RalOption - Yireo

Create download-pages using SimpleLists

SimpleLists allows you to build a list of items and each item can point to a certain weblink. If the items would point to an "Internal File", you're actually building some kind of download-page. This tutorial takes you step-by-step through this process.

Create a category

First you will need to add a category. Within the Joomla! Administrator, browse to SimpleLists and then Categories. On the overview page create a new category with at least a title, for instance "Downloads".

Create a download-item

Next we can create a download-item. Navigate within SimpleLists to Items. On the overview page create a new item with at least a title and a small description, but also make sure the item resides in our "Downloads" category.

If we want to upload a PDF-document, we can do this now by using the Upload button in the toolbar. SimpleLists uses the regular Media Manager for uploading new files. As soon as the document is in place, we can take the next step: Linking the SimpleLists-item to this document.

On the right within the Link Settings box, click on the button Select a File. Navigate to the proper folder, click on the right file and press the button Select. The file is now linked to the SimpleLists-item.

We're almost there. One question that still remains is: How should the link appear on the download-page? The most practical solution is to add a Read More link to the item - this can be set under the box Parameters. As Read More text you could use "Download now".

That's it. Save the item and add more items if needed.

Final steps

To make the page usable on the frontend site, add a Menu Item using the Menu Manager, pointing to for instance the Default Layout or Table Layout of SimpleLists. Make sure you select the right category for this Menu Item.

Altering the allowed filetypes in Global Configuration

To make ZIP-files visible within the modal box you will need to alter the Global Configuration and add the ZIP-extension to the list of legal extensions.

Browse within the Joomla! Administrator to Global Configuration and then the tab System. Under Media Settings you will find a list of Legal Extensions. Add you file-extension at the end of the line.

,zip,ZIP,tar,TAR,gz,GZ