XF 2.2 Extra main menu item going to different 'forum'

[Evert Albers]

Hi Xenforo people, I am currently in the process of setting up a forum, all content here will only be made available for registered users. Setting up the main forum structure is going well, and it is accessible via the “Publications/Resources” main menu item (see screenshot).

Now we want to add another main menu item “Working groups” giving access to a different, unrelated list of subjects (Working groups). Is this possible, and if so: how?
Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Evert Albers]

I found the answer to my own question using ChatGPT, posting it here for others' reference just in case you need it.
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Yes, it is possible to customize the main menu in XenForo to have multiple menu items, each showing a different selection of forum nodes. This can be achieved by creating custom navigation links and configuring them to display specific nodes or categories. Here’s a step-by-step guide to accomplish this:

1. Create Custom Node Pages:
   
   • First, you need to create pages or use existing node categories that you want to link to separately in the main menu. Ensure each category contains the relevant forum nodes.
2. Modify Navigation:
   
   • Go to the XenForo Admin Control Panel (ACP).
   • Navigate to Appearance > Navigation.
   • Here, you can add new navigation entries.
3. Add New Navigation Entries:
   
   • Click on Add navigation to create a new menu item.
   • Fill in the necessary details:
     • Title: Name of the menu item.
     • Navigation ID: A unique identifier for this menu item.
     • Type: Select Link.
     • Link: Enter the URL path to the specific category or node. For example, /forums/category-name.1/ where category-name.1 is the specific node you want to link to.
     • Display Order: Set the order in which this item should appear in the menu.
4. Set Permissions (if necessary):
   
   • If you need to restrict access to certain user groups, configure the visibility permissions for the new navigation entries.
5. Organize and Test:
   
   • Arrange the navigation items as needed by adjusting the display order.
   • Save your changes and check the main menu on your XenForo site to ensure the new items are displayed correctly and link to the appropriate nodes.

Example:​

If you have categories like "News", "Tech Discussions", and "Off-topic", you can create separate menu items for each:

1. Create New Navigation for "News" Category:
   
   • Title: News
   • Navigation ID: news
   • Type: Link
   • Link: /forums/news.2/ (assuming the node ID for "News" is 2)
   • Display Order: 10
2. Create New Navigation for "Tech Discussions" Category:
   
   • Title: Tech Discussions
   • Navigation ID: tech
   • Type: Link
   • Link: /forums/tech-discussions.3/ (assuming the node ID for "Tech Discussions" is 3)
   • Display Order: 20
3. Create New Navigation for "Off-topic" Category:
   
   • Title: Off-topic
   • Navigation ID: off_topic
   • Type: Link
   • Link: /forums/off-topic.4/ (assuming the node ID for "Off-topic" is 4)
   • Display Order: 30

By following these steps, you can effectively split the main menu into multiple items, each directing users to specific sets of forum nodes. This helps in organizing content better and improving user navigation experience.