List Manager Tutorial

A list in List Manager is a thin configuration layer on top of one MySQL table. You can point it at a table that already exists, or build a brand new one from the interface.

Option A — use an existing table

1. Open Components → List Manager and click Add.
2. Fill in Name (what editors see, e.g. Properties).
3. Choose the table in the Database Table drop-down. Every table in the Joomla database is listed; you are not limited to the Joomla prefix.
4. Optionally write an Info/Comments note for your team.
5. Click Save.

The target table cannot be changed once the list is saved — create a new list if you need a different table.

Option B — build a new table with Database Options

On the main page click Database Options → New table. You get a small schema editor where you name the table and add columns (name + type: INT, VARCHAR, TEXT, DATE, DECIMAL…). Save it, then create the list as in Option A and pick your new table.

Use Database Options → Edit table later to add or change columns; List Manager keeps the field configuration in sync with the columns it finds.

What happens on save

List Manager reads the columns of the table and creates a field entry for each one, with sensible defaults. Nothing is visible on the front end yet — that is the job of the Fields/Columns and Display screens covered next.