Types

The Types frontend documentation explains the JEM views that let visitors browse events and venues by type. Types are optional classification records managed in the JEM backend and can be used alongside categories, venues, calendars, maps, and search filters.

Types do not replace categories. Categories are still the main event structure in JEM, while event types and venue types provide additional ways to group, filter, and present content.

Type Views

JEM provides two main frontend type views: one for events and one for venues. Each menu item points to one published type and shows the matching records.

View	Use it for	Main output
Event Types	Display events assigned to one selected event type.	Type header, type description, event list, filters, ordering, and pagination.
Venue Types	Display venues assigned to one selected venue type.	Type header, type description, venue list, filters, map actions, calendar links, and pagination.

When to Use Types

Use types when the site needs a classification that cuts across categories or venues. They are especially useful when visitors naturally think in terms of formats, venue kinds, audiences, or event styles.

Need	Recommended view	Example
Browse events by format	Event Types	Concerts, workshops, lectures, meetings, guided tours.
Browse events by audience	Event Types	Family, students, professionals, members, public programme.
Browse venues by kind	Venue Types	Theatres, museums, halls, classrooms, outdoor venues.
Support map-based venue discovery	Venue Types or Venues Map	Venue type pages with map buttons, or a dedicated map view for map-first browsing.

Creating Type Menu Items

Create or review the type in Components → JEM → Types.
Make sure the type is published and assigned to the correct entity: event or venue.
Create a Joomla menu item for the required JEM type view.
Select the published type in the menu item options.
Review filter, display, intro text, footer text, and layout options.
Test the frontend page with published records assigned to that type.

A menu item for Event Types can only select event types. A menu item for Venue Types can only select venue types. If a type is created for the wrong entity, it will not appear in the expected selector.

Filters and Personalization

Type views inherit much of their display behaviour from the normal event and venue list views. This means filters, ordering, columns, intro text, footer text, and template output can be adjusted using the relevant JEM settings and menu item options.

Event Types: can use event list filters such as title, venue, city, or category when enabled.
Venue Types: can use venue list filters such as venue, city, country, or state when enabled.
Intro and footer text: can add page-specific explanatory text above or below the list.
Template overrides: can change the HTML structure when configuration is not enough.
Custom CSS: can style type headers, icons, lists, filters, map buttons, and calendar links.

Map-Related Behaviour

Type views are not dedicated map views, but they can still be part of a map-oriented workflow.

Event Types: displays a filtered event list. Use Events Map when the map should be the main interface.
Venue Types: can show venue map actions when the layout includes map output and venues have coordinates.
Venues Map: is the better choice when visitors should start from a map of venues.
Coordinates: map buttons and map results depend on venue latitude and longitude values.

If a venue appears in a Venue Types list but has no coordinates, the venue can still be listed while the map action is unavailable.

Backend Preparation

Type views depend on clean backend data. Before publishing type menu items, review the type records and the content assigned to them.

Create meaningful type names and descriptions.
Use icons or colors only when they help visitors understand the classification.
Assign event types to events and venue types to venues consistently.
Publish only the types that should be available on the frontend.
Review access levels and language settings for multilingual or restricted sites.

Recommended Workflow

Decide whether the classification belongs to events or venues.
Create the type in the backend and assign it to the correct entity.
Assign the type to real events or venues.
Create the frontend type menu item.
Review filters, display options, map actions, and calendar links.
Test the page as a public visitor and as a logged-in user if access levels are used.

Troubleshooting

A type does not appear in the menu item selector

Check that the type is published.
Check that the type is assigned to the correct entity.
Use Event Types for event types and Venue Types for venue types.
Check language and access settings if the site uses restrictions.

The page shows no records

Check that records are assigned to the selected type.
Check record publication state, access, language, and dates.
For events, check category publication and event date rules.
For venues, check whether the venue itself is published and accessible.

Filters or map buttons are missing

Review the relevant event list or venue list settings.
Check menu item options and page class suffixes.
Check template overrides that may hide filters or columns.
For map buttons, confirm that venues have valid coordinates.

Related Project Notes

#2163 documents type event filtering behaviour and avoiding unintended inherited filters.
#2153 explains the distinction between event map and venue map behaviour.
#2152 relates to publication status handling in backend venue and type listings.
#2030 is relevant to type data during import, export, and search workflow changes.