Create a directory page

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Misty Flowers

A Composer directory page uses one or more Constituent elements in Directory, Profile, or Search format to let visitors browse and search constituent profiles. Filters in the Directory element control who appears, and field visibility is governed by Constituent Manager's role settings.

💡Quick answers

  • Which element is used to build a directory page? The Constituent element (in the Module tab of the Element Library), set to Directory format.
  • What do Constituent Filters do in the Directory element? They narrow which constituents appear using AND logic across roles and groups; only constituents who match all selected criteria will show.
  • What optional elements can be added alongside the directory? A Profile format element (to show full details for a selected constituent) and a Search format element (to let visitors search by name or other criteria).
  • Why might the wrong people appear in a directory? Usually a data assignment issue: extra staff may be accidentally assigned to the role or group used in the filter. Check assignments in Constituent Manager.
  • Why might the directory appear blank? A filter conflict: if there is no overlap between the selected role and group (AND logic), no one will appear. Also check that constituent privacy settings have "List in Directory" enabled.

This article explains how to create a directory page in Composer using Constituent elements, including configuring Directory, Profile, and Search formats to build a complete community directory.

In this article

Step 1: Add Constituent element > Directory format + configure settings

The Constituent element is found in the "Module" section of the element list. Select Directory format, add the element to the page, and click the Element Settings gear icon to configure the following settings:

  • Constituent Filters: Narrow down the constituents included in the directory by role and/or group.
    • If no groups or roles are selected, the directory displays all users in Constituent Manager.
    • Select as many roles and groups as needed. The roles selected will restrict which members of the selected groups appear. For example, if "Faculty & Staff" and "Lower School" and "Upper School" are selected, faculty and staff constituents in the Lower School OR Upper School group will appear, but no other roles.
  • List Settings: Customize the directory appearance by setting the number of constituents per page, number of columns, and pagination link placement.
  • Constituent Details: Determine which information types (role, email, phone, etc.) display for each user. The selected information displays as long as it exists in each person's Constituent Manager profile. If a person lacks a phone number or email, that section displays blank.
  • Advanced: Find the checkbox labeled Ignore URL parameters.
    • This feature configures a Constituent Element to always display the same constituent(s), regardless of how the user arrives on the page.
    • Use multiple Constituent Elements on a page to display both dynamic and static information: one element can display user-selected information while another remains static and displays only the constituent information selected (for example, to create a directory that always lists certain individuals at the top of the page).
  • Link To: If set to "Page" or "Element," link this to another Constituent element in Profile format.
    • Choose the page from the site tree or select the Constituent Profile Element from the dropdown list.
    • Select which details appear first and choose to link to additional details in a popup or another Constituent Profile element on the same or different page.
    • Display links to some or all of a constituent's Boards and select a page where they will open.

Step 2: Configure additional settings in Constituent Manager

Profile information visibility may be restricted by settings in Constituent Manager > Settings > Constituent Roles > [Role] > Profile Fields, or by individual users if they are allowed to restrict what information from their profile is visible on site directories. See Customize constituent profile data for more information.

Two options exist for "Link names to profile details" and "View Profile link to profile details." These allow users to view more details about each constituent than what displays in the initial directory entry.

  • If one or both options are enabled, the Open In settings determine where the user is taken if they click the link. Details may open in a popup window or in a Constituent element (Profile format) on the same page or a different page.
  • Pop-Up Details settings govern how additional information displays.
    • The Custom format option resembles Constituent Details and allows selection from common constituent profile fields.
    • The Constituent role format displays all fields from Constituent Manager based on their privacy settings. More information is available in Customizing the Constituent Role Format.

Step 3 (Optional): Add a Constituent element > Profile format + configure settings

The Constituent Profile element displays a specific constituent's profile and does not respond dynamically to search. Configure the following settings:

  • Constituent Details: Type the constituent's name in the Constituent field to search for the desired person.
  • Advanced: Like the Directory element, the Ignore URL parameters checkbox makes this element remain static despite user selections.

Step 4 (Optional): Add a Constituent element > Search format + configure settings

The Constituent element in Search format simplifies finding a constituent by any number of criteria. Like the Directory element, which roles or groups can be searched for is defined by the Constituent Filters criteria.

  • Constituent Filters: Choose from a large number of search fields to display. Some appear as text-entry fields; others are dropdowns or multi-select menus.
  • Search Settings: Dropdown search options display any value in use for a constituent within the search filters in Constituent Manager.
    • The Open in Page selection determines whether results display on the current page or a different page.

⚠️ Important Note

Results must display in a Constituent Directory element. If directory display before a search is not desired, create a "Search Results" page and add the Constituent Directory element there.

FAQs and troubleshooting

Q: Why are the wrong people appearing in my specific directory?
A: This is usually a data assignment issue in the backend rather than a Composer setting. If the element is filtered to a specific group (for example, "District Office") but all staff are appearing, those extra staff members are likely accidentally assigned to that group or role in Constituent Manager.

Next step: Go to Constituent Manager, find the extra users, and verify they are not members of the group or role being used for the filter.

Q: Why is my directory appearing blank?
A: A blank directory usually results from a filter conflict. When both a role (for example, Alumni) and a group (for example, Staff) are selected, the element uses AND logic and only displays users in both categories. If there is no overlap, no one appears.

Next step: Ensure filter criteria actually overlap, or check the constituent's privacy settings in Constituent Manager to ensure "List in Directory" is enabled.

Q: How do I keep my directory from changing when a user performs a search elsewhere on the site?
A: By default, Constituent elements react to URL parameters (search terms). To keep a directory showing the same specific people regardless of search activity, check the Ignore URL Parameters box.

Next step: Edit the Directory element, go to the Advanced tab, and toggle on Ignore URL Parameters.

Q: Why aren't staff phone numbers or emails showing up in the directory?
A: Even if boxes are checked in Composer element settings, information remains hidden if fields are restricted in the backend.

Next step: Navigate to Constituent Manager > Settings > Constituent Roles. Select the specific role and check the Profile Fields tab to ensure fields are set to "Public" rather than "Private" or "Hidden."

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