Block: controlling content in the sidebars

Blocks are the boxes of related/grouped data that are visible in the left and/or right sidebar(s) of your web site. They can also be placed anywhere on your page using regions. These are usually generated automatically by modules (e.g. recent forum topics), but administrators can also create their own defined blocks.

The sidebar each block appears in depends on both which theme you are using (some are left-only, some right, some both), and on the settings in block management.

The block management screen lets you specify the vertical sort-order of the blocks within a sidebar. You do this by assigning a weight to each block. Lighter blocks (smaller weight) "float up" towards the top of the sidebar. Heavier ones "sink down" towards the bottom of it.

The block management screen also provides checkboxes and a configure link for customizing the visibility of individual blocks. A block's visibility depends on:

• The Enabled checkbox. Disabled blocks are never shown.
• The Throttle checkbox. Throttled blocks are hidden during high server loads.
• Page specific visibility settings. Individual blocks can be configured to only show/hide on certain pages. You can also show/hide blocks based on the result of a PHP snippit.
• Custom visibility settings. Individual blocks can be configured so that users decide whether to show/hide certain blocks.
• Its function. Dynamic blocks (such as those defined by modules) may be empty on certain pages and will not be shown.

Module blocks

Module blocks are available when modules are enabled. These blocks can be administered in block administration.

Administrator defined blocks

An administrator defined block contains content supplied by the administrator. Each admin-defined block consists of a title, a description, and a body which can be as long as you wish. The Drupal engine will render the content of the block.

Note: Blocks are configured per theme so if you use multiple themes on a site you will need to enable and configure blocks for each theme.

You can

• enable throttle and configure blocks at administer >> block.
• add a block at administer >> block >> add block.