The Global Parameters tab defines shared JEM behaviour used by frontend views, backend workflows, routing, logs, exports, attachments, recurrence generation and frontend editing forms. These values apply site-wide unless a supported menu item, module, record or user permission provides a more specific setting.
Current version scope
- This documentation applies to JEM 5.0.1 and JEM 5.0.2 Beta 1.
- Options marked JEM 5.1 Beta are available in JEM 5.1.0 Beta 4.
- Upgraded sites preserve existing values, so their configuration can differ from the fresh-install defaults shown below.
Menu items, modules, plugins, template overrides, record values and Joomla permissions can change the result for a particular page or user. Use Global Parameters for defaults that should apply broadly across the site.
Where to Find These Options
Open the Joomla administrator and go to Components → JEM → Settings → Global Parameters.
The tab is organised into the following areas:
- Operating Profile: selects the available JEM feature set in JEM 5.1.
- Display & Navigation: filters, icons, event times, registration names, routing and backend ordering indicators.
- Edit Event: frontend venue selection, allowed time ranges and custom-field limits.
- Edit Venue: frontend venue custom-field limits.
- Calendar Special Days: calendar highlighting and optionally blocked day types.
- Global Recurrence: recurrence generation horizons.
- CSV Import & Export: separator, delimiter and UTF-8 BOM.
- System Integrations: logs, action logging, map credentials and uninstall behaviour.
- Access & Visibility: discoverability of restricted events, venues and categories.
- Lists & Calendar: backend event ordering, categories, list limits, category images and ICS limits.
- Time & Regional: ICS timezone handling, event time reference, first weekday and flags.
- Attachments: storage, file types, maximum size and presentation.
- Default Content Values: default category, venue, country and, in JEM 5.1, currency.
How Global Settings Are Resolved
When a result differs from the global value, check the configuration in this order:
- The active JEM operating profile, where applicable.
- JEM Global Parameters.
- The active Joomla menu item's JEM options.
- The event, venue, category or type record.
- Joomla ACL, JEM category or venue permissions and ownership rules.
- Module and plugin configuration.
- Template overrides and custom CSS.
A global display setting never grants permission. Joomla ACL, JEM resource permissions and ownership checks continue to apply independently.
When to Use Global Parameters
| Scenario | Recommended configuration | Reason |
|---|
| Consistent frontend controls |
Configure filters, list limits, icons, print, email, archive and iCalendar actions globally. |
Provides the same base controls across JEM list and detail views. |
| Restricted content should remain discoverable |
Select the access levels whose restricted events, venues or categories may appear with a lock indicator. |
Visitors can discover limited information without gaining access to protected detail pages. |
| Frontend event submission |
Configure venue ownership, allowed hours, minute intervals and custom-field limits. |
Makes user-created content more consistent and easier to review. |
| File uploads and data exchange |
Review attachment restrictions and the CSV separator, delimiter and BOM. |
Reduces upload risk and improves spreadsheet compatibility. |
| Recurring-event site |
Use conservative recurrence generation horizons. |
Avoids creating more future event records than the site needs. |
| Audited organisation |
Enable Joomla User Actions Log and use diagnostic logging only when needed. |
Provides accountability without retaining excessive operational data. |
| Holidays and closure periods |
Enable Calendar Special Days and configure reusable Special Day types. |
Provides consistent calendar highlighting and optional event blocking. |
| Advanced programme or capacity management |
Select the Advanced Events & Venues operating profile in JEM 5.1. |
Enables the advanced venue, capacity, admission-price and notification workflows. |
Display and Navigation
These options establish common frontend display and action defaults.
| Option group | Purpose |
|---|
| Show Filter and Show Limitbox |
Control the filter area and page-size selector in supported frontend lists. |
| Show Icons |
Use icons instead of alternative text where both outputs are supported. |
| Print, Archive, Email and iCal icons |
Control the corresponding frontend actions globally. |
| Show Time |
Sets the global default for displaying event times. |
| Display User Name |
Chooses whether registration-related output uses the Joomla name or username. |
| Enable Highlighter |
Highlights search terms in supported event and venue result views. |
| Show order number |
Displays the numeric position beside draggable ordering controls in the backend. |
A menu item can override or refine many display defaults for its own page. If only one frontend view looks different, inspect that menu item before changing the global value.
Default Event Menu Itemid
Default Event Menu Itemid allows JEM to use a particular Joomla menu item when generating event-detail links. This helps maintain consistent modules, template styles, layouts and SEF routing when links originate from different parts of the site.
- Enter the ID of a published Joomla menu item configured as a JEM Single Event view.
- Use it when event details otherwise open with inconsistent modules or layouts.
- Leave it empty when Joomla should resolve the active menu item automatically.
Use a valid, published menu item. An incorrect target can produce unexpected routes, module assignments or event-detail layouts.
Access and Visibility
The locked-content options determine whether restricted records remain visible in supported lists.
- Show Locked Events: displays limited event information for selected restricted access levels.
- Show Locked Venues: displays limited venue information for selected restricted access levels.
- Show Locked Categories: displays limited category information for selected restricted access levels.
These options only affect discoverability. A lock icon or limited list entry does not grant access to the protected detail page.
Lists, Calendar and Regional Settings
Backend Event Ordering
The default backend event order can use the event date, start time, event title or venue. The selected direction can be ascending or descending.
A column selected manually during the current administrator session takes precedence over this default.
Category and List Options
- Event Categories order: sorts categories by ID or name, ascending or descending.
- Default List Limit: defines the initial number of records in supported frontend lists.
- Show Category Images: displays category images where supported by the active layout.
- Max ICS Events: limits the number of records included in an iCalendar export.
Timezone Handling
- ICS Timezone Handling — Float: exports local-looking times without associating them with the Joomla timezone.
- ICS Timezone Handling — Joomla: associates exported dates and times with the timezone configured in Joomla.
- Default time reference for new events — Joomla: new events use the Joomla timezone.
- Default time reference for new events — Venue: new events use the venue timezone and fall back to Joomla when the venue has no timezone.
The event time reference affects newly created events. Existing events preserve their stored value for backward compatibility.
Regional Defaults
- First Day of Week: selects Sunday or Monday as the calendar week start.
- Flag Icons Folder Path: specifies the relative media path containing country flags.
Frontend Event and Venue Editing
These groups constrain the choices shown in frontend event and venue forms.
- Owned Venues: restricts the event venue selector to venues owned by the current user.
- Start hour limit: sets the first selectable event hour.
- End hour limit: sets the final selectable event hour.
- Minutes block: controls the interval used to generate minute choices.
- Event custom-field limit: limits the number of built-in JEM fields shown in the frontend event form.
- Venue custom-field limit: limits the number of built-in JEM fields shown in the frontend venue form.
These values shape the form but do not grant editing rights. Category permissions, venue permissions, ownership rules and Joomla ACL remain authoritative.
Attachments
Attachment settings define where JEM stores uploaded files, which extensions are accepted and how downloads are displayed.
- Attachment Folder Path: a path relative to the Joomla site root. The fresh-install value is
media/com_jem/attachments.
- Allowed Files: a comma-separated extension allow-list.
- Max. Filesize: the maximum size in kilobytes. A fresh installation uses
1000 kB.
- Attachment layout: displays files as rows or columns, with full-width or uniform variants.
- Show file icon: hides file icons or displays normal, medium or large icons.
Attachment security
- Allow only the formats the site genuinely requires.
- Do not allow executable or otherwise unsafe file types.
- Joomla, PHP and the web server can impose stricter upload limits.
- Do not use normal public attachments for confidential documents. Files stored below the public web root can remain accessible through a direct URL unless the web server or a protected download controller blocks them.
Default Content Values
- Default Category: preselects a category for new events.
- Default Venue: preselects a venue for new events.
- Default Country: preselects a country for new venues.
- Default Currency: defines the ISO 4217 currency copied into new JEM 5.1 admission-price and order records.
Default values speed up data entry but do not override category permissions, venue permissions or field validation.
Global Recurrence
Recurrence anticipation values define how far into the future JEM generates daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and last-day occurrences. Every value is expressed in months.
Large horizons can create many event records and increase maintenance work. Use limits that reflect the site's actual planning horizon and define an end date for finite series.
Calendar Special Days
Enable Special Days when calendar views need holidays, weekends, closures or other highlighted day types. Each type can define a label, colour, priority and whether events are blocked for that day.
Use the Manage Special Day types button in Global Parameters to edit the available types. Do not edit their stored data manually.
A fresh installation enables Special Days and includes initial Weekend and Public holiday types. Existing upgraded sites preserve their previous configuration.
CSV Import and Export
- CSV Separator: comma, semicolon or tab.
- CSV Delimiter: none, single quote or double quote.
- Insert BOM: adds a UTF-8 Byte Order Mark for spreadsheet applications that do not detect UTF-8 reliably.
Semicolon-separated and double-quoted fields are often practical for European spreadsheet applications, but the correct choice is the one tested with the software used by site administrators.
Logging, Audit Trail and External Services
- Write Logfile: controls JEM diagnostic detail from Off to All. A fresh installation uses Warning.
- Joomla User Actions Log: records supported administrator actions when the JEM action-log plugin is installed and enabled.
- Google API Key: supplies credentials to supported Google map services.
- Google Client ID: supports applicable Google business-account map configurations.
- Cleanup DB on Uninstall: removes JEM database data when JEM is uninstalled.
Cleanup DB on Uninstall is destructive.
Leave it disabled when uninstalling and reinstalling forms part of an update or recovery process. Always keep a verified backup of production data.
Recommended Configurations
| Example | Suggested configuration | Verification |
|---|
| Public community calendar |
Essential profile, frontend filters enabled, 10 or 20 records per page, category images enabled, Joomla timezone for ICS and PDF enabled only for required views. |
Browse lists as Guest, export an ICS file and open event details from different menu items. |
| University programme |
Advanced profile, programmes and venue hierarchy, venue timezone, controlled frontend editing, action logging and capacity-aware registration. |
Test a normal event, a multi-space venue, capacity limits, reminders and a restricted editor account. |
| International event directory |
Joomla timezone for ICS, venue time reference for new events, Monday as first weekday, default country and UTF-8 BOM enabled. |
Test events in multiple venue timezones and open CSV/ICS exports in the target applications. |
| Controlled editorial workflow |
Owned Venues enabled, restricted event hours, 15-minute blocks, limited frontend custom fields and Joomla User Actions Log enabled. |
Test submission and editing with a normal frontend editor rather than a Super User. |
| Document-heavy events |
Use a strict extension allow-list, suitable file-size limit, column layout and normal file icons. |
Upload valid, oversized, disallowed and misleadingly named test files. |
Complete Configuration Reference
The following tables document every editable option shown in Global Parameters. The Default column describes a current fresh installation. Upgraded sites preserve existing values.
Operating Profile
| Option | Version | Default | Values and effect |
|---|
Operating Profile
operating_profile |
JEM 5.1 Beta |
essential |
essential or advanced. Determines which completed JEM capabilities are available. |
Access and Visibility
| Option | Default | Values | Practical effect |
|---|
Show Locked Events
access_level_locked_events |
Public access level |
One or more Joomla access levels |
Shows limited event information with a lock indicator when the current user cannot access the detail page. |
Show Locked Venues
access_level_locked_venues |
Public access level |
One or more Joomla access levels |
Shows limited venue information with a lock indicator. |
Show Locked Categories
access_level_locked_categories |
Public access level |
One or more Joomla access levels |
Shows limited category information with a lock indicator. |
Lists and Calendar
| Option | Default | Values | Practical effect |
|---|
Backend event order
backend_events_order |
Event date |
Date, start time, title or venue |
Selects the default field used to order backend event tables. |
Sort direction
backend_events_direction |
Ascending |
Ascending or descending |
Selects the default direction for backend event tables. |
Event Categories order
categories_order |
Name, ascending |
ID ascending, ID descending, name ascending or name descending |
Defines the order of categories in supported selectors and lists. |
Max ICS Events
ical_max_items |
100 |
Positive number |
Limits the number of events exported in an ICS file. |
Default List Limit
display_num |
10 |
5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, 100 or All |
Sets the initial number of records in supported frontend lists. |
Show Category Images
discatheader |
Yes |
Yes or No |
Displays category images in supported layouts. |
Time and Regional
| Option | Default | Values | Practical effect |
|---|
ICS Timezone Handling
ical_tz |
Joomla |
Float or Joomla |
Controls whether exported ICS times float or use the Joomla timezone. |
Default time reference for new events
event_timezone_default |
Joomla |
Joomla or Venue |
Sets the initial time reference for newly created events. Venue mode falls back to Joomla when no venue timezone exists. |
First Day of Week
weekdaystart |
Monday |
Sunday or Monday |
Defines the first weekday in supported calendar views. |
Flag Icons Folder Path
flagicons_path |
media/com_jem/images/flags/w80-webp/ |
Relative media path |
Specifies the folder containing the country flag icons. |
Attachments
| Option | Default | Values | Practical effect |
|---|
Attachment Folder Path
attachments_path |
media/com_jem/attachments |
Path relative to the Joomla root |
Defines the base folder used for JEM attachments. |
Allowed Files
attachments_types |
txt,pdf,doc,docx,xls,xlsx,ppt,pptx,csv,ics,jpg,jpeg,gif,png,webp,zip,tar.gz |
Comma-separated extensions |
Restricts the file extensions accepted by JEM attachment uploads. |
Max. Filesize
attachments_maxsize |
1000 kB |
Positive number in kilobytes |
Sets the maximum JEM attachment size, subject to stricter server limits. |
Attachment layout
attachments_layout |
Column |
Row, row full width, row uniform, column, column full width or column uniform |
Controls how attachment links are arranged. |
Show file icon
attachments_icon_size |
Normal |
No icon, normal, medium or large |
Controls whether attachment lists show a file-type icon and its size. |
Default Content Values
| Option | Version | Default | Practical effect |
|---|
Default Category
defaultCategory |
All current versions |
No category |
Preselects a category for new events. |
Default Venue
defaultVenue |
All current versions |
No venue |
Preselects a venue for new events. |
Default Country
defaultCountry |
All current versions |
No country |
Preselects a country for new venues. |
Default Currency
defaultCurrency |
JEM 5.1 Beta |
EUR |
Sets the ISO 4217 currency for new admission-price and order records. It does not enable online payments. |
CSV Import and Export
| Option | Default | Values | Practical effect |
|---|
CSV Separator
csv_separator |
Semicolon |
Comma, semicolon or tab |
Separates fields in import, export and attendee CSV files. |
CSV Delimiter
csv_delimiter |
Double quote |
None, single quote or double quote |
Wraps individual CSV fields. |
Insert BOM
csv_bom |
Yes |
Yes or No |
Adds a UTF-8 Byte Order Mark to exported files. |
Global Recurrence
| Option | Default | Unit | Practical effect |
|---|
Daily recurrence horizon
recurrence_anticipation_day |
3 |
Months |
Generates daily recurrences up to the current date plus this horizon. |
Weekly recurrence horizon
recurrence_anticipation_week |
12 |
Months |
Generates weekly recurrences up to the configured horizon. |
Monthly recurrence horizon
recurrence_anticipation_month |
60 |
Months |
Generates monthly recurrences up to the configured horizon. |
Yearly recurrence horizon
recurrence_anticipation_year |
180 |
Months |
Generates yearly recurrences up to the configured horizon. |
Last-day recurrence horizon
recurrence_anticipation_lastday |
60 |
Months |
Generates last-day recurrences up to the configured horizon. |
Display and Navigation
| Option | Default | Values | Practical effect |
|---|
Show Filter
global_show_filter |
Yes |
Yes or No |
Shows or hides the filter area in supported frontend lists. |
Show Limitbox
global_display |
Yes |
Yes or No |
Shows or hides the frontend page-size selector. |
Show Icons
global_show_icons |
Yes |
Yes or No |
Uses icons instead of alternative text where supported. |
Show Print icon
global_show_print_icon |
Yes |
Yes or No |
Shows or hides the print action. |
Show Archive icon
global_show_archive_icon |
Yes |
Yes or No |
Shows or hides the archive action. |
Show Email icon
global_show_email_icon |
Yes |
Yes or No |
Shows or hides the email-sharing action. |
Show iCal icon
global_show_ical_icon |
Yes |
Yes or No |
Shows or hides ICS export. |
Show Time
global_show_timedetails |
Yes |
Yes or No |
Sets the global event-time display default. |
Display User Name
global_regname |
Name |
Name or username |
Chooses the user identifier displayed in registration-related output. |
Enable Highlighter
highlight |
No |
Yes or No |
Highlights matching search terms in supported result views. |
Default Event Menu Itemid
default_Itemid |
Empty |
Published Single Event menu-item ID |
Provides a consistent menu context for event-detail links. |
Show order number
backend_show_order_numbers |
Yes |
Yes or No |
Displays numeric positions beside draggable backend ordering controls. |
System Integrations
| Option | Default | Values | Practical effect |
|---|
Write Logfile
loglevel |
Warning |
Off, Error, Warning, Info, Debug or All |
Writes messages of the selected or higher priority to the JEM log. |
Joomla User Actions Log
actionlog_enabled |
No |
Yes or No |
Records supported JEM administrator actions when the JEM action-log plugin is enabled. |
Google API Key
global_googleapi |
Empty |
Google API credential |
Supplies the API key to supported Google map features. |
Google Client ID
global_googleclientid |
Empty |
Google business Client ID |
Supports applicable Google business map configurations. |
Cleanup DB on Uninstall
global_cleanup_db_on_uninstall |
No |
Yes or No |
Deletes JEM database data when the component is uninstalled. |
Frontend Editing
| Option | Default | Values | Practical effect |
|---|
Owned Venues
global_show_ownedvenuesonly |
No |
Yes or No |
Restricts the frontend event venue selector to venues owned by the current user. |
Start hour limit
global_editevent_starttime_limit |
00 |
00–23 |
Sets the first selectable hour in the frontend event form. |
End hour limit
global_editevent_endtime_limit |
23 |
00–23 |
Sets the final selectable hour in the frontend event form. |
Minutes block
global_editevent_minutes_block |
5 |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30 or 60 minutes |
Generates the available minute values in event time selectors. |
Maximum Event Custom Fields
global_editevent_maxnumcustomfields |
All |
All, none or 1–9 |
Limits the built-in JEM custom fields shown in the frontend event form. |
Maximum Venue Custom Fields
global_editvenue_maxnumcustomfields |
All |
All, none or 1–9 |
Limits the built-in JEM custom fields shown in the frontend venue form. |
Enable Special Days
calendar_special_days_enabled |
Yes on a fresh installation |
Yes or No |
Enables configured Special Day rules in supported calendar views. |
JEM 5.1.0 Beta 4 Appendix
Operating Profiles
JEM 5.1 introduces an operating-profile selector at the top of Global Parameters. The profile controls which completed feature areas are available; it does not replace Joomla ACL.
Essential
Provides standard event and venue management, calendars and classic registration.
- Events, venues, categories and types
- Calendar and list views
- Classic registration
- Standard event and venue forms
Advanced Events & Venues
Adds advanced organisational, venue, capacity, pricing and notification capabilities.
- Programmes
- Venue hierarchies and reusable venue profiles
- Spaces, layouts and capacity configuration
- Capacity-aware registration
- Admission-price configuration
- Notification and reminder automation
Ticketing & Check-in and Commerce & Payments are displayed as planned future profiles but cannot be selected in JEM 5.1.0 Beta 4. Advanced admission prices do not enable payment collection or individual QR tickets.
Changing the operating profile does not delete stored events, venues or advanced configuration. Features not provided by the selected profile become unavailable until a compatible profile is selected again.
Initial Profile Selection
After installing or upgrading to JEM 5.1, Global Parameters can display a Setup required indicator. Review the available profiles, select the profile appropriate for the site and save Settings.
If no profile has been explicitly configured, JEM uses the safe Essential profile.
Default Currency
JEM 5.1 adds a default ISO 4217 currency. The value is copied into new admission-price and order records so stored financial data does not depend on a currency that can later change globally.
The fresh-install value is EUR. Select the site's actual working currency before creating advanced admission prices.
After Updating JEM
- Review and save the operating profile after upgrading to JEM 5.1.
- Confirm that default category, venue, country and currency values are appropriate.
- Check Default Event Menu Itemid when event details open with the wrong modules or layout.
- Review attachment paths, allowed file types, maximum size, layout and icon display.
- Export a representative CSV file and open it in the spreadsheet application used by administrators.
- Export a test ICS file and import it into the calendar applications used by visitors.
- Review recurrence horizons before creating or editing a large recurring series.
- Verify action logging and Calendar Special Days when either feature is enabled.
- With the Advanced profile, verify the Notifications tab and Joomla Scheduled Tasks status.
Troubleshooting
Advanced features or Notifications are missing
- Open Global Parameters and confirm that Advanced Events & Venues is selected.
- Save Settings after changing the operating profile.
- Confirm that the required JEM plugins are installed and enabled.
Event details use the wrong modules or layout
- Check Default Event Menu Itemid.
- Confirm that the referenced menu item is published and uses the JEM Single Event view.
- Check Joomla SEF routing and module or template assignments for that menu item.
New events use the wrong timezone
- Check Default time reference for new events.
- If Venue is selected, confirm that the selected venue has a valid timezone.
- Remember that the global option does not rewrite existing events.
Attachments cannot be uploaded
- Check the relative attachment folder path and filesystem permissions.
- Check the allowed extension list.
- Compare the JEM maximum size with Joomla, PHP and web-server upload limits.
CSV columns or characters are incorrect
- Use the separator expected by the target locale and spreadsheet application.
- Use double quotes when fields can contain commas, semicolons or line breaks.
- Enable BOM when the application does not detect UTF-8 correctly.
Recurring events create too many records
- Reduce the relevant recurrence anticipation value.
- Use a recurrence end date when the series is finite.
- Test changes on a staging site before modifying a large production series.
Saving and Verification
- Select Save and review validation or permission warnings.
- Open affected frontend views in a private browser window.
- Repeat permission-sensitive tests with each relevant user group.
- Test a representative event and venue with attachments, restrictions and optional fields.
- Test CSV and ICS exports in the applications used by administrators and visitors.
- When using JEM 5.1 Advanced, test programmes, capacity, admission prices and reminder automation.
- Record non-default values in the site's maintenance documentation.
Code Sources
admin/views/settings/tmpl/default_parameters.phpadmin/views/settings/tmpl/default_profile.phpadmin/models/forms/settings.xmlsite/classes/featurepolicy.class.phpadmin/sql/install.mysql.utf8.sql
This article documents JEM 5.0.1, JEM 5.0.2 Beta 1 and JEM 5.1.0 Beta 4. Menu-item options can override supported global display defaults. Record-level values, resource permissions and Joomla ACL continue to apply independently.
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