# Group sidebar menu sections - deprecated
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505
**Category:** Theme component
**Tags:** deprecated, sidebar
**Created:** [August 1, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505 "2023-08-01T16:00:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/1 "2023-08-01T16:00:16Z")
> ⚠ **This theme component is deprecated in favour of [Discourse Group Sidebar Menus](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-group-sidebar-menus/394653).** Please switch to that component, it is more secure and easier to set up. This repo will no longer be maintained and will be archived around **February 28, 2026**.
| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ℹ | **Summary** | Displays custom navigation menu sections for specific groups |
| 🛠 | **Repository** | [https://github.com/Lillinator/group-menu-sections](https://github.com/Lillinator/group-menu-sections) |
| ❓ | **Install Guide** | [How to install a theme or theme component](https://meta.discourse.org/t/how-do-i-install-a-theme-or-theme-component/63682) |
| 📖 | **New to Discourse Themes?** | [Beginner’s guide to using Discourse Themes](https://meta.discourse.org/t/beginners-guide-to-using-discourse-themes/91966) |
Install this theme component
This theme component allows displaying Discourse custom navigation (sidebar) menu sections to only specific user groups (including trust levels and default groups). The component allows for up to eight custom menu sections to use, and as many groups as you decide for each specified section. Use lowercase menu section names separated by dashes (ie: “Superuser Menu” = `superuser-menu`, “Staff Menu” = `staff-menu`). The groups are selected from your available groups via drop down selection fields.
Note that the custom sections specified in this component must be setup as public and visible to everyone. To create a new group navigation menu section, make a public one as usual then include it in the settings of this component along with the groups you want it to be visible to. You can specify the section in the component settings before you setup your custom section as long as use the correct section name - this will prevent the section from being displayed to all before you restrict it with the component.
Although this component is intended for custom sections, it can also be used for any existing sections of the navigation menu (ie: categories, tags, channels, personal chat, and even the now deprecated “community” top section). For example you can show custom menus to superuser and staff groups, and also hide tags and channels from a new user group (trust\_level\_0) at same time. If you want to display a specific menu section for only forum members (hide from anonymous) you can set it to display for the trust\_level\_0 group.
> ➡ Group visibility must be set to “Everyone” in the group interaction settings for any groups you wish to use for this component.
* * *
### Settings:
> **List of settings**
>
> | Name | Description |
> | --- | --- |
> | menu 1 | Custom menu section 1 to show to group(s) in setting below. User lowercase slug names. |
> | display menu 1 for these groups only | Drop down selector of available groups for menu 1. Group visibility must be set to Everyone in the group interaction settings. |
> | menu 2 - 8 | The custom menu sections to show to group(s) in respective groups setting . |
> | display menu 2 - 8 for these groups only | Drop down selectors of available groups for menus 2 - 8. |
> | hide custom menus globe icon | Hide the globe icon for staff (not applicable to non-staff) |
### Screenshots:
> **Required group visibility settings**
>
> 
> **Screenshot showing first settings with group selector**
>
> 
> **Globe hider setting**
>
> 
* * *
Please note that this component is generally intended for the navigation menu in sidebar mode, but does also function in header drop-down for now. Also works for both desktop and mobile views.
---
### Author:  [@Tiago\_santos](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Tiago_santos)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2023, 9:26pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/2 "2023-08-01T21:26:06Z")
Wow, I really needed this,Very uselfull, thank you so much. I love your work and your components for discourse.
---
### Author:  [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)
#### Post date: [August 1, 2023, 9:48pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/3 "2023-08-01T21:48:52Z")
thank you Tiago! 😊
---
### Author:  [@satonotdead](https://meta.discourse.org/u/satonotdead)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/4 "2023-08-06T02:23:22Z")
Hi, thanks for sharing!
Can this component be used for add a custom link only visible to specific groups on top default section?
---
### Author:  [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2023, 2:47am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/5 "2023-08-06T02:47:47Z")
> [@satonotdead](#):
>
> Can this component be used for add a custom link only visible to specific groups on top default section?
no this component is for sections only, not links. you can make a custom section with one link in it though.
---
### Author:  [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2023, 12:26pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/6 "2023-08-20T12:26:39Z")
I may add this feature at some point I think. If you really want this I can make a specific component for you or show you how to do it.
---
### Author:  [@RBoy](https://meta.discourse.org/u/RBoy)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2023, 6:42pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/7 "2023-08-28T18:42:44Z")
> [@Lilly](#):
>
> If you want to display a specific menu section for only forum members (hide from anonymous) you can set it to display for the trust\_level\_0 group.
How would I do the opposite, only show a section to Anon users? I want to create separate sections for Anon users and Forum members (logged in users).
---
### Author:  [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2023, 7:22pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/8 "2023-08-28T19:22:54Z")
> [@RBoy](#):
>
> How would I do the opposite, only show a section to Anon users?
Oh good question. This is how I would do it:
### Step 1:
Create a new custom navigation menu section, called say “Anon Menu” (you can call it whatever you want, but remember the name) and make it a public section (check box at bottom of the modal).
### Step 2:
Then in the Common-CSS of a theme or theme component that you create, insert this CSS code. Replace “anon-menu” with the section name-slug of the menu section name you created in step 1 (ie: Custom Section = custom-section).
```scss
.sidebar-section-wrapper.sidebar-section[data-section-name="anon-menu"] {
display: none;
}
.anon .sidebar-section-wrapper.sidebar-section[data-section-name="anon-menu"] {
display: block;
}
```
---
### Author:  [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2023, 7:31pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/9 "2023-08-28T19:31:29Z")
In fact, I like this idea as a use case scenario and will add it to the component when I update it next. I’m building a JSON schema modal for the component’s settings so it’s a bit more intuitive to configure.
---
### Author:  [@RBoy](https://meta.discourse.org/u/RBoy)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2023, 7:35pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/10 "2023-08-28T19:35:09Z")
Thanks. This is more complex than I expected simply from a maintenance perspective I wouldn’t remember what I had done a few months down the line.
EDIT: My attempt to create an [anonymous users group](https://meta.discourse.org/t/allow-or-restrict-anonymous-posting-to-specific-categories/271583) does NOT work because that’s only for the Anonymous feature, i.e. when a logged in user changes to Anonymous mode after logging in and not for truly anonymous users (users who don’t have an account).
---
### Author:  [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2023, 8:07pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/11 "2023-08-28T20:07:12Z")
Oh my apologies I misunderstood you - I didn’t realize you were referring to anonymous mode, I thought you meant not-logged-in users. 🤦🏻♀️
---
### Author:  [@RBoy](https://meta.discourse.org/u/RBoy)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/12 "2023-08-28T20:08:10Z")
Another suggestion, it would be great if it can read the list of groups and offer a dropdown to select from a list of available groups so one doesn’t have typo’s while writing the name of groups
---
### Author:  [@RBoy](https://meta.discourse.org/u/RBoy)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/13 "2023-08-28T20:10:13Z")
> [@Lilly](#):
>
> I thought you meant not-logged-in users
Yes that’s correct, I’m referring to not-logged-in-users, people who land the website and haven’t logged in or don’t have an account.
I tried something above but it didn’t work because that’s a completely different feature (it caused more confusion that it should and I’m sorry about that).
---
### Author:  [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2023, 8:11pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/14 "2023-08-28T20:11:41Z")
If you use my method above it should work. without using that other anonymous mode feature 🙂
But I will add some options specifically for anonymous users next time I update this component, which should be soon.
---
### Author:  [@RBoy](https://meta.discourse.org/u/RBoy)
#### Post date: [August 28, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/15 "2023-08-28T20:13:19Z")
I will wait for your theme update, not comfortable customizing themes manually and it becomes a maintenance nightmare for the “uninitiated” 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/16 "2023-08-30T01:24:37Z")
Just posting a link [to my other reply](https://meta.discourse.org/t/navigation-menu-sidebar-modifier/267354/23) and solution here for anyone else who might read your question here.
[https://github.com/Lillinator/anon-menu](https://github.com/Lillinator/anon-menu)
I will add this to feature to an upcoming navigation menu modifier component update.
---
### Author:  [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2023, 12:32am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/17 "2023-09-14T00:32:02Z")
> [@RBoy](#):
>
> Another suggestion, it would be great if it can read the list of groups and offer a dropdown to select from a list of available groups so one doesn’t have typo’s while writing the name of groups
I have updated this component with group drop-down selection boxes that populate with available groups. Also increased the number of menu sections to eight and added a globe icon hider.
---
### Author:  [@Aizada\_M](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Aizada_M)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2023, 11:27am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/18 "2023-09-28T11:27:05Z")
Greetings!
I just installed this awesome theme component ☑
While setting up I had a question:
1. In the instructions above, you gave an example of the name of the menu section, such as `Sectionname Menu=sectionname-menu`
> 
* * *
In my case, the name of the menu section is written in Russian, for example, “Сотрудники” (English: Staff).
> 
* * *
How should I write this section name in the `menu 1` line? Russian letters or Latin?
Maybe so:
> 
or so
> 
Is the word “`menu`” a required attribute in the text? 😅
I’ve tried all the methods, but still nothing works.
I made all groups public, as you prescribed in the instructions.
1. It seems like I can’t set the visibility of the “Community” section for certain groups using this theme component?
---
### Author:  [@Lilly](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Lilly)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2023, 12:21pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/19 "2023-09-28T12:21:10Z")
> [@Aizada\_M](#):
>
> Is the word “`menu`” a required attribute in the text?
Oh no it’s not, I just had that as part of the example menu name. For example, if the menu name is “User Info” then it would be “user-info”. The best way to do it is when you create the menu section, use the name in the Section title field and convert it to slug format with lowercase and dashes for spaces.
Then in the theme component settings, have this:
> [@Aizada\_M](#):
>
> Russian letters or Latin?
Russian I think? Whatever is in the Section title field I marked with an arrow in the first screenshot but with lowercase and dashes for spaces.
I just tested that configuration in my screenshot and it works.
> [@Aizada\_M](#):
>
> 1. It seems like I can’t set the visibility of the “Community” section for certain groups using this theme component?
Did you rename the community section in russian at any point? if not then using “community” should work (I’m assuming you mean the top unnamed default menu section).
---
### Author:  [@Aizada\_M](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Aizada_M)
#### Post date: [September 28, 2023, 1:24pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505/20 "2023-09-28T13:24:46Z")
If I write the section name in Latin letters, then everything works fine:
> 
* * *
> 
\*\*
\*\*
**And if I write the section name in Cyrillic (Russian), it doesn’t work.**
> 
* * *
> 
[Next page](https://meta.discourse.org/t/group-sidebar-menu-sections-deprecated/273505.md?page=2)