A row is a horizontal section of the template. A zone determines where it can be placed. Mainbox is the protected central framework containing the main Joomla content, inner rows, and optional sidebars.
What you will learn
- Distinguish between zones above, inside, and below the main content.
- Understand the role of the mainbox and componentbox.
- Differentiate a system row from a custom section.
- Know the key limitations regarding moving and the total number of rows.
Template zone map
| Zone | Typical Use | Important Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Above mainbox | header, announcements, hero, or top navigation | rows are ordered in the upper group |
| Inside mainbox above | add-ons above the componentbox | located within the width of the main area |
| Left and right sidebar | secondary navigation, filters, related content | structural sidebars generally cannot be moved |
| Inside mainbox below | add-ons below the componentbox | still belong to the main area |
| Below mainbox | bottom content bands and footer | ordered in the lower group |
Mainbox is the load-bearing structure
Mainbox contains the componentbox—the output area for the main Joomla component. Surrounding it can be inner rows as well as left or right sidebars. Mainbox cannot be deleted or duplicated, and its number of positions cannot be changed like a standard section.
You can toggle the overall width of the mainbox between boxed and fluid. Inner rows and sidebars do not have their own boxed/fluid container controls because they already reside inside the mainbox. The componentbox is not a Joomla position, and modules cannot be dragged into it.
How to navigate the structure
- Open the Grid and locate the visually separated Mainbox frame.
- Notice the top rows above the frame, the sidebars, inner rows, and componentbox inside, and the bottom rows below.
- For each row, check the number of Joomla positions and the number of "live" positions used in the current preview.
- You can recognize a disabled system row by its "off" status. Adding a section in that zone will first activate an available prepared system row.
- Once all prepared rows are exhausted, the editor can create a custom section derived from that base zone.
Prepared rows and custom sections
The template includes a map of prepared system rows. Some may be turned off and contain zero current positions. When you add a section in a given zone, the editor first activates the next available system row.
Only after utilizing all prepared rows will a custom section with a derived ID be created. It appears in the list directly after its base zone. A custom section can be deleted, whereas "deleting" a system row usually just disables it so it can be reactivated later.
Zones protect layout logic
Rows cannot be dragged anywhere arbitrarily. Mainbox, leftbox, and rightbox are structurally locked, and other rows can only be moved within their permitted group. This prevents the template from breaking into an invalid sequence.