Knowledge Base / 🧭 Navigation Settings

🧭 Navigation Settings

💡 Introduction

A standout feature of LoftOS is its customizable Navigation, which empowers you to tailor the User experience to suit your audience. This functionality enables you to efficiently organize content and design a Navigation menu that aligns seamlessly with your specific needs and objectives.

👩🏻‍💻 Usage

Managing Navigation Settings

In the Navigation Settings, you have the flexibility to modify the Navigation structure of your platform. To access this feature, navigate to the Admin area, select “Platform Settings”, and then choose “Navigation Settings”.

Rearranging the Entries

To rearrange the existing Navigation structure, utilize the drag-and-drop feature for easy adjustments.

To temporarily disable Navigation entries without deleting them, click on the entry and set it to inactive. This will remove it from the Navigation menu.

Create a new Navigation Entry

Create a new entry to tailor it to meet your specific requirements. We provide options for formatting, icon selection, background color, and placement—whether as part of a drop-down menu or as a fixed point on the navigation. To begin, click “+ New Entry” in the top right corner.

  • Status
  • Set the status to "Active" to display the entry on the Navigation. If not ready, select "Inactive" to activate it later.
  • Name
  • Assign a name to the Navigation entry.
  • Background Color
  • Choose a background color to make the Navigation entry stand out.
  • Text Style
  • Customize your text by making it bold, underline, or italic to enhance visibility and appeal.
  • Icon
  • Choose an icon that represents the Navigation point to visually communicate its function.
  • Dropdown Menu
  • If you want this entry to serve as a dropdown menu, enabling multiple sub-entries, toggle this option on.
  • Parent Menu
  • If this entry should be nested under another, select a parent from the dropdown menu.
  • Tags
  • Use tags for additional categorization or information. For instance, mark new entries with a "New" tag. Click the “+ button” and enter the tag name to add it.

    • Link

    In the Link section, you can specify the destination URL for the Navigation point. Additionally, you can adjust settings such as visibility and determine who can see the link and whether the link should open in a new tab. This customization allows enhanced control over user navigation and experience.

    Target Options:

  • Database: Link the Navigation point to a specific database such as Offers, Requests, Organizations, or News.
  • Module: Connect this point to a specific module like Events, Groups, Pipelines, etc.
  • Single Entity: Direct this link to a specific item within your platform, such as a Single Offer, Request, or Organization profile.
  • External Link: Use this option to redirect users to an external website, like LoftOS forms, Pages, or other sites.
  • Start a Chat with a User: Set up this Navigation point to initiate a chat with a designated contact person for specific topics.

    • Visibility Options:

  • Show for Everyone: This option makes the Navigation point visible to all users, allowing anyone to access it.
  • Show Depending on Access by Role: Restrict visibility to users with access rights based on specific roles.
  • Following Roles: Specify which role can see this Navigation entry. This requires you to predefine the relevant roles.
  • Hide for following roles: If you have more roles which should be able to see an entry than roles which should not, you can use this setting and hide it for specific roles.

    • 🥇 Best Practices

    Clear terminology

    When creating new Navigation entries, it's crucial to employ clear and concise language that accurately describes the content users will encounter upon clicking the Navigation entry. This ensures a straightforward and intuitive user experience.

    Using a Dropdown Menu

    Dropdown menus are ideal for organizing multiple related entries under a single umbrella, simplifying user Navigation and keeping the main menu uncluttered. For example, a "Marketplace of Products" could use drop-down menus to group offers and services, allowing users to easily access specific categories of content.

    Using External Links

    Utilize the External Link option to direct users to a different webpage. This feature is useful for integrating external forms, surveys, or additional informational resources directly into the navigation menu. Examples include linking to personal calendars, website details, knowledge bases, or how-to guides, enhancing accessibility and user engagement.