How to Add an External Link to the Left Navigation
Table of Contents
Objective
This guide explains how to add an external link (a link to a website outside of your Cascade CMS site) to the Left navigation menu.
When to Use This Process
Use this process when you need to:
Add a link in the left navigation that points to another website
Direct users to an external university resource
Include third-party or partner links in a navigation section
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. In the Site Content tree on the left, click on the folder name where you wish to create the External Link.
Refer to the Left Navigation page to learn more about how the navigation is automatically generated from the hierarchy and order of the folders created within the Site content menu.
2. Look for a red plus sign in the topmost header area of the page, and click on + Add Content.
3. Inside the 2 Add Images and Other Assets folder, select External Link from the dropdown menu.
4. Fill in the Link Name and Link.
The Link Name should be named "index" like all other pages in the site.
The Link in the Link Settings is where you paste/type the URL of the External Link you are creating. Enter the full external URL (including https://).
5. Click Preview Draft. After previewing the draft, click Submit to save to the CMS.
6. The file has been successfully saved to the CMS. You must now Publish your page.
7. Select one or more of the outputs to Publish to the destinations selected.
It is our suggested best practice to Publish first to only the Staging destination. Once you have tested your External Link on the Staging environment, you can then Publish to the Production destination.
Best Practices
✔ Always include the full URL (https://)
✔ Confirm the external site is secure and reputable
✔ Test the link after publishing
✔ Publish the parent folder if structural updates were made
Common Scenarios
Link opens incorrectly
→ Verify the URL was entered correctly and includes https://.
Link not appearing in navigation
→ Confirm it was created in the correct folder and published.
Wrong order in navigation
→ Adjust asset order within the folder and republish.