FAQ - Modules and sidebars

How do modules and sidebars work?

Modules are sections of a page you can use flexibly in your journal style. You can choose which modules to include, and where to put them on the page.

These modules are available in default styles:

• Your personal information
• A set of links to other parts of your journal
• Your <a href="lj://faq/#”>Link list</a>
• A mini calendar.
• A summary of the entries or comments on the page
• Your tags
• Buttons for <a href="lj://faq/#”>syndicated content</a>
• The time the page was loaded
• A link back to the main Dreamwidth site
• Custom text

For example, you can choose to add your personal information to the journal header, and the time of loading and a link labeled Powered by Dreamwidth to the footer. You might want a page summary and some personalized text in the sidebar, but choose to turn off tags and the mini-calendar. Or perhaps you prefer not to have a sidebar at all, but to put some extra information in your page header.

To arrange your modules, use the Modules section of the Customize Journal Style page. Check the modules you want to include, and uncheck any that you don't want. The number box lets you choose the order of the modules (lower numbers will come first).The drop-down menu beside each option lets you choose which page section to put your modules in; you can choose from Header (at the top of the page), Footer (at the bottom of the page), or Sidebar. None means that the module won't be displayed in your journal.

Some of the modules have additional options. Basic journal info can include any or all of your user icon, your display name, and the URL of your website, if you have one. The Calendar can display as a horizontal line or a table; horizontal calendars usually look best in the header or footer, and tables look best in sidebars. Tags can display as a simple list, a cloud, or a multilevel list. Modules with no content in will not show up in your journal.