Why my template's positions become Custom Position in Module Manager?

Question

I have created my modules position in my template and have also declared in the XML file. Now in module manager when I choose one of my module positions and save the module, it shows it then as a Custom Position in the Module Positions select field.

Update:

I am not using any framework. Just casual joomla template. Module positions are defined in the XML and in the template's block files (so there should not be considered as custom positions) and are displayed in the Module Position filter in Module Manager normally.

But after saving a module, then it will add it also under the Custom Positions group in the filter, ending with the same module position exist twice, 1 under the mytemplate positions and 1 under custom positions.

It does make things a bit confusing.

Update 2

I just realized that this is also happening by default even with the protostar template, and probably with other templates as well. After assigning a module to position, then this position becomes available also in the Custom Module Positions. Isn't this the case also for anyone else?

Answer 1

1. I think the <optgroup> label should be changed from "Custom Position" to "Already Used" or "Selected Positions" or something like that. To do so, create or open the file

   /administrator/language/overrides/en-GB.override.ini
   

   and add this line:

   COM_MODULES_CUSTOM_POSITION="Already Used"
   

2. Also there is a dirty way to get rid of the optgroup by commenting this line

   $templateGroups[$customGroupText] = ModulesHelper::createOptionGroup($customGroupText, $customPositions);
   

   in

   /administrator/components/com_modules/helpers/html/modules.php
   

   and choose unique position names in your template's XML file.

Answer 2

Try also defining your module positions by naming them in your template system language file, i.e.;

en-GB.tpl_yourtemplatename.sys.ini

Name each position like this, where in this example the module positions are header, banner and breadcrumbs and yourtemplatename is your template name ;

TPL_YOURTEMPLATENAME_POSITION_HEADER="Header"
TPL_YOURTEMPLATENAME_BANNER="Banner"
TPL_YOURTEMPLATENAME_BREADCRUMBS="Breadcrumbs"