Add an About Box to a Joomla Site
Add an About box to a Joomla site with a Custom module, no extension needed. Its version, links and support contacts are managed in AboutTheApp.
Live example
This is the About box of AboutTheApp itself. Switch the variant to see other layouts. The code below renders exactly this box. For your own app, change the alias.
<script src="https://aboutthe.app/embed/web/0.3.5/card.js" integrity="sha384-X3VGSEdTNGsfVKfVUx7sq9ICfpWsJW88HDQYidGPio1KjoxYCbSirTNqtbVfq1sj" crossorigin="anonymous" async></script>
<about-the-app alias="aboutthe.app" variant="card" api-base="https://aboutthe.app/api/v1" visual-style="default" palette="default" appearance="auto"></about-the-app>Add it to Joomla in 4 steps
The About box is a Web Component that loads its data from AboutTheApp. Joomla only stores the code in a module, so links and contacts change without editing the site.
Joomla text filters run when content is saved. Super Users have No Filtering by default, other groups use the Default Forbidden List, which removes script tags. Save the module as a Super User or change the filter in System → Global Configuration → Text Filters.
- 1
Create your product
Create it in AboutTheApp and note its alias. The Integrate panel on the product card has the same code as the live example, already filled in with your alias.
- 2
Switch your editor to CodeMirror or None
TinyMCE removes script tags by default. In Users → Manage, open your account and set Editor to CodeMirror or None on the Basic Settings tab.
- 3
Create a Custom module
Go to Content → Site Modules → New, choose Custom, paste the code and save it.
- 4
Assign a position and pages
Choose a module position, for example the footer of your template, and set Menu Assignment to On all pages.
Choose what visitors see
The variant attribute picks the layout. footer fits a module position at the bottom of every page, support shows the site's links with a button that copies the name and version for a bug report and credits lists the extensions and libraries the site uses with their licenses.
You can try every variant in the live example above. The list of extensions and licenses comes from the Components & Licenses window of the product in AboutTheApp. If you're not sure which licenses you need to list, read the guide to open source licenses.
Different links for each client
If you run the same site for several clients, add links for a specific customer in AboutTheApp and set the customer-alias attribute in their module. Customer links replace the general links in the same category, so each client sees their own support contacts.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Joomla extension for the About box?
No. A Custom module is enough. The About box loads its data from AboutTheApp, so Joomla doesn't store any of it.
Why is the script tag missing after I save the module?
Either the TinyMCE editor or the Joomla text filter removed it. Switch your editor to CodeMirror or None and save the module as a Super User or with No Filtering set for your user group.
Does the About box work with any Joomla template?
Yes. The box renders into a Shadow DOM, so the template's CSS doesn't change it. If you want it to match the template, set visual-style and palette to host.
AboutTheAppReady to add your own About box?
Create a free AboutTheApp product and get your integration code right away.