Left Navigation

Navigation of the website is divided into three general areas: primary navigation, secondary navigation, and header navigation.

Primary and secondary navigations comprise the left navigation menu.  The left navigation is automatically generated as you create your website's folders and pages. You may designate a folder's or a page's left navigation type by modifying the metadata for that particular folder or page. You may also place an external link (a link to an outside website) on the left navigation menu and designate whether it is a primary or secondary navigational item.

Designating Primary or Secondary Navigation for a Folder or File

If you would like to designate a folder to be either a primary or secondary navigational item, be sure the folder has an index page within it.  The index page will be used as the main page for that folder.  Learn more about index pages.

1. Start by selecting the folder or page in the folder structure on the left. Click on the Edit tab and then the Metadata tab.
   
   
2. On the next page under the Custom Metadata heading, select the desired left navigation behavior. (Note: Only a folder, not an individual page, can be designated as an item in the secondary navigation.)
   
   
   
   
   • Use Parent Folder Setting – Select this option to default to the settings of the parent folder. If you are not sure what those settings are, you can always select Primary or Secondary Navigation depending on your need.
   • Primary Navigation – Select this option if would like the folder to appear as a primary item in the navigation menu (see example above.)
   • Second Navigation – Select this option if you would like the folder to appear as a secondary item in the navigation menu (see example above.)
   • Hide in Left Navigation Unless Selected – Select this option if you do not want the folder or page to appear in the left navigation menu.  This option is used for folders such as a designated image or document folder, or for folders or pages that you would like to place in the header navigation. Learn more about header navigation.
3. Click the Submit button and then be sure to publish the folder or page. (Note: When modifying any part of the website's navigation, you will need to republish all pages that display the navigation in order for the changes to be seen throughout the website. As a reminder, large publishing jobs should be done after hours.)

Designating Primary or Secondary Navigation for an External Link

1. Start by selecting the main website folder in the folder structure on the left.
   
   
2. From the menu bar select New > Default > External Link.
   
   
3. On the next page under the Inline Metadata heading, enter the Title (the text that you want displayed in the navigation menu) and the Link (the full URL to the external website.) Do not hit Submit until you have specified the navigation behavior (step 4.)
   
   
4. Click on the Metadata tab at the top. On the next page under the Custom Metadata heading, select the desired left navigation behavior.
   
   
   
   
   • Use Parent Folder Setting – Select this option to default to the settings of the parent folder. If you are not sure what those settings are, you can always select Primary or Secondary Navigation depending on your need.
   • Primary Navigation – Select this option if would like the external link to appear as a primary item in the navigation menu (see example at the top of this page.)
   • Second Navigation – Select this option if you would like the external link to appear as a secondary item in the navigation menu (see example at the top of this page.)

To learn how to rearrange the order in which items are displayed in the left navigation, please read the instructions to reorder left navigation.

Learn more about header navigation.