How to add custom menu in Course Menu in moodle?

RajeshKumar1

To add more options to the Course Menu (the "More…" dropdown in Boost or the course navigation links) in Moodle, it typically requires either:

✅ 1. Use a Custom Theme Setting for site-wide links

If you're aiming to add custom links that show up for all courses (like "Help", "Contact", external resources), do this:

As an admin, go to:
Site administration → Appearance → Themes → Theme settings

Under Custom menu items, add items in the format:

   Label1|/path/to/page 
   Label2|http://external.site

Save changes — those links will appear in the top horizontal menu across the site. (eLearning Themes)

⚙️ 2. Add menu items programmatically to the course navigation

To inject links that appear inside each course's menu structure (e.g., in the "More…" dropdown in Boost theme), you need to develop or modify a plugin. Here's how:

Create or update a plugin (e.g., local/myplugin).

In its lib.php, define the function:

   function local_myplugin_extend_navigation_course(navigation_node $parentnode,
       stdClass $course, context_course $context) {
       $parentnode->add(
           'My Link Label',
           new moodle_url('/local/myplugin/mypage.php', array('id' => $course->id)),
           navigation_node::TYPE_SETTING,
           null,
           'local_myplugin_item',
           new pix_icon('i/navigationitem', '')
       );
   }

This will add "My Link Label" under the course navigation for each course where the user has access. In Boost (Moodle 4+), new items go into the "More…" overflow. (Stack Overflow, Stack Overflow)

If you want a top-level button instead of inside "More…", you'll need to override theme templates—a bit more advanced.

🧑‍🏫 Summary

| Goal | How to Achieve |
| -------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Site-wide static links in top menu | Use Theme settings → Custom menu items |
| Course-specific menu options | Build/modify a plugin with *_extend_navigation_course() callback |

If you'd like help writing the plugin, editing your theme, or need a step-by-step guide, just let me know!

RajeshKumar1

Thanks for clarifying! You want to add more options to the blue horizontal course menu bar—the one showing Course, Participants, Grades, Activities, Competencies (see your screenshot). This menu is specific to each course and appears right below the site’s main menu.

This menu is controlled by Moodle's course navigation (also called the "secondary navigation" or "course nav tabs") and is populated based on:

The course format
User roles/capabilities
Enabled plugins and activities
Theme overrides (sometimes)

How to Add More Tabs to the Course Menu

1. Easiest: Add a Resource or Activity

Enabling a plugin (like "Grades", "Competencies", or any new activity) will automatically add its tab for relevant users.
If you want a tab for an external link, see the “Plugin” method below.

2. Programmatically Add Custom Tabs (Recommended for Custom Items)

You can add tabs using a local plugin that hooks into the navigation API. Here’s how:

A. Create a Local Plugin with Navigation Extension

Create a new directory:
/local/yourcustomtabs/
Add a version.php and lib.php.

In lib.php, add this function:

   function local_yourcustomtabs_extend_navigation_course(navigation_node $parentnode, stdClass $course, context_course $context) {
       // Add a tab named "My Custom Tab"
       $parentnode->add(
           'My Custom Tab',
           new moodle_url('/local/yourcustomtabs/page.php', array('id' => $course->id)),
           navigation_node::TYPE_CUSTOM,
           null,
           'mycustomtabid'
       );
   }

This will add a new tab for every course.
The page /local/yourcustomtabs/page.php should exist.

Visit your course and your new tab should appear for users with access.

B. Use an Existing Plugin

Format plugins (like format_tabs, format_topics, etc.) sometimes allow extra menu customization.
Some themes let you configure secondary menu items, but most require code/plugin.

3. Advanced: Theme Override

If you want full control, you can override the template that renders the course navigation in your custom theme (for developers).

Summary Table

| Option | What It Does | Difficulty | When To Use |
| --------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | ---------- | -------------------------------- |
| Add Activity/Plugin | Adds tab for enabled activities (default) | Easy | Built-in activities, plugins |
| Local Plugin (extend_navigation_course) | Adds fully custom tab to every course | Medium | Custom links/pages, full control |
| Theme Template Override | Override navigation rendering at theme level | Advanced | Custom visual/design needs |

Want a Step-by-Step Plugin Example?

If you want, I can give you a ready-to-use plugin example (local/devopscustomtab) that you just upload and activate—no coding required.
Or, let me know what you want your new tab to link to (external link, internal page, etc.), and I’ll tailor the code for you!