The Joomla Blog moves home

We have moved the Joomla Blog to a new home. A blog component has been released that integrates into Joomla, we'll be using it to continue blogging about Joomla.

http://www.compassdesigns.net

Joomla Tip: Module Positions

You can use this url to find out where all your modules are. Great to print out and keep as a reference:

www.yourjoomlawebsite.com/index.php?tp=1

Making Links to Pages that aren't in a Site Menu

Many times in Joomla you might want to make a link to a page without having to have it in a navigation menu somewhere. Examples might include:

• Forms
• A Google AdWords landing page
• A special offer in an off-line advert

What you have to undertsand is that in Joomla, a page can not exist unless there is a link in a menu to it somewhere. But, didn't we just say that we didn't want it linked on any navigation. Well, here is the trick, the menu that the link is in doesn't have to show on the site...

Do the following:

1. Make a category for the pages (or they could all be static pages)
   
2. Make a menu to "hold" the links to these pages. I made on called secretmenu. You can put them all on this one
3. Make a static item called "The Secret Menu". It can be blank
4. Publish the module that outputs the "secretmenu".
5. Note the link to the "The Secret Menu" page.
6. Set the secretmenu module to only show on "The Secret Menu" page

Now, Any time you need a link to pages/categories that don't have a link from the main menu, just make the link in the "secretmenu". Then go to that page you noted in 5 above and the link should be there. Just right-click and "copy link location" and you have your URL.

Welcome to The Joomla Blog

Come on in!

Welcome to The Joomla Blog, your bookmark for news, reviews, discussions and irreverence about the Joomla world. If you ever were a fan of the Lone Mamber, you'll enjoy this latest addition to Joomla websites.

We won't have the most news, we probably won't have the best news, but our musings will dig into some of the more interesting stories that are happening in Joomla. We'll have reviews of other sites, components and add-ons, tips and tricks to help you get the most out of Joomla, and the occasional diatribe about some Joomla topic!

If you want to sound off on one of our posts, or something else about Joomla, feel free. This blog is a no-holds-barred forum for Joomla discussion.

Some upcoming posts

We have a few posts in the works, here is a preview:

• Joomla News Sites
  A round up of the more popular news sites. Do they have useful information or are they just Google AdSense fodder
• How to get Help with Joomla
  A quick guide to the official Joomla forums. How to get help without being flamebait
• Gossip Column
  Tasty tidbits about Joomla

We look forward to seeing you here. Bookmark us today and you make sure y'all come back!