Fully self-serve: Navigation menus are completely client-managed in your CMS dashboard. You can add, edit, reorder, and remove links without opening a support ticket.
This guide walks you through adding new links and dropdown items to your school website's main navigation menu (configured under Site Management > Site Navigation), helping visitors quickly find key pages, forms, and external resources.
⚠️ Site Navigation vs. Page Categories: Creating or moving a page in Page Management does not automatically add it to your navigation menu. Navigation menus are built and curated independently. Once your page is published, follow the steps below to add it to your dropdown menu.
Getting started
To manage your site navigation, navigate to Site Management > Site Navigation in your CMS dashboard.
💡 Understanding Drop-Down Structure (Containers vs. Direct Links): A top-level menu item can either be a direct link (clicking it navigates immediately to a page) OR a Container that opens a drop-down menu of sub-links. If you want a drop-down menu, you must add child links under a top-level Container tab. Direct links cannot display child drop-down items.
To add a new navigation link, expand the dropdown container or top-level item where you want the link to appear and click New Item.
The five types of navigation links
Your website supports five link destination types:
1. Section / Page links
Use this option to link to pages created within your website (such as About Us, Admissions, or school policies).
Important: The page must already be created and published in Pages before it can be linked. If it is still a draft, it will not appear in the page selector.
Click Select a page.
Browse or search for your desired page.
Select the page.
Edit the link title if you want it displayed differently in the menu.
Click Done.
2. URL links
Use this option to link to external websites (state portals, athletics leagues, district platforms) or custom internal web addresses.
Click the URL tab.
Enter a clear, concise name for your link.
Paste or type the full web address (including
https://).The "New Tab" Rule: Check "Open in a new window/tab" for all external URLs (state portals, athletics sites, payment portals) so visitors do not lose the school website. Leave unchecked only for internal links within your school site.
Click Done.
3. File links
Use this option to link directly to documents, forms, or PDFs that visitors can download (such as bell schedules or registration packets).
Click the File tab.
Enter a link title.
Upload your file by dragging and dropping or browsing your computer.
Click Done.
File Deletion Warning: If you delete a File navigation item from your menu, the uploaded file is permanently removed from storage.
4. Feature Page links
Use this option to link to built-in Edlio feature feeds such as News, Calendar / Events, Staff Directory, or Forms.
Click the Feature Page tab.
Click Select a feature.
Choose the feature destination from the dropdown list.
Adjust the display label if desired and click Done.
5. Containers (Sub-dropdowns)
A Container acts as an organizational folder or sub-menu header within a dropdown (e.g. grouping "Athletics" into "Fall Sports", "Winter Sports", and "Spring Sports"). It does not link to a page itself; it expands to reveal nested sub-links.
⚠️ Empty Container Validation Rule: Empty containers cannot be published. Every container you create must contain at least one valid sub-item before you click Save. If a container is saved while empty, the CMS will throw a validation error or render a broken hover menu on your live site.
Reordering dropdown items and sub-menus
Your navigation builder uses an accordion layout with drag-and-drop handles for effortless reordering:
Drag Handles ("Domino" handles): Click and hold the 6-dot "domino" drag handle to the left of any item to move it up or down in your menu sequence.
Nesting items under Containers: Drag an item into an expanded Container block to place it inside that drop-down section.
Creating flyout sub-levels: Dragging an item slightly to the right indents it beneath another item, turning it into a secondary flyout sub-menu item.
Managing top-level navigation items
We recommend keeping your main navigation to a maximum of 8 top-level items ("The Rule of 8"). Exceeding 8 items often causes the navigation bar to wrap onto a second line, which crowds the homepage header and breaks visual alignment.
Scroll to the bottom of the navigation editor.
Click New Top Level Item.
Enter a concise title (1–2 words).
Choose the item type and click Done.
Removing navigation items
To remove an item, click the three-dot kebab menu next to it and select Delete. Note: Deleting a container also removes all sub-items nested inside it.
Publishing your changes
After making any changes to your navigation items, click Save at the top of the screen to push your updates live to your school website.
Best practices
Enforce the Rule of 8: Limit main navigation to 5–8 top-level items to prevent menu wrapping.
Keep labels short: Use single words or short phrases (e.g., "Academics" instead of "Academic Programs & Offerings").
External link tabs: Always set external websites to open in a new tab so visitors don't lose their place on your school site.
Audit regularly: Review links at the start of each semester to replace expired calendar links or outdated staff documents.
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