Tuesday, 21 April 2009 20:57 Written by David Birchmier

Wondering how to include a module position within another module position in Joomla 1.5? A content item is easy, but a module? Here's the answer: Let us know how you apply it.

I just encountered an issue on this very website where I wanted to include a Joomla module within an existing Joomla module. This functionality was present in Joomla 1.0x but is not in Joomla 1.5. This is likely because the Joomla 1.5 structure does not load plugins into modules. After doing some research, I noticed others were asking the same question but with little return in the form of answer. Thus I decided to do some digging and figure out how to make it work. Luckily, it turns out to be a pretty easy and straight forward process. 

UPDATE: I recently discovered a free plugin that will make this process even simpler! It's called Modules Anywhere -- I have not yet personally tested it but it has strong reviews and most users seem to be getting along just fine! Download it here! If you like it,don't forget to make a donation to support the developer.

Assuming that you have two (or more) modules, and you would like to include one or more of these modules inside the other. Here's how you do it!

1. First, download and install Sourcerer. It's a module/plugin for Joomla 1.5 that allows you to include PHP code ANYWHERE in Joomla. Additionally it has a nifty module feature that we'll be using. Grab it here: http://www.nonumber.nl/sourcerer 
2. Install Sourcerer. You'll need to start by unzipping the archive. After unzipping the archive, you are left with 3 files: One module and two plugins. Install all 3. (Go to Extensions > Install/Uninstall)
3. Next, publish both plugins. Go to Extensions > Plugin Manager.  Now locate: "Editor Button - Sourcerer!" and "System - Sourcerer!" and publish both. You do not need to change any of the paramters for either.
4. Now go to Extensions > Module Manager. You should have two (or more) modules and you would like to include one or more of these modules inside the other. Make a note of the ID's of the modules you would like to include together. I.e. 45 and 50. The ID column is the one on the far right. You could also use the module title, but since this is subject to change, I recommend you use the module ID so that you don't run into problems down the road.
5. Next, locate the Sourcerer module and click on it. This special module does the work of including the plugin into the module. The way Sourcerer works is to allow you to include PHP or JS inside thephp or JS heresyntax.  Because Joomla 1.5 won't allow us to include plugins in Modules, this syntax doesn't work in any standard module. Thus we need to use the Sourcerer Module to include our PHP/JS or Module Positions. The Sourcerer module is essentially a Custom HTML module -- with this one additional ability. So don't fret, you can still accomplish exactly what you want.
6. Now scroll down to the editor. Enter this code to include a module:
   {module ID or Module Name Here}
   Here's what mine looks like:
   <div style="float: left">{module 45}</div>
   <div style="float: right">{module 50}</div>
   Note this allows you to use HTML. Thus, if you wished you could include one module, (such as a menu) and then add your custom HTML code instead of including a separate module that included this HTML. For simplicities sake, I prefer to just include both modules into this one module. Note you're including a single module (the one assigned to ID 45, and 50, in my case) and not a module position. In an article, you can include a module position using - but this won't work within a module. Hence the work around.
7. Publish the Sourcer Module into the position of your choice. Save!
8. Return to Extensions > Module Manager and UNPUBLISH or change to a hidden position the two modules you just included. This way they won't show up twice. Unpublished modules will still show up in the Sourcerer Module. 
9. That's it! You've now included multiple modules into one. If you need to do this more than once on your site, just copy the sourcerer module and repeat!

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