Custom Links

Introduction

Custom links allow you to create your own menu items and content that are accessible by your franchise network.

Your custom links can link to content, external websites (opened in a new window) as well as iFrames.

Creating a Link Group

Link groups are used to organise your custom links. To create your first link group, navigate to Custom Links under 'Settings' and click 'Link Groups':

Here you can access and modify your Link Groups, as well as adding new ones.

Click 'Add a Link Group' to create a new one:

Next, you can define a title for your link group:

Click 'Submit' to create your new link group.

Next, you can create an icon and limit access to this link group by clicking 'Edit' on your link group:

This will open a window where you can search for an icon to accompany your link group, as well as limiting access to specific user roles if required.

Click 'Save' to finalise.

Finally, check the left-hand navigation menu, you should see your new link group along with its created icon:

Right now, your link group will be empty. Next, let's create your first custom link.

Creating a Custom Link

To create a custom link, navigate back to Custom Links under 'Settings' within the FranchiseBase dashboard.

Click 'Custom Link' to access your custom links:

Here you can access all of your custom links and create new ones.

Click 'Add a Custom Link' to create your first link:

This will open a form to populate the main details of your custom link.

You'll have several options for the 'Type' of link you're creating, please see below for explanations:

• Iframe - This will embed a webpage within your FranchiseBase platform. To use this, please make sure that the external link you're embedding allows iFrames.
• Content - This allows you to define custom content and include rich media such as videos for your users to access.
• External URL  - This will make your custom link re-direct your users to a specific web page, away from FranchiseBase and opened in a new tab/window.

You'll also have the ability to limit access to custom groups, as well as customising link content based on a specific franchise location (more on that later - see customising content by location further down this guide).

Once you've completed the form, click 'Submit' to finalise:

Editing & Publishing a Custom Link

After you've created your custom link, you'll be re-directed back to the custom links list.

Initially, your new custom link will be 'Unpublished' and not visible to you or other users in the menu.

Click the custom link title to complete setup:

Next, click 'Edit' to setup your custom link:

Here you can define the information for your custom link.

Link Group

You can group your custom link to a link group by selecting the group that you created earlier:

If you don't assign a Link Group, your custom link will appear directly in the main menu.

Link Type

If you've selected Iframe or External URL, simply enter the full website link in the 'URL' field:

If you've selected Content, use the Content field in order to create the information that will be displayed on your custom link:

Finally, click 'Save' to finalise your custom link.

Don't forget to Publish your link by clicking 'Publish' on the Custom Link page:

Embedding a Video on your 'Content' Custom Link

To add a video embed to your custom link, make sure 'Content' is the selected and navigate down to 'Video URL' on the Custom Link 'Edit' screen:

Here you can link to an MP4 file. If you wish to host your file on FranchiseBase, first upload your video file to the Documents section and right-click copy the Video link address, pasting it in the Video URL field.

Click save, and when published you'll see on your custom link the video embedded.

Customising a Custom Link Per Franchise Location

Custom Links can be customised so that your users see personalised content depending on their franchise location.

To do this, click the 'Edit' button on the Custom Link screen that you wish to personalise, and scroll down to 'Customise Link' settings:

First, check the 'Customise Link/Content for Franchise Locations button:

Next, click 'Add New' under 'Custom Link Locations'.

This will create a new set of fields. First, select the franchise location you wish to assign:

Next, select the Link Type you wish to use:

Finally, enter your content, or URL as you did earlier.

Click Save, and your Milton Keynes users will see the personalised content.

Note on customising content per location:

If you customise based on location, and a franchise location isn't covered in your custom content, then they will see the default content that you defined for that custom link.