Setting up your home page

Last updated February 29, 2012. Created by JohnNoc on June 1, 2008.
Edited by wmostrey, Wingman, cleverington, figaro. Log in to edit this page.

On this page

Now that you have added some content to your site, you have the option to use the Drupal provided Front Page, put specific content to always show up on top for your front page, and even reset your Home page to a page of your choice.

Default Front page

The default front-page is fairly advanced for showing 'dynamic' content that can show new content you have posted to visitors each time they visit your website.

dynamic

In web-development, dynamic generally refers to information that is 'self-updating'. For example, a 'dynamic' page using javascript and/or jQuery can performs actions without even refreshing the page!

Publishing to the Front Page

Many articles of content you create may not qualify as 'good enough' to be the first thing your visitors see. However, when it is, Drupal provides a good solution for you.

When adding content, scroll down to the bottom of the page and select 'Publishing Options'. You will notice that you get a new set of check boxes. Now you can select 'Published to the Front Page' and Drupal will automatically 'tag' your post to display on the Default Front Page. Each article/blog-post/etc that has 'Published to the Front Page' selected will be displayed from newest to oldest.

Placing a Specific Piece of Content at the top of your Home Page

Many websites will choose to place a 'Welcome' message at the top of their front-page, or perhaps you as the designer have a certain piece of content you want everyone who visits your page to see every time.

When adding content, scroll down to the bottom of the page and select 'Publishing Options'. You will notice that you get a new set of check boxes. Now you can select 'Sticky at the top of Lists' and Drupal will automatically 'tag' your post to display at the top of the Default Front Page.

Selecting Your Own Default Front Page

After creating your content, you can make one of those items your home page. Go to the page you would like to use and note the URL (usually node/1 for your first content-page created).

The URL must be the system URL (eg "node/1"), not an alias such as that generated by another module or one you've assigned to a node yourself ("pretty-url-1.html").

*Note* If you try to use an alias url to set the front page, the results will be quirky, such as some blocks not showing up.

Drupal 5.x and 6.x

Navigate your browser to Site Configuration > Site Information. At the bottom of this page where it says "Default front page" you will see Default front page. Type in the URL of the page you want to be your home page, e.g., node/1.

Drupal 7.x

Using the 'Admin Menu': Configuration > Site Information.
Under the Front Page section, change FRONT PAGE to include your node information.

Save your change and then you can test it out by clicking on the home page link on your Menu.