Configure JEM's baseline display formats, frontend layout family, event lifecycle, privacy options and default event metadata. Depending on the JEM version, this tab also contains image handling or configurable event-status indicators.
Current version scope
- JEM 5.0.1 and JEM 5.0.2 Beta 1 include Image Handling inside Basic Settings.
- JEM 5.1.0 Beta 4 moves image configuration to the separate Images tab.
- JEM 5.1.0 Beta 4 adds configurable Event Status Indicators to Basic Settings.
Basic Settings provides global defaults. Menu items, modules, record values, template overrides and Joomla permissions can still change the final result for a particular page.
Navigation and Access
In the Joomla administrator, select Components → JEM → Settings → Basic Settings.
Opening or saving JEM Settings requires the applicable Joomla/JEM core.options permission. Saving validates the complete Settings form, including fields on tabs that are not currently visible.
Basic Settings at a Glance
Display
Links, dates, times and IP storage.
Layout Style
Responsive or legacy rendering and icons.
Event Handling
Lifecycle of events after they end.
JEM 5.0.1 / 5.0.2 Beta 1
Image Handling
Uploads, thumbnails and enlargement.
JEM 5.1 Beta
Status Indicators
Event status badges, ribbons, priorities and colours.
Metadata
Default event keywords and description.
Recommended Configuration Flow
1 Choose the layout Select the responsive or legacy rendering family used by the site.
2 Format dates and times Configure date, hour and suffix formats and test every active language.
3 Protect personal data Decide whether storing full, anonymized or hashed IP values is necessary.
4 Set the event lifecycle Prefer Archive or Trash before using permanent deletion.
5 Configure version-specific output Review Image Handling in JEM 5.0.x or Status Indicators in JEM 5.1.
6 Test metadata Inspect final keywords and descriptions on events with optional data missing.
Display
| Field | Initial value | Purpose and behaviour |
|---|
Show Link to Event Page
showdetails |
Yes |
Allows supported event lists to link to the event-detail page. When the Title column is enabled, the event title becomes the link. Some layouts can also make the date area or complete list row clickable. |
Format Date (short)
formatShortDate |
d.m.y |
Short format used by compact lists, date columns and supporting modules. Leave empty only when the view should use its language-string fallback. |
Format Date
formatdate |
D, j. F Y |
General format used by event details and other full-date output. It uses PHP/Joomla date-format tokens. |
Format Time
formattime |
H:i |
Formats event start and end times. Use H:i for 24-hour output or, for example, g:i A for unambiguous 12-hour output. |
Time Suffix
timename |
h |
Adds a literal suffix after formatted times, such as h or Uhr. Leave empty when the time format already includes A/a or no suffix is required. Maximum length: 10 characters. |
Format Hour
formathour |
H |
Formats hour labels in event-editing selectors. For a 12-hour selector, use an AM/PM token such as g A so morning and afternoon values remain distinguishable. |
Store IP
storeip |
No |
Enables storage of the detected IP value where JEM records a submission or registration IP. Keep disabled unless the site has a documented operational and privacy requirement. |
IP storage mode
storeipmode |
Full IP address |
Appears only when Store IP is enabled. Select Full, Anonymized or Hashed. |
Initial values are those seeded for a new installation. Upgrades preserve existing stored values wherever possible.
Date and Time Format Examples
| Wanted output | Date or time value | Recommended suffix |
|---|
| 09.08.2026 |
d.m.Y |
Not applicable |
| 9 August 2026 |
j F Y |
Not applicable |
| Sunday, 9 August 2026 |
l, j F Y |
Not applicable |
| 19:40 |
H:i |
Empty |
| 7:40 PM |
g:i A |
Empty |
| 19:40 h |
H:i |
h |
PHP tokens determine the structure, while Joomla language files translate appropriate weekday and month names. Test every active site language and avoid inserting punctuation or suffixes twice.
IP Storage Modes
| Mode | Stored result | Operational consequence |
|---|
| Full IP address |
The detected address is stored unchanged. |
Provides the greatest diagnostic precision and the greatest privacy impact. |
| Anonymized IP address |
IPv4 removes the final octet; IPv6 removes the final 64 bits. |
Retains approximate network information without host-level precision. |
| Hashed IP address |
An HMAC-SHA256 value prefixed with sha256:, using Joomla's site secret. |
It is not directly reversible. Equal inputs remain comparable while the same Joomla secret is used. |
Privacy responsibility remains with the site operator. Anonymized or hashed values can still be personal data depending on jurisdiction and context. Define the purpose, access and retention period before enabling storage.
Layout Style
| Field | Initial value | Options and effect |
|---|
Layout Style
layoutstyle |
Responsive Style |
Responsive loads the modern responsive template family. Legacy uses the older table-oriented templates. This changes template files, CSS scopes and sometimes markup, not only visual styling. |
Use Icon Font
useiconfont |
Yes |
Uses JEM's icon-font presentation for actions such as print, email and iCal where supported. No uses compatible image-based alternatives. |
Template overrides and custom stylesheets must match the selected layout family. After changing Layout Style, verify lists, details, forms, modules, maps, registration views, print output and mobile widths.
Layout-specific CSS and colours are configured under Settings → Layout.
Event Handling
| Field | Initial value | Options and effect |
|---|
Handle Old Events
oldevent |
Archive old events |
Do nothing leaves states unchanged. Archive changes qualifying published events to Archived. Trash moves qualifying published events to Trash. Delete permanently removes qualifying events. |
After Number of Days
minus |
1 day |
Appears for Archive, Trash or Delete. An event qualifies when its End Date, or its Start Date when no End Date exists, is older than this number of days. Events without a date are excluded. |
Old Event Action Comparison
| Action | Recoverable? | Important behaviour |
|---|
| Do nothing |
Not applicable |
Events remain in their current state. Menu and module filters still decide whether old events are displayed. |
| Archive |
Yes |
Qualifying published events are changed to Archived. This is suitable when historical pages or registrations must be preserved. |
| Trash |
Yes, until Trash is emptied |
Qualifying published events are moved to Trash and can be reviewed before permanent deletion. |
| Delete |
No |
Qualifying event records are deleted, and orphaned registrations are subsequently cleaned up. Use only with a verified backup and a tested recurrence workflow. |
JEM normally runs cleanup at most once per local day when the frontend component is executed. Cleanup also extends eligible recurring series before processing old events, so recurrence and lifecycle settings should be tested together.
Delete is irreversible. It can remove events, break historical URLs and cause their registrations to be removed as orphans. Archive is the safer default; Trash provides an intermediate review stage.
Image Handling in JEM 5.0.1 and JEM 5.0.2 Beta 1
In JEM 5.1.0 Beta 4 these controls are no longer part of Basic Settings. They have been expanded and moved to the separate
Images tab.
| Field | Initial value | Purpose and behaviour |
|---|
Allowed Image Files
image_filetypes |
jpg,gif,png,webp |
Comma-separated file extensions accepted by JEM image uploads. Add only formats supported by the server and every JEM output that must process them. |
Max. Image Filesize (KB)
sizelimit |
200 KB |
JEM's image upload limit in JEM 5.0.x. The effective limit can be lower when PHP, the web server or a reverse proxy imposes a smaller request limit. |
Max. Height of Thumbnails
imagehight |
200 px |
Maximum thumbnail height used during JEM image processing. |
Max. Width of Thumbnails
imagewidth |
200 px |
Maximum thumbnail width used during JEM image processing. |
Enable Pop Up Thumbnail
gddisabled |
Yes |
Shown only when GD version 2 or later is available. Yes makes a generated thumbnail enlargeable. |
Lightbox Effect
lightbox |
Yes |
When Pop Up Thumbnail is enabled, Yes opens the original image in JEM's Lightbox; No uses a separate browser popup. |
Flyer
flyer |
No |
Displays the original-resolution image instead of using the standard thumbnail workflow. |
Image Display Combinations
| Flyer | Pop Up Thumbnail | Lightbox | Standard result |
|---|
| No |
No |
Not available |
A static generated thumbnail is displayed. |
| No |
Yes |
No |
Selecting the thumbnail opens the original image in a separate browser popup. |
| No |
Yes |
Yes |
Selecting the thumbnail opens the original image in JEM's Lightbox overlay. |
| Yes |
Any |
Any |
The original image is displayed directly; the thumbnail enlargement settings do not control that output. |
Changing thumbnail dimensions does not automatically rebuild existing thumbnail files. Regenerate or reprocess old images when consistent sizing is required.
Large originals affect performance. Flyer mode can send full-resolution files to the browser. Optimize images before upload and test pages containing several images over a mobile connection.
Metadata Handling
These values provide templates for new events. When an event has no event-specific metadata, the editor starts with the global keyword selection and description. Individual events can then store their own metadata.
| Field | Available placeholders | Purpose |
|---|
Choose Keywords
meta_keywords |
[title], [a_name], [dates], [times], [enddates], [endtimes] |
Selects values used as the default event meta-keyword template. Use Ctrl on Windows/Linux or Cmd on macOS to select several entries. |
Edit Description
meta_description |
The same visible placeholder buttons |
Defines the default event meta-description template. The Suggestion button inserts: The event titled [title] starts on [dates]! |
Metadata Placeholder Reference
| Placeholder | Resolved value | When empty |
|---|
[title] |
Event title |
The placeholder contributes no useful title text. |
[a_name] |
Venue name |
Empty for an event without a venue. |
[categories] |
Comma-separated assigned category names |
Empty when no category value is available. |
[dates] |
Formatted event Start Date |
Empty for open-date events. |
[times] |
Formatted event Start Time |
Empty for events without a start time. |
[enddates] |
Formatted event End Date |
Empty when no end date is stored. |
[endtimes] |
Formatted event End Time |
Empty when no end time is stored. |
Current interface limitation: [categories] is supported by event metadata and is included in the fresh-install keyword template, but it is not currently offered by the Basic Settings keyword selector or description buttons. Saving the selector can therefore remove it from the global keyword selection.
Do not use quotation marks in the global description template. Inspect the resulting HTML <meta name="description"> on events with and without a venue, time, end date or categories.
JEM 5.1.0 Beta 4 Appendix: Event Status Indicators
JEM 5.1 Beta Event Status Indicators are available in JEM 5.1.0 Beta 4. They are not part of JEM 5.0.1 or JEM 5.0.2 Beta 1.
JEM can show one status indicator for each event in supported modules and frontend views. When an image is available, the indicator can appear as a ribbon over the event image or venue image. Without an image, it appears as a compact badge beside the event title.
Two levels must allow the indicator: the global Show status indicators switch must be enabled, and the relevant module instance or Joomla menu item must also enable status indicators.
General Indicator Options
| Field | Initial value | Options and effect |
|---|
Show status indicators
module_status_ribbons |
Yes |
Master switch for supported JEM modules and frontend views. |
Position
module_status_ribbon_position |
Diagonal — ascending |
Horizontal top, horizontal centre, horizontal bottom, diagonal ascending or diagonal descending. |
Side margin
module_status_ribbon_side_margin |
0 px |
Moves the ribbon away from the image edge. Accepted range: 0–200 pixels. |
Ribbon scale
module_status_ribbon_scale |
100% |
Scales the complete ribbon. Accepted range: 50–200% in 5% steps. |
Last places threshold
module_status_last_places_threshold |
10 |
Shows Last places when the calculated available capacity is lower than this value. Accepted range: 1–9999. |
New event period
module_status_new_days |
7 days |
An event is considered New for this number of days after its creation. Accepted range: 1–365. |
Indicator Priority
JEM displays only one indicator for each event. The first applicable enabled group wins:
- Event status: Cancelled, Postponed, Rescheduled or Moved online.
- Booking availability: Preorder, Sold out, Waiting list or Last places.
- New: the event is inside the configured New event period.
- Open: registration is currently open.
The priority prevents several ribbons from competing for the same image or title. Disabling a higher-priority status allows the next applicable enabled status to be evaluated.
Available Indicators and Default Colours
| Indicator | Enabled initially | Background | Text | When it applies |
|---|
| Cancelled |
Yes |
#b3261ee6 |
#ffffff |
The event status is Cancelled. |
| Postponed |
Yes |
#b55b00e6 |
#ffffff |
The event status is Postponed. |
| Rescheduled |
Yes |
#2456a5e6 |
#ffffff |
The event status is Rescheduled. |
| Moved online |
Yes |
#247a3de6 |
#ffffff |
The event status is Moved online. |
| Preorder |
Yes |
#b55b00e6 |
#ffffff |
The event availability is marked as Preorder. |
| Sold out |
Yes |
#b3261ee6 |
#ffffff |
The event is marked Sold out or has no remaining limited-capacity places. |
| Waiting list |
Yes |
#b55b00e6 |
#ffffff |
No places remain and waiting-list registration is available. |
| Last places |
Yes |
#b55b00e6 |
#ffffff |
Remaining places are below the configured threshold. |
| New |
Yes |
#2456a5e6 |
#ffffff |
The event was created within the configured New event period. |
| Open |
No |
#247a3de6 |
#ffffff |
Registration is open and no higher-priority indicator applies. |
Colour Format
- Background: must use
#RRGGBBAA, including the final alpha/transparency value.
- Text: must use
#RRGGBB.
- Examples:
#b3261ee6 is a partly transparent red background; #ffffff is white text.
- Invalid colour codes prevent Settings from being saved.
Supported Frontend Views
Status indicators are prepared for the following frontend views when the corresponding menu option permits them:
- Category
- Day
- Event Details
- Events Blog
- Simple List / Events List
- Search
- Type Events
- Venue
Supported JEM modules can also display the indicator as a badge beside the title or as a ribbon over an image. Module options can independently disable status indicators or adjust the ribbon scale for compatible image modes.
Practical Examples
- Select Responsive Layout and enable the icon font.
- Use the site's normal date format and an unambiguous time format.
- Set Handle Old Events to Archive after 1 day.
- Keep Store IP disabled unless there is a documented need.
- Test a single event and a recurring series before relying on daily cleanup.
- Confirm that GD version 2 or later is available in Config Info.
- Set acceptable file types and a realistic KB limit.
- Set thumbnail width and height.
- Enable Pop Up Thumbnail and Lightbox.
- Keep Flyer disabled.
- Upload a new image and verify both the thumbnail and original. Existing thumbnails may require regeneration.
- Enable Show status indicators globally.
- Keep event lifecycle statuses, Sold out, Waiting list, Last places and New enabled.
- Leave Open disabled to avoid showing an indicator on most registration-enabled events.
- Set Last places threshold to 10 and New event period to 7 days.
- Select a diagonal ribbon for image-based layouts.
- Enable Show status indicators in the required modules or menu items.
- Test events with and without event or venue images.
Example template:
[title] takes place at [a_name] on [dates] at [times].
Test an event without a venue or time. If the result contains an incomplete phrase, use a simpler global template or enter event-specific metadata.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|
| Event titles do not link to details |
Enable Show Link to Event Page and confirm that the active list displays a supported clickable element. Check menu, module and template override options. |
| Date or time output is unexpected |
Validate PHP format tokens, remove duplicate Time Suffix content and test the active language. Check whether the menu or module has its own format. |
| IP storage mode is missing |
Enable Store IP. The mode field remains hidden while IP storage is disabled. |
| Old events have not changed state |
Confirm the action and number of days, then trigger a JEM frontend request or run Housekeeping. The end date takes priority and open-date events are excluded. |
| An event was deleted instead of archived |
Check Handle Old Events immediately and restore from backup if possible. Delete cannot be undone through JEM Trash. |
| Image options are missing from JEM 5.1 Basic Settings |
This is expected. Open the separate Images tab. |
| Pop Up Thumbnail is not shown in JEM 5.0.x |
Check that GD version 2 or later is available. The option is conditionally rendered from the detected server capability. |
| Existing thumbnails keep their old size |
Dimension changes affect new or regenerated thumbnails and do not automatically rebuild existing files. |
| Status indicators are absent in JEM 5.1 |
Check the global master switch, the individual status switch and the module or menu-item Show status indicators option. Cached module output can delay changes. |
| A ribbon is replaced by a text badge |
No supported event or venue image was available. JEM falls back to a badge beside the title. |
| The expected status is not displayed |
Only one status is shown. Check whether a higher-priority event or booking status applies. |
| Settings rejects a status colour |
Use exactly #RRGGBBAA for the background and #RRGGBB for text. |
| Metadata contains empty or awkward phrases |
Test optional placeholders with open-date, no-time and no-venue events. Simplify the global template or edit the individual event metadata. |
Saving and Verification
- Select Save and review validation or permission messages from every Settings tab.
- Open affected frontend pages in a private browser window and with each relevant user role.
- Test dated, open-date, timed, all-day, recurring and multi-day events.
- For JEM 5.0.x, upload a new image and compare it with an existing image and thumbnail.
- For JEM 5.1, test each required status in a module, list view and event-detail view.
- Test status output both with and without an event or venue image.
- Inspect the final page source for event keywords and description.
- Record non-default and privacy-sensitive values in the site's maintenance notes.
Technical Notes
- JEM 5.0.1 and JEM 5.0.2 Beta 1 render Display, Layout Style, Event Handling, Image Handling and Metadata Handling inside Basic Settings.
- JEM 5.1.0 Beta 4 moves image configuration to the Images tab and adds Event Status Indicators to Basic Settings.
- Fresh-install values are seeded in
#__jem_config. Upgraded sites retain existing values, so XML form fallbacks are not always the effective defaults.
- Daily cleanup uses End Date when present, otherwise Start Date, and excludes events without a date.
- Archive and Trash update qualifying published events. Delete permanently removes qualifying events and subsequent maintenance removes orphaned registrations.
- IP hashing uses HMAC-SHA256 with Joomla's site secret. Anonymization masks the last IPv4 octet or final 64 IPv6 bits.
- The internal setting name
gddisabled is historical; the administrator-facing option is Enable Pop Up Thumbnail.
- JEM 5.1 renders one status indicator per event, using event status before booking availability, New and Open.
- Status backgrounds use eight-digit hexadecimal colours with alpha. Status text uses six-digit hexadecimal colours.
- Metadata placeholders are resolved when the event document is prepared, using the configured full date and time formats.
Related Documentation
- JEM Settings — overview of all current Settings tabs.
- Images — JEM 5.1 image profiles, dimensions, ratios and storage rules.
- Layout — columns, colours and standard or custom stylesheet selection.
- Global Parameters — timezone, recurrence, attachments, logging and operational defaults.
- User Control — frontend submission, registration and user permissions.
- Config Info — inspect GD, libraries and environment information.
- Housekeeping — run and review maintenance operations.
Related GitHub Issues
