> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://esmp-fun.gitbook.io/plugins/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://esmp-fun.gitbook.io/plugins/markdown-guide/look-and-layout/sidebar.md).

# The sidebar

The list of pages down the left of the guide. The page being read is lit up, with its sections listed under it.

**You don't have to do anything with it.** By itself it lists every page, in the order of their file names, with folders as headings over their pages.

## Picking the links yourself

The easiest way is the [editor](/plugins/markdown-guide/getting-started/the-web-editor.md): open **Sidebar** under **Look and layout**, pick **My own list**, and drag the links into order.

<figure><img src="https://1037515809-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F37kaU8TF94yOlMmCwXdl%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b4325deeabc47ddcb71884b2e03b7ff463aff844%2Feditor-sidebar.png?alt=media" alt="The sidebar as a list of links in the editor"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Or write it yourself in `plugins/MarkdownGuide/sidebar.md`. Every line that starts with a dash is an entry:

```markdown
- [Welcome](welcome)
- [Getting started](getting-started)
- Building
  - [Towns](towns)
  - [Shops](shops)
-
- [Our website](https://example.com)
- [Spawn](command:/spawn)
```

| Line                                   | Shows                                            |
| -------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| `- [Towns](towns)`                     | A link to a page                                 |
| `- [Our website](https://example.com)` | A link to a website                              |
| `- [Spawn](command:/spawn)`            | A link that runs a command                       |
| `- Building`                           | A heading, not a link                            |
| `-`                                    | An empty line, for room between groups           |
| `- [Towns](towns)`                     | Indented with two spaces: under the line above   |
| `- ![](nav-towns.png) [Towns](towns)`  | With a picture from the `images` folder in front |

As soon as there is one dash line in the file, your list replaces the automatic one. Take them all out again and the automatic one comes back. Dash lines inside a \`\`\` block don't count, which is how the file's own examples stay out of the way.

Save, then run `/guide reload`.

## How it looks

Colours, markers and spacing are set by the `sidebar-item`, `sidebar-active`, `sidebar-section` and `sidebar-heading` rules in [style.css](/plugins/markdown-guide/look-and-layout/style.md). The list grows to fit its longest name, between the widths in [config.yml](/plugins/markdown-guide/reference/config.md); a name too long for it is shortened with "...".