CMS > System Links

System Links

Because of their complexity, links in netFORUM CMS are one of the more difficult concepts to grasp. Within the CMS system you always have the capacity to write static links to pages in the same way you would hard-code links in HTML, but with the CMS you can create system links with built in, advanced functionality. The real magic of system links lies in the ability to show or hide them based on a number of attributes including login state of the user and SQL-based visibility conditions of the target page, as well as association with sections and pages.

Links are specifically related at global, web section and web page levels. Site links (global) will appear on all pages unless they are set to exclude Site Defaults. Section links will only appear on pages within the particular section. Page links then, will only appear on the pages they are associated with.

System links are positioned in the outer sub-panes of the five framework panes, and are somewhat limited in their arrangement. However, system links are customizable using CSS and have many options for their placement and use.

There are two dimensions to system links: There is the high-level Site/Section/Page link which determines the association and position of the link; and there is the Available Link which is defines the appearance and target of the link. These two dimensional aspects are specified in two different editing panels (shown below).

Available Link

The Available Link has many fields to specify attributes:

Link Name - This value will be the actual text of the link a user would click on. If you are planning to use an image for the link (described below) you would leave this field blank, it is not required.
Description - The value of this field will be the text that appears in the list of links in the CMS, and it will also be the "ALT" text of the link or image. It is required.
Destination - This field is a drop-down of the existing pages in the current website. You will want to select a page here or enter an external URL in the next field.
External URL - Enter a URL to an external site here.
Stylesheet Class - If you wish to apply a custom style class to this link enter the class name here.
Order - This value is only applicable to child menus (expanding or pop-up).
Requires Login - If checked, this setting will make the link hidden unless the user is logged in.
Open in New Window - You might use this setting for external URLs.
Disable Upon Login - This setting will make the link hidden if the user is logged in.
SSL Required - This setting will add https to the beginning of the URL.
Image URL - Enter the full or relative URL path to the image you wish to use for the link.
Hover Image URL - You may enter a hover-state image path here.
Active Image URL - This is the state on mouse down
Sub Menu Type - This option is set for the parent link of an expanding or pop-up child menu.
Parent Link - This value associates a child link to the parent.

Site/Section/Page Link

This edit window sets the position of the Available Link within the layout framework. A description of these fields is as follows:

Web Site - Make sure this is set to the site you are currently editing!
Link - In this field you select the Available Link. Note: you may add or edit Available Links using the pencil and plus icons next to this field.
Position/Pane - This option sets the framework pane where the link will be positioned.
Section - This field sets the sub-pane for the positioning.
Order - This option sets the position of the link relative to other links in the same sub-pane.