Enhanced Sidebar Hierarchy Navigation #5223

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OVERLORD · 2026-02-05T09:49:39+03:00

OVERLORD commented

2026-02-05 09:49:39 +03:00

Originally created by @AgMeister7 on GitHub (Mar 15, 2025).

Describe the feature you'd like

I’d love to see an enhanced sidebar navigation in BookStack that mirrors the page-level hierarchy display. The feature would dynamically show the Wiki’s structure at different levels:

When no shelf is opened, display the full Wiki hierarchy (all shelves, books, chapters, and pages).
When a shelf is opened, show its complete hierarchy (books, chapters, and pages within that shelf).
When a book is opened, display its navigation (chapters and pages), with an option to expand/collapse the parent shelf’s hierarchy.
Additionally, I propose a configuration to toggle visibility (e.g., “Recent Drafts” and “Viewed Recently”) and reorder these sections (e.g., [Hierarchy, Recent Drafts, Viewed Recently]).

Example:

No Shelf Opened:

Shelves
├── Shelf 1
│   ├── Book 1
│   │   ├── Chapter 1
│   │   └── Page 1
│   └── Book 2
├── Shelf 2
└── Shelf 3

Shelf 1 Opened:

Shelf 1
├── Book 1
│   ├── Chapter 1
│   │   ├── Page 1
│   │   └── Page 2
│   └── Chapter 2
└── Book 2
    ├── Chapter 1
    └── Page 1

Describe the benefits this would bring to existing BookStack users

This feature would greatly improve navigation for users managing large or complex Wikis by providing a clear, multi-level overview of the structure. It solves the challenge of quickly locating content across shelves and books, enhancing efficiency. The customizable options allow users to tailor the sidebar to their workflow (e.g., prioritizing hierarchy over recent activity), making BookStack more adaptable to diverse use cases without dictating a one-size-fits-all approach.

Can the goal of this request already be achieved via other means?

Yes, to some extent. The goal could be achieved by modifying BookStack’s view code (e.g., customizing the Blade templates) to display the full hierarchy at different levels. A native solution with UI configuration would be more accessible and sustainable for all users.

Have you searched for an existing open/closed issue?

I have searched for existing issues and none cover my fundamental request

How long have you been using BookStack?

3 months to 1 year

Additional context

This idea builds on the existing page navigation feature, extending its clarity to higher levels (shelves and books). Thanks again for the incredible work on BookStack!

Originally created by @AgMeister7 on GitHub (Mar 15, 2025). ### Describe the feature you'd like I’d love to see an enhanced sidebar navigation in BookStack that mirrors the page-level hierarchy display. The feature would dynamically show the Wiki’s structure at different levels: - When no shelf is opened, display the full Wiki hierarchy (all shelves, books, chapters, and pages). - When a shelf is opened, show its complete hierarchy (books, chapters, and pages within that shelf). - When a book is opened, display its navigation (chapters and pages), with an option to expand/collapse the parent shelf’s hierarchy. Additionally, I propose a configuration to toggle visibility (e.g., “Recent Drafts” and “Viewed Recently”) and reorder these sections (e.g., [Hierarchy, Recent Drafts, Viewed Recently]). **Example**: - *No Shelf Opened*: ``` Shelves ├── Shelf 1 │ ├── Book 1 │ │ ├── Chapter 1 │ │ └── Page 1 │ └── Book 2 ├── Shelf 2 └── Shelf 3 ``` - *Shelf 1 Opened*: ``` Shelf 1 ├── Book 1 │ ├── Chapter 1 │ │ ├── Page 1 │ │ └── Page 2 │ └── Chapter 2 └── Book 2 ├── Chapter 1 └── Page 1 ``` ### Describe the benefits this would bring to existing BookStack users This feature would greatly improve navigation for users managing large or complex Wikis by providing a clear, multi-level overview of the structure. It solves the challenge of quickly locating content across shelves and books, enhancing efficiency. The customizable options allow users to tailor the sidebar to their workflow (e.g., prioritizing hierarchy over recent activity), making BookStack more adaptable to diverse use cases without dictating a one-size-fits-all approach. ### Can the goal of this request already be achieved via other means? Yes, to some extent. The goal could be achieved by modifying BookStack’s view code (e.g., customizing the Blade templates) to display the full hierarchy at different levels. A native solution with UI configuration would be more accessible and sustainable for all users. ### Have you searched for an existing open/closed issue? - [x] I have searched for existing issues and none cover my fundamental request ### How long have you been using BookStack? 3 months to 1 year ### Additional context This idea builds on the existing page navigation feature, extending its clarity to higher levels (shelves and books). Thanks again for the incredible work on BookStack!

OVERLORD added the 🔨 Feature Request label 2026-02-05 09:49:39 +03:00

OVERLORD closed this issue

2026-02-05 09:49:41 +03:00

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Reference: starred/BookStack#5223