Easy Tab Title 1.0 is a Joomla package from JoomlaX that changes the browser tab title (and optionally the favicon) so visitors notice your site again when they switch away.

Think of it as two pieces that always work together:

• Component (Easy Tab Title): the admin control panel where you create rules and apply ready-made presets.
• System plugin (System - Easy Tab Title): the small engine that runs those rules on the public website. If the plugin is disabled, nothing changes in the tab.

What you can do

• Show messages like "Come back!" when someone leaves your tab
• Blink, scroll, or rotate tab titles
• Add a favicon badge or swap the favicon
• Limit a rule to selected pages, devices, or guest vs logged-in visitors
• Start fast with presets, or build a custom rule from scratch

Built for modern Joomla

• Joomla 4, 5, and 6
• PHP 8.1 or later
• Native JavaScript (no jQuery)
• Respects prefers-reduced-motion

Before you install

• Joomla: 4.x, 5.x, or 6.x
• PHP: 8.1 or newer
• Database: MySQL or MariaDB
• Access: a Super User (or administrator) account so you can install extensions

Not required

• jQuery
• Extra third-party plugins for basic tab messages to work

Student tip

You need both the component and the system plugin. The package installs both in one step, so you do not have to guess which zip to pick.

Step 1: Download

Email: After you buy from the JoomlaX store, you get an email with the download link.

Store: You can also open the Downloads section and use the same email you used when buying.

File name: EasyTabTitle_UNZIP.zip

Step 2: Unzip on your computer

1. Right-click EasyTabTitle_UNZIP.zip and choose Extract (or Unzip).
2. Inside you should see:
   • pkg_easytabtitle_1.0.0.zip (install this one: component + system plugin together)
   • ReadMe.txt

For a normal new install, always use pkg_easytabtitle_1.0.0.zip.

Step 3: Install in Joomla

1. Log in to the Joomla administrator.
2. Go to System > Install > Extensions.
3. Click Upload Package File.
4. Choose pkg_easytabtitle_1.0.0.zip and wait for the success message.
5. Open Components > Easy Tab Title to confirm the Dashboard loads.
6. Clear Joomla cache: System > Maintenance > Clear Cache (or use Clean Cache if your admin bar shows it).

What the package installs

• com_easytabtitle: Dashboard, Rules, presets, and Options
• plg_system_easytabtitle: System - Easy Tab Title (frontend runtime)

Updates

Install a newer pkg_easytabtitle zip the same way. The package uses method="upgrade", so your rules and settings stay safe.

Follow these steps in order the first time. Most people finish in about 10 minutes.

1. Confirm the system plugin is enabled

1. Go to System > Plugins.
2. Search for Easy Tab Title.
3. Confirm System - Easy Tab Title shows a green enabled status.
4. Open it and keep Enable frontend runtime set to Yes.

2. Open the component

1. Click Components > Easy Tab Title.
2. You should see the Dashboard with presets and rule counts.

3. Create your first rule (easiest path)

1. On the Dashboard, click a preset such as Come Back.
2. Or open Rules, click New, and fill When / Then (explained in later tabs).
3. Set Status to Published.
4. Click Save & Close.

4. Decide where it runs

1. Edit the rule and open the Targeting tab.
2. For a whole-site test, choose All pages.
3. For one page only, choose Selected pages and pick that menu item.

5. Clear cache and test

1. Clear Joomla cache.
2. Open your site in a normal browser tab (not only the admin).
3. Switch to another tab for about 10 seconds, then look at your site tab title.
4. If nothing changes, hard-refresh the page (Ctrl+F5) and check the plugin is still enabled.

Student tip

Start with one published rule on All pages. After you see it work, add targeting so it only runs where you want it.

Easy Tab Title always uses both parts. Here is the simple difference.

Component (Components > Easy Tab Title)

• Where you manage rules and presets
• Where you set global Options (debug, reduced motion, blink safety)
• Does not change the frontend by itself

System plugin (System > Plugins > System - Easy Tab Title)

• Loads the JavaScript on the public site
• Reads published rules and applies them in the browser tab
• Must stay Enabled, with Enable frontend runtime = Yes

Simple rule

• Build and edit behaviour: use the component
• Make it actually run for visitors: keep the system plugin on

Open Components > Easy Tab Title. The Dashboard is your home screen.

What you see

• Hero summary: quick counts for total rules and published rules
• Quick links: jump to Rules or Options
• Preset cards: one-click starters such as Come Back, Welcome Back, Instant Leave, Scroll Title, and more

How to use a preset

1. Click a preset card.
2. Confirm if asked.
3. Open Rules and edit the new rule if you want a different message or page assignment.
4. Save, clear cache, then test on the front end.

Student tip

Presets are training wheels. They create a normal rule you can open and change later. Nothing is locked.

Presets create a ready-made published rule with sensible defaults. Available starters include:

• Come Back: blinks "Come back!" after the tab is inactive for a few seconds
• Welcome Back: shows a welcome message when the visitor returns
• Instant Leave: changes the title as soon as the visitor leaves the tab
• Scroll Title / Scroll Depth: reacts to scrolling
• Sale Countdown / Notification / Dot Badge / Favicon Swap: attention and favicon effects
• Cart Reminder / Sequence / Time on Page / Read This: timed or stepped messages

After you apply a preset

1. Open the rule in Rules.
2. Change the Message text to match your brand.
3. Set Targeting so it only runs on the pages that need it.
4. Save and clear cache.

Open Components > Easy Tab Title > Rules.

List tools

• New: create a blank rule
• Enable / Disable: publish or unpublish selected rules
• Duplicate / Delete: copy or remove rules
• Search and filters: find a rule by title
• Columns: show or hide table columns

What each column means

• Status: green means the rule can run
• Title: your friendly name for the rule
• Trigger: when it starts (for example tab_inactive_for or scroll)
• Effect: static, blink, scroll, or rotate
• Priority: lower numbers win when several rules match

Student tip

Unpublish a rule instead of deleting it while you test. That way you can turn it back on in one click.

Click New or open an existing rule. The When / Then tab is the main recipe.

Basic identity

• Rule name (required): for example Come Back Homepage
• Alias: leave blank unless you need a fixed machine name
• Description: optional notes for you

When (the trigger)

• Page load
• After delay
• Tab becomes inactive
• Tab inactive for X seconds (common for Come Back)
• Tab becomes active
• Page inactivity
• Time on page
• Scroll depth

Use Wait / value for seconds (or scroll percent). Use Extra delay only if you want an added pause after the trigger.

Then (the effect)

• Effect: Static, Blink, Scroll, or Rotate
• Message: the tab text visitors will see
• Rotate messages: used when Effect is Rotate
• Speed (ms): how fast blink/scroll/rotate updates
• Until: stop when the visitor returns, after a duration, or never
• Welcome-back message: optional message when they return

Simple Come Back example

1. When = Tab inactive for X seconds
2. Wait / value = 10
3. Effect = Blink
4. Message = Come back!
5. Until = Visitor returns
6. Save

Open the Advanced tab only when you need more control. Beginners can leave most defaults.

• Priority: lower number wins when multiple rules match (default around 100)
• Favicon while active: optional image shown while the effect runs
• Favicon badge: None, Dot, or Numeric from counter
• Counter format: how a count appears in the title, for example (n) Title
• Cooldown: wait this many seconds before the rule can run again
• Max executions: 0 means unlimited
• Frequency: Every time, Once per page, Once per session, or Once per visitor
• Storage mode: Page, Session, or Persistent memory for counters and once-only flags
• Custom event name / Sequence JSON / Scroll depth: power-user and developer options

Student tip

If two rules fight each other, check Priority first. Give the more important rule a lower number.

The Targeting tab decides where and for whom the rule runs.

Where to show

• All pages: every public page (good for first tests)
• Selected pages: only the menu items you pick
• All except selected: everywhere except the menu items you pick

When you use Selected pages or All except selected, fill Menu items.

Optional URL filters

• Include URL patterns: one pattern per line, for example /shop/*
• Exclude URL patterns: skip matching paths
• Use * as a wildcard

Leave URL filters blank unless you need path matching beyond menu items.

Who can trigger it

• Devices: Desktop, Tablet, Mobile (default is all)
• Visitors: Everyone, Guests only, Logged-in users, or Selected user groups

Student tip

For demos, assign each rule to one menu item with Selected pages. For a live store homepage only, select that homepage menu item the same way.

The Publishing tab controls whether the rule is live.

• Status: Published or Unpublished
• Ordering: list order in admin (priority still decides conflicts)
• Start Publishing / Finish Publishing: optional schedule dates

Leave the dates empty for a normal always-on rule. Click Save or Save & Close when finished.

Open Options from the Rules toolbar gear, or go to System > Global Configuration > Easy Tab Title (same form as com_easytabtitle Options).

Basic

• Debug mode: Yes logs rule matching to the browser console (useful while learning; turn Off on a live site)
• Respect reduced motion: Yes uses quieter static titles when the visitor prefers reduced motion
• Minimum blink interval (ms): safety floor for blink speed (default 500)

Permissions

Use the Permissions tab only if you need to allow non-Super Users to manage rules.

Click Save after changes.

Go to System > Plugins and search for Easy Tab Title.

You should see one row:

• Name: System - Easy Tab Title
• Type: system
• Element: easytabtitle
• Status: Enabled (green)

If the plugin is disabled

1. Tick the checkbox next to the plugin.
2. Click Enable.
3. Clear cache.
4. Test the front end again.

Click the plugin name to open its settings (next tab).

Open System > Plugins > System - Easy Tab Title.

Plugin tab

• Enable frontend runtime: keep Yes so published rules run on the site

Right side fields

• Status: Enabled
• Access: usually Public
• Ordering: leave the default unless another system plugin must run first

Click Save & Close.

Student tip

If rules look perfect in the component but the browser tab never changes, this plugin screen is the first place to check.

After a rule is published and the plugin is enabled, test like a visitor.

Checklist

1. Clear Joomla cache.
2. Open the target page in a normal browser tab.
3. Hard-refresh once (Ctrl+F5).
4. Follow the rule trigger: leave the tab, wait, scroll, or stay on the page.
5. Watch the browser tab title (and favicon if you configured one).

Live demo

Try the public demo hub: demo.joomlax.com/demo/utilities/easy-tab-title

Use the preset tabs (Come Back, Welcome, Notify, and others). Each tab is tied to its own demo rule.

Come Back test (most common)

1. Open the Come Back demo or your own page with that rule.
2. Click another browser tab and wait about 10 seconds.
3. Look at your site tab: the title should blink or show Come back!
4. Return to the site tab to see the welcome-back message if configured.

Keep this mental model. It is enough for most setups.

1. When: something happens (leave tab, wait, scroll, and so on).
2. Wait: optional seconds or scroll percent.
3. Then: change the title (and maybe favicon) with an effect.
4. Until: stop when the visitor returns, after a duration, or keep going.
5. Targeting: only on chosen pages / devices / visitors.
6. Priority + frequency: decide which rule wins and how often it may repeat.

Developer API (optional)

Advanced sites can call JavaScript helpers such as EasyTabTitle.setTitle, restore, setCount, trigger, and sequence helpers. Beginners can ignore this and use the admin forms only.

• Nothing changes in the browser tab

  • Confirm System - Easy Tab Title is Enabled and Enable frontend runtime is Yes. Confirm at least one Published rule. Clear cache and hard-refresh.

• Works on one page but not another

  • Open Targeting. Check All pages vs Selected pages and the menu items list. Also check include/exclude URL patterns.

• Two messages fight each other

  • Unpublish the extra rule, or give the preferred rule a lower Priority number.

• Blink feels too fast or too slow

  • Change Speed (ms) on When / Then. Component Options also enforces a minimum blink interval.

• Favicon does not change

  • Set Favicon while active or Favicon badge on Advanced. Some browsers cache favicons heavily: hard-refresh and retest.

• It never repeats

  • Check Frequency (once per page/session/visitor) and Cooldown / Max executions on Advanced.

• Old behaviour after edits

  • Save the rule, clear Joomla cache, then Ctrl+F5 on the front end.

• Need to see why a rule did not match

  • Turn Debug mode On in Component Options, reload the page, and read the browser console.

• Which Joomla versions are supported?

  • Joomla 4, 5, and 6. PHP 8.1 or later is recommended.

• What file do I install?

  • Unzip EasyTabTitle_UNZIP.zip, then install pkg_easytabtitle_1.0.0.zip from System > Install > Extensions.

• Do I need both the component and the plugin?

  • Yes. The component stores rules. The system plugin runs them on the site. The package installs both.

• Does it need jQuery?

  • No. Easy Tab Title uses native JavaScript.

• Can I run different messages on different pages?

  • Yes. Create one rule per message and use Targeting > Selected pages (or URL patterns).

• Where can I get help?

  • Visit support.joomlax.com. Include your Joomla version, PHP version, page URL, and a short description of what you expected versus what you saw.

Documentation: joomlax.com/documentation/easy-tab-title

Demo: demo.joomlax.com/demo/utilities/easy-tab-title