Tags support in jDownloads -June 2026

Introduction

As shown in the image opposite jDownloads supports the Joomla! Content Tags system.  There are four tags showing with Downloads: pdf-file, docx-file, poll-type and image.

This article shows how Joomla! Content Tags may be created, added to or removed from jD Categories and  Downloads.  It is important to note that jD Categories and Downloads are just as much Content as regular Joomla! categories and articles.

The words 'tag' and 'Tag' are much used to describe a whole host of different items.  For example the html character sequence such as  <b> denotes the start of emboldening a portion of text, and is often referred to as a tag.  It should be  referred to  as an HTML tag.

In these notes the Joomla! Content Tags, such as the blue boxes opposite, are written here as a Tag or Tags to avoid having to write Joomla! Content Tags.  That is Tag with a capital T denotes a Joomla! Content Tag.

To find the various installed 'Tag' items go to  - Then in the  section, click on  Then in the Search bar type in Tags and click on the search button .
The items installed are listed opposite.

The plugin 'Content-jDownloads Tags Fix' is installed and enabled as part of installing jDownloads.

The other items were installed  when Joomla! was installed.

This article does not consider the best ways of using Tags as there are numerous articles on the web that explain the usage of Tags.

Configure Tags Component

Set Entry Mode to AJAX

One item that needs to be checked is that in  ,  then at top right, click on, select  tab. The 'Tag Entry Mode' option must be set to AJAX mode for tags to work in jDownloads.

The 'Nested' Mode is not supported in jDownloads.  AJAX mode is the default. 

Adding Tags in jDownloads Backend

Adding First Tag

 In this example we use a Download called 'KompleteKontrolMacro'.   In  click on  and find  the Download to which you wish to add a tag.  Click on the Download title.
The tag 'setting' is in the righthand column, so scroll down to find .  Simply type in the name of the tag such as 'My First Tag'.  
At this stage the Tag entry looks like .  Now the important action is to press the keyboard 'Return' key.  The view now becomes . This shows the tag has been processed and saved in the 'Tags' database.
Then use the  button to exit editting the Download

If you look at the Downloads in the Front End then the view is like the image opposite.

Adding Further Tags

Now that the very first Tag has been added there is a slight change in the procedure when adding more Tags to any  jD Download or Category.
As before scroll down to in the right hand column.  It is the same location in a Cateory or a Download. This time, for a Download. it will look like as we ave already added a Tag to a Download, but for a Category it will look like as that is the first Category tag.
When adding a further Tag actions are a little different.  As you start typing in the second tag a message appears under the tag input.
What happens is that the Tag component automatically sees if there is all ready a tag with the same or similar name.
After typing in the full name, such as Second One, and pressing the 'Retun key',  the view is now like .

In the Backend, If you go to  -  you will see the Tags listed .  Also, in the back end, you can add Tags to a Category in the same way as used for Downloads. They are also shown in the , for example .
NOTE: Tags cannot be added to jD Categories in the Front End.

Adding Tags in Frontend

Set Permissions in Tags Component

It is essential to set the relevant Permissions in the Tag Component for the User Group(s) allowed to edit or create Tags in the Front End.  In this exampe we have used the Publisher User Group.

To set Permissions in the TAGS Component click on  then on . Next, at top right, click on . This opens up a set of Tabs so click on  . In this exampe click on which turns to when you click on it.

This will bring up the permissions settings screen for the Publisher User Group. 

So select the relevant User Group whose members will be allowed to manage Tags in the front end.  We are only concerned with Create, Delete, Edit and Edit State.

Usually some of the Permissions are inherited from the Registered User Group

Set up the permissions as indicated opposite.  In the central column, if not set to 'Inherited' use the  to select 'Allowed' as indicated opposite.
Then .

Adding Tags in Frontend with jDownloads

In order add a Tag to a Download the the logged in User must have at least Edit capability for Downloads, that is an edit pencil   should be visible after the Title

So Click on the  which opens up the Download for editting. Select the Publishing Tab And scdoll down to find the Tags.


If the Tag is a new one then just type in the name,.otherwise use the pulldown buttonto select an existng Tag.

Adding Tag in Front End with Tag Component

After setting up the Tags component permissions, then Adding Tags in the Frontend is basically the same as adding them in the Backend.

The Tags field in the upload form looks much the same as the one in the Backend. 

In the front End it appears in the Publishing tab

 

But we need to make the Tags field appear in the edit/create Download form and also to decide whether the User Group will or will not be able to create new Tags.

Both the ability to add Tags and create Tags are controlled from the jDownloads User Groups Settings. This allows different abilities for different User Groups.  To find the User groups settings , cick on , then on . Next click on .  You need to decide which User Group will be able to add Tabs from the front end.  In this example it is the Publisher User Group, so click on 
There are two setting that need to be checked.   Both are in  - tab

Scroll down to find 'Allow creating tags'. Ensure it is set to Yes.
 

The second setting is in the, which is basically a set of tick boxes, The Tags 'tick box' is in the  section as indicated opposite.

Using the Batch facility

The first step is to go to Downloads and by using the Search Tools select the relevant Category or sub category, which in this example is the 'Dated Cats' category.

This lists all the Downloads in that Category and its subcategories as illustrated opposite.

In this example the selected Downloads are actually in separate sub -categories.

Select all the Downloads by clicking on the top selector as indicated by the 1.

Next click on Actions Pulldown as indicated by the 2.

To add the required Tag to all of the selected Downloads click on the button on the control bar.

This will give a view as illustrated opposite.

1. Use the pulldown to select the required Tag. 

2. Ensure that None is selected

3. Then click on the Process button which will now add the Tag to all the selected Downloads.

View Tags in the Control Panel

The jDownloads Control Panel shows the Tags that are being used in Categories and Downloads.

Clicking on a Tag, for example , will show the relevent Categories or Downloads that have that Tag as illustrated on the far right.

View Access and Permissions

Menu Settings for Tags

Each jDownloads menu type that shows Categories or Downloads has a field, Show Tags, that allows Tags to be shown or hidden when that menu item is used.

The default setting is Global.  That is it will use the same setting as specified for Tags in the Joomla! global setup.

This ensures that existing menus will not need modification, but at the same time gives another degree of flexibility.

{tag} placeholder in Layouts

• Standard Categories Layout
• Standard Subcategories Layout
• Standard Category Layout
• Downloads: Compact Files, Compact Fileswith Checkboxes, Files Full Information, Files Single Line, Standard Files, Standard Files with Checkboxes, Standard Files without Checboxes
• Download Details: Example Details, Example Details with Tabs, Details-Full Info (Related), Details Full Info

More Configuration Items

If the Tags component is left as installed then if you click  on a Tag it will just show a simple linked list of all the Downloads with that Tag.

The Tags component provides many options for showing how the list is displayed.

To access these click on the Options Button in the Tags Component.

This shows a whole set of tabs to allow customising as illustrated opposite.

It is not the intention here to discuss all of this as there are several web articles on the topic of configuring the Tags list. 

However it is useful to note one specific item which if enabled will show the Short Description associated with the Tags List.

After setting  the field Item Description in the Tagged Items Options tab to Show then the Short Description from the Download will be shown in the Tag list.
 

The result is then as shown opposite. 

Of course one may add appropriate styling and organise the layout in different ways.

Note: Presently  the images associated with a Download are not shown.

Limitation

Appendix - Some Examples

One useful menu item is the "Compact list of tagged items" type where one specifies the specific tag whose items are to be listed.

As shown opposite this may optionally have a description about the tag type, and various images.

The main purpose of the menu item is to list all the related articles and Downloads that have been 'tagged' with that Tag, which in this example is 'pdf download'.

The listing has an option to select which date is shown.  Probably the most useful is the 'Modified Date' as illustrated.

 

Another useful menu item is the 'List of all tags' item.

This gives a view such as opposite, which can be a little disjointed in view.

Clicking on one of the tag names will then list all the items with that tag

One can of course change the view by adding CSS such as illustrated opposite.

Here the CSS for a border and some separating padding has been added.
style="border:2px solid grey;padding:10px;}

The menu supports selection of number of columns.