essentially very lightweight in nature, creating them and placing them is easy.

The next few recipes cover these items.

Deleting modules

There are two methods to delete a module.

METHOD 1:

1. Click Extensions | Install/Uninstall.
2. Click Modules.
3. Check the module you wish to delete.
   

   

4. Once you check the module(s) you wish to delete, click Uninstall in the upper right-hand side:
   

   

   Once you successfully uninstall the module, Joomla! will indicate this with this message:

   

METHOD 2:

1. Click Extensions | Module Manager.
2. Check the module you wish to delete.
3. Click Delete in the upper right-hand side, the key difference is the message:
   

   

Joomla! 1.5 Cookbook

Over 60 quick and direct recipes to help you overcome common Joomla! queries.

Published: October 2010
eBook Price: $26.99
Book Price: $44.99
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(For more resources on Joomla!, see here.)

Disabling modules

Like components, occasionally, you need to disable a module. There are two methods to do this.

DISABLING A SINGLE MODULE:

1. Click Extensions | Module Manager.
2. Click the green arrow of the module.

DISABLING MULTIPLE MODULES:

1. Click Extensions | Module Manager.
2. Click the checkbox to the left of the name of the modules you wish to disable.
3. In the upper right-hand side, click Disable.
   

   

   You may also enable a single or multiple modules using this method.

Create new modules

In this recipe, we'll look at the New module function. This is not the same as 'coding' a module.

There are several different types of 'new' modules you can add. These can be enabled, disabled, and treated like any other modules. The process to create them is the same, so we'll focus in on a special module type called Custom HTML.

This module can do quite a bit.

1. Click Extensions | Install/Uninstall.
2. Click Module Manager.
3. Click New - this will take you to the Module | New function.
4. Choose the Custom HTML radio button.
   

   

5. Click Next in the upper right-hand side.
6. This will take you into a detailed screen with plenty of options. Let's review each as we build it.
   

   

   • Title: Name the module as you wish (this is publicly viewable)
   • Show Title: No or Yes
   • Enabled: No or Yes (to use it must be enabled)
   • Position: This is where in the template you want it to be seen
   • Order: What 'order' does it need to appear in on the menus. The module positions dictate what order they appear if there is more than one. For instance, if you have three in module position left, then this will arrange them according to the order.
   • Access Level: Choose the level of access needed to use/interact with module

   

7. You can show your module on all menu items, none, or selected ones. This is not the same as menu creation. Rather it enables these to show up on the pages according to the links listed in the preceding screenshot.
8. Click Save and your new module is ready to use.

There are several other module types, which have specialized functions you can add. For instance, you can add a new banner module or a new footer module. This, of course, is driven heavily by the theme you are using. Please consult your specific template for its module positions.

While these have very specific functions, you can use them to add content to areas that may be different than the template.

Summary

This article covered the covers the installation, creation and management of modules.

Further resources on this subject:

• Joomla! 1.5: Installing and Managing Components
• Joomla! 1.5: Creating Menu Items for Components
• Installation and Introduction of K2 Content Construction Kit
• Managing Articles Using the K2 Content Construction Kit

Joomla! 1.5 Cookbook

Over 60 quick and direct recipes to help you overcome common Joomla! queries.

Published: October 2010
eBook Price: $26.99
Book Price: $44.99
See more

close

Select your format and quantity:

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