# Blocks Blocks are another part of your eFiction site that let you configure the look and feel of your site. A number of blocks are included with eFiction. You can also create your own or add blocks others have created. The included blocks are as follows: | Block name | Block Description | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Categories** | This block lists the top level categories on your site. | | **Featured** | This block lists one or more of the featured stories of your site (depending on configuration). | | **Info** | This block lists a variety of information about your site including the number of: members, authors, stories, words, reviews, and chapters. | | **Login** | This block displays a login form allowing you to include a login form on the index page or every page should you choose. | | **Menu** | This block builds a menu from the page links in your site. Configurable. | | **News** | This block displays one or more of the news items on your site. | | **Online** | This block displays who is presently online on your site. | | **Poll** | This block lets you query your members using a multiple choice question. Also includes an archive of poll questions and results. | | **Random** | This block displays a random story with each page load. | | **Recent** | This block lists the most recently added/updated stories for your site. | | **Search** | A simple search box for inclusion in your skins. | | **Shoutbox** | A shoutbox for your site. Also includes an archive. | | **Skinchange** | This block displays a drop down that will let visitors who aren't logged in select from the site's skins the one they wish to display. | The first page here lists the blocks available to you. Some will have been pre-installed. The first column lists the name of the block and is not editable. The second column, which you can edit, displays the title of the block as it will be displayed on your site. The third column displays the block's status. There are three possible status options. * Inactive - The block is completely off. * Active - The block will load on **every** page. * Index Only - The block will load on the index (home) page **only.** It is advisable that if the block does not display on every page, you set it to "Index Only" or "Inactive" as this will save on your site's resources. The one exception to this is the Online block. If you use this block, you **must** set it to "Active" for the block to work properly. The fourth column, gives you the option to admin the block if there are options to administer. You may also see the name of a block and the words "Initialize Block" instead of the last three columns. You will see this when a block is available to be installed, but has not been installed yet. The Online, Poll, Search and Shoutbox blocks are not installed by default. Click on "Initialize Block" then change the status of the block to "Active" or "Index Only" to activate it. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.e107sk.com/efiction-3-5-5/administration/blocks.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.