Getting Started: Pages and Navigation in CatapultCMS

Understanding Navigation Levels

Catapult navigation uses a hierarchy of levels. Each level determines where pages appear and how users interact with them.

1st Level Pages (Top Bar Navigation)

These pages appear in the main navigation bar at the top of your site.

Key details:

Typically do not contain content
Function as organizational holders for mega menu content
Define the major categories of your site
If your site exceeds the allowed number of 1st level items, extra items automatically move into a “More” dropdown

Pages that land under "More" should contain content or directional guidance, since visitors may click them expecting information.

2nd Level Pages (Mega Menu Section Titles)

These appear inside the mega menu as major section titles.

2nd level pages may:

Contain content
Act as title pages used for structure rather than content

Title pages help group related information without displaying a blank page.

3rd Level Pages (Primary Content Pages)

These are the main informational pages of your website.
Visitors typically reach these pages from the mega menu.

Most department pages, program descriptions, and resource pages live at this level.

4th and 5th Level Pages (Hidden Supporting Pages)

These pages do not appear in navigation.
Visitors access them only through direct links, buttons, or internal references.

Common uses include:

Supporting content
Subsections
Confirmation pages
Linked-only documents or instructions

Working With the Pages Panel

Open Websites from the Dashboard to see your site's full page structure.
From this panel, you can:

Add new pages
Move pages between levels
Rename pages
Hide pages from navigation
Convert pages into links
Delete pages
Edit content

The navigation automatically reflects the structure shown in this panel.

Create and Editing Pages

Adding a New Page

Navigate to the location where the page should live
Click Add Page
Enter a Page Title
Select a template, if needed
Save and open the editor to add content

Placing the page at the correct level ensures users can find it easily.

Renaming a Page

Select the page
Update the Page Title
Save

Moving Pages Between Levels

Reorganize pages using drag-and-drop.

Examples:

Drag left to make a page a 1st level navigation item
Drag right to convert a page into a 2nd or 3rd level mega menu item
Drag deeper to create hidden 4th or 5th level pages

Changes to page levels affect how visitors navigate your site, so move pages carefully.

Hiding a Page from Navigation

You may want a page to remain live but not appear in menus.
Examples include form confirmations, archived pages, or pages meant only for direct linking.

To hide a page:

Select the page
Adjust the navigation/visibility setting
Choose Do Not Show in Navigation

The page remains active and accessible through links.

Using Link Pages in Navigation

In addition to standard content pages, you can convert any page into a navigation link.
This is helpful when you want a navigation item to point somewhere else.

Link Types in CatapultCMS

External Link: Links to a page outside your website.

Internal Link: Links to another page within the same Catapult site.

Global Link: Links to another site within your district.
Useful for:

Schools linking to district pages
District linking to school resources
Shared policy pages

Your account must have global access enabled to use this feature.

Document Link: Links to a file such as a PDF or Word document.

Email Link: Opens the visitor’s email client with a pre-filled email address.

Image Link: Links directly to an image file. (Not typically recommended for ADA purposes.)

No Link: Creates a navigation item that does not click anywhere.
Useful for:

1st level mega menu holders
2nd level section titles
Structural organization without blank content pages

How to Create or Edit a Link

Select a page in the Pages panel.
Open link settings.
Choose a link type.
Configure the destination.
Save.

How to Create a Global Link

Open the Link Manager (chain icon).
Select Internal.
Click Browse.
Use the site dropdown to switch to another site (if you have global access).
Once you’ve selected the target site, you can search for pages using the search bar at the top of the panel.
- This search looks at page titles only
- Make sure you select the correct page, especially if multiple pages have similar names
Select the page you want to link to.
Confirm and save.

If you do not see other sites and believe you should, contact support@catapultcms.com for assistance.

Understanding the "More" Section

If your site contains more 1st level items than your template supports, excess items automatically move into the “More” dropdown.

Pages under “More” should:

Contain helpful content
Provide clear direction to deeper levels

Best Practices for Navigation

Keep 1st level navigation concise
Use 2nd level items to organize meaningful categories
Place most informational content on 3rd level pages
Use 4th/5th level pages for hidden supporting content
Use No Link for navigation-only items
Review your navigation once or twice a year for clarity and structure

Keep Learning

Continue building your CatapultCMS skills: Getting Started With CatapultCMS: The Editor