Accessing Database Listings

After adding databases to your listings, the next step is to make sure your user/patrons are able to access this information. There are various methods could be used to direct people to your database listings page, these can include through menu links, header buttons, other Stacks features, or a footer link.

No one method is necessarily the best, ultimately the best method is determined by how you want your users/patrons to find and navigate to content on your site.

Menu Links

Stacks has 2 menu areas, the top menu and the main menu; either could be used to provide access to your database listings page.

Main Menu

To add a menu link:

1. From the Dashboard, click the Menus tile
2. Click the List Links button to the right of Main Menu
3. Click the +Add link button
   1. Menu link title, enter a title for the menu link, this is the value users/patrons will see in the menu
   2. Link, enter the path to the database listing page, in this case /databases
      1. Note: as this is an internal Stacks page, the full URL is not required in the link field
   3. Enabled, ensure this box is checked to enable the link to appear in the menu
   4. Description, if required, enter a description for the menu link
   5. Show as expanded, when checked, this will expand the menu link if there are child links added under the main link
   6. Language, select the appropriate language, if applicable
   7. Parent Link, select the appropriate option
      1. <Main menu>, select this option to display the link in the main menu
      2. <--link name>, select from other menu links listed to embed this link as a child link under the selected option
   8. Weight, enter a numerical value to determine the order of appearance
      1. Alternatively, after saving, click and drag the 4-way arrow in the list link page to change the order of appearance
   9. Click Save to complete the creation of the menu link

Top Menu

Stacks has a built-in database icon that can be enabled and displayed in the top menu of your site, near the Log In link at the top of the screen. To enable this icon:

1. From the Dashboard, click the System Configuration tile
2. Click the Header tile
3. Click the Top Menu tab from the left side of the screen
   1. Enable databases icon, when checked, this will enable the icon to appear in the top header
   2. Click Save Configuration

Header Button

Call to Action (CTA) buttons are up to 4 custom buttons that can be enabled in you header and used for navigating to content, other Stacks pages, or external websites. Depending on the header layout, these buttons typically appear beside or just under the main search bar in your header.

1. From the Dashboard, click the System Configuration tile
2. Click the Header tile, then the Header CTA Buttons option from the menu on the left
3. Enable, check the box to enable the CTA button feature
4. Header Button 1 through 4
   1. Title, enter the button name, this will be visible to the user/patron
   2. URL, enter the path or URL to the where the user/patron will be directed when the click the button
      1. For the Database Listing page, enter the path /databases
5. Click Save configuration when done

Other Stacks Features

Another method to to direct users/patrons to your database listings page through another Stacks feature such as a Callout, Slider, or Custom Block as example. The advantage of using features like these in particular, are the image options that can be used as a way of drawing the attention to the content the user/patron may want to access.

As described in the menu link section above, the key to directing people to the database listing page is by using the path /databases in the appropriate link or URL field. 

For more information on creating or editing features such as Callouts, Sliders, Custom Blocks, etc.. please see the associated user guide articles for the desired feature type. 

Footer Link

The footer of your Stacks site allows for the addition of custom content and links that can be used for navigating throughout your site, including the database listing page. 

1. From the Dashboard, click the System Configuration tile
2. Click the Footer tile, then click the Custom Link option from the menu on the left
3. Custom Link Title, enter a name for the custom link section, this can be enabled to be displayed in the footer if desired
4. Display Title, check this box to display the Custom Link title in the footer section
5. Custom Link 1 through 4, click the title to expand the section
   1. Custom Link Title, then the name for the link, this will be visible to the user/patron
   2. URL, enter the full URL to your database listing page
      1. Unlike other areas, this requires the full URL (for example: https://yoursitename.com/databases)
6. Click Save configuration when done