---
title: "Navigation block settings"
slug: "navigation-block-settings"
tags: ["Totara Platform", "Explainer", "Reference", "Site Administrator"]
updated: 2025-07-22T10:52:18Z
published: 2025-07-22T11:18:07Z
canonical: "totara.help/navigation-block-settings"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://totara.help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Navigation block settings

The **Navigation** block provides contextual navigation and quick access to various areas across the site. The block content dynamically adapts to the area of the site you are viewing.

## Navigation block contexts

### Course page

When viewing a course, there is a navigation block dedicated to the current course. It includes items such as:

- Participants
- Badges
- Grades
- Quick navigation to topics within the course

You can navigate to other courses via the breadcrumbs, the top menu, or by using the [courses block](/19/docs/available-blocks).

A number of settings relating to the items displayed within the **Navigation** block can be found within *Q**uick-access menu >* *Appearance > Navigation.*

## Navigation block settings

Site Administrators can manage the **Navigation** block by clicking on the cog icon (![](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/cog.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T16%3A00%3A02Z&se=2026-11-01T17%3A00%3A02Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=Et0kXm3EpZj8qbK2vswK%2Fo9kCz5W6toVllb5I5Xe6EI%3D)) and **Configure Navigation block.** Note that editing must be turned on for you to configure block settings, so you may need click the **Turn editing on** or **Customise this page** button (depending on the location context).

| **Setting** | **Description** | **Notes** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Block title | The title of the block that will appear on the page. | - |
| Override default block title | Enable (tick) this to be able to change the title of the block. | - |
| Allow block hiding | Set whether the block can be hidden. | - |
| Allow block docking | Set whether users can dock this block. | - |
| Show header | Enable (tick) to show the block's title. | - |
| Show border | Enable (tick) to show a border around the block. | - |
| Display categories as links | Select whether course categories will be links to the category or whether only course names are links. | - |
| Trim mode | Choose whether characters of navigation items will be trimmed (when needed) from the left, centre, or right. | - |
| How many characters to trim to | Specify the number of characters for the trim mode option above. | - |
| Generate navigation for the following | Set which items will be displayed in the block: **Everything**, **Categories and courses**, **Categories and courses and course structures**, or **Categories and courses and Course Activities**. | - |
| Original block location | This shows the original location where the block was created. Block settings may cause it to appear in other locations (contexts). The block location for the **Navigation** block will display as **System**. | - |
| Display on page types | Decide which types of page to display the block on. | - |
| Default region | Themes may define one or more named block regions where blocks are displayed. This setting defines which of these you want this block to appear in by default. The region may be overridden on specific pages if required. | - |
| Default weight | The default weight allows you to choose roughly where you want the block to appear in the chosen region, either at the top or the bottom. The final location is calculated from all the blocks in that region (for example, only one block can actually be at the top). This value can be overridden on specific pages if required. | - |
| ### On this page These options allow you to control where this block appears within the page you are currently viewing. Changes made here are applied to this specific page only. All other pages will continue to use the default block position unless changed in the same way. Editing Trainers can modify the position of a block on a specific page when editing is turned on, by using the corresponding drag-and-drop icon (![](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/Move_icon.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T16%3A00%3A02Z&se=2026-11-01T17%3A00%3A02Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=Et0kXm3EpZj8qbK2vswK%2Fo9kCz5W6toVllb5I5Xe6EI%3D)) to move the block into the desired position. |
| Visible | Choose whether the **Navigation** block displays on the page on the page you are viewing. | - |
| Region | Choose whether the **Navigation** block displays in the **Left**, **Right** or **Main** content area. | - |
| Weight | Select the **Weight** or default location/order of the **Navigation** block within the current page. Choose a value between -10 (first) and +10 (last). | - |

Join the [Totara Community](https://totara.community/) for more resources to help you get the most out of Totara.

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