Specify an alternate home page for logged-in users

To specify an alternate home page for logged-in users go to Joomla->Extensions->Plugins manager and click on System - Alternative Home. By enabling this module and specifying the home page for logged on users, you can arrange to have a simple home page for visitors and then use your actual front page for logged-on users.

This is more complicated than it sounds. Here's what you have to do:

• Create a menu called "Hidden" but do not assign it to mod_mainmenu when you create it, so it won't display;
• Create a menu item on the "Hidden" menu called "Classmate Home" with a menu item type of Front Page;
• Create an article called "Open home", which is the home page for un-registered users;
• Change the type of the "Home" menu item under the "Main" menu to "Article" layout and point it to the "Open home" article;
• Go to the plugin manager and click on System - Alternative Home. Set the alternative home menu item to "Classmate Home" and activate the plugin.
• Now go to Joomla->Extensions->Module Manger->Search and change the menu assignment to "Classmate Home" on the Hidden menu.
• Finally, if you are using polls, go to Joomla->Extensions->Module Manger->Polls and change the menu assignment to "Classmate Home" on the Hidden menu.

Now, unregistered users should see the "Open home" page and logged-in, registered users should see the front page.

WARNING: I have this working on hr65.org but there is still a flaw. When you first log in the home page doesn't display the search or poll modules. They appear after you click the "Home" menu. I have fixed this on hr65.org by editing the althome.php file in a site-specific way. I intend to work out a general solution when I get a chance. If you want to use this feature now, let me know and I'll see what I can do. Bill Bean

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