Create and configure a directory instance

This guide shows you how to create a member directory, set who can see it, choose which fields appear, add filters, and get an embed code for your website.

Who can do this: Admins with the directory:configure-instance permission.

Before you start

A new directory starts as Members only. To make it Restricted, set up the membership levels or tags it should allow first; Restricted with none chosen is allowed only after you confirm Allow anyway.
The URL slug you choose for the directory cannot be changed after creation.

Steps

Create the directory

In the admin sidebar, select Directory.
If this is your first directory, select Use the default member roster or Create custom directory — both open the same short form.
Or select + Add directory (always shown at the top of the list).
Enter a Directory name (for example, “Member Roster”).
New directories start as Members only; you can change visibility on the Overview tab after you save.
Check the URL slug — it fills in from the name; edit it if you want a different one (for example, “roster”). This is the short name that appears in the directory’s web address. It cannot be changed later.
Select Save. The form closes and the new directory appears in the Directories list; select its name to open its detail page.

Configure the Overview tab

On the Overview tab, review or change the visibility setting.
- If you choose Restricted, select the Allowed membership levels and Allowed tags that should have access. Members with any of the chosen levels or tags can see the directory. If you leave both empty, a warning appears: no members could see the directory — only administrators. Save changes stays unavailable until you add a level or tag or choose a different visibility; select Allow anyway only if you want an admin-only directory.
Select Save changes.

The Overview tab has no default sort order or members-per-page setting; those aren’t available yet.

If you change from Public to Members only, a note appears about search-engine caching. Consider updating your website’s robots.txt file if you want search engines to stop indexing the old public pages.

Configure the Fields tab

Select the Fields tab.
For each field, check the boxes that apply:
- Show on card — the field appears on the member cards in the list view.
- Show on detail — the field appears on the member’s full profile page.
- Searchable — members can find others by searching this field.
- Facet-filterable — this field can be added as a filter in the Facets tab.
- A field marked as sensitive is labelled “Sensitive — never shown in a directory” and its boxes can’t be checked: a directory never shows a sensitive field. If saving says “A sensitive field can’t be shown in a directory. Turn off its sensitivity in the custom-field settings, or leave it off this directory.”, the field was marked sensitive after you opened the tab — reload it.
Drag the ⠿ handle on any field row to reorder fields; the new order saves as soon as you drop it.
Select Save changes to save the checkbox changes.

A field shows in the directory under its own name. Giving a field a different label in one directory isn’t available yet.

Facets are the filter options that members see on the left side of the directory (desktop) or in the Filters panel (mobile).

Select the Facets tab.
If the tab shows No eligible fields (“To add facets, first mark fields as “Facet-filterable” in the Fields tab.”), select Go to Fields tab and check Facet-filterable for at least one field.
Under Available to add, select + Add facet next to each field you want as a filter.
Your facets save automatically when you add them.

Set up the embed code (optional)

Select the Embed tab.
Select Copy embed code and add the snippet to your website.

The Allowed origins list on this tab is read-only: editing allowed origins isn’t available yet, and while the list is empty the page warns that the widget won’t load on any site. The Members only switch for the widget is shown but can’t be changed.

Verify

You’ll know the directory is ready when:

The directory appears in your Directories list with the correct visibility badge.
Selecting Preview directory on the instance detail page shows the member cards with your configured fields.

If something goes wrong

“a directory with slug ‘…’ already exists” — another directory already uses this URL slug. Change the URL slug and select Save again.
“Restricted with no allowed groups” — select at least one membership level or tag, or choose a different visibility option. If you really want a directory only administrators can see, select Allow anyway.
The Facets tab is empty — return to the Fields tab and check Facet-filterable for the fields you want to use as filters.