# Fileshelf at a glance

Fileshelf manages downloads in Joomla 6 with Joomla's own means: categories, tags, access levels, fields and versions come from the core, not from a system of its own. Each download has exactly one file, one main category and, if you like, further categories in which it appears as well.

<figure id="bkmrk-the-list-of-download"> ![The list of downloads in the backend with version, access level and counter](https://docs.graup-it.de/uploads/images/gallery/2026-11/uLPdoku-02-downloads.png) <figcaption>The list of downloads: title, categories, version, access level and how often each file was downloaded.</figcaption></figure>## What Fileshelf does for you

- **Store files protected.** The files lie in a storage folder of their own, which Fileshelf locks against direct access and checks itself. Visitors only get a file through Fileshelf – with access check and counter.
- **Control access.** Joomla access levels, a password per download or per category, publishing period.
- **Show them on the website.** Menu items for categories, single downloads and the latest downloads, a module, shortcodes for articles and a button in the editor.
- **Let them be found.** The site search (Smart Search) finds downloads by title, description, file name and tag.
- **Maintain.** Tools reorder files, adopt files uploaded by FTP and check file details.

## The parts

Fileshelf is installed as one package. It contains:

<table class="table" id="bkmrk-parttask-component-f"> <thead> <tr><th scope="col">Part</th><th scope="col">Task</th></tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr><td>Component Fileshelf</td><td>Downloads, storage, website views, tools</td></tr> <tr><td>System - Fileshelf</td><td>Category password, protection against deleting categories in use</td></tr> <tr><td>Content - Fileshelf</td><td>Shortcodes in articles and modules</td></tr> <tr><td>Button - Fileshelf</td><td>The button “Download” in the editor</td></tr> <tr><td>Smart Search - Fileshelf</td><td>Downloads in the site search</td></tr> <tr><td>FileSystem - Fileshelf</td><td>The area “Downloads” in the media manager</td></tr> <tr><td>Module Fileshelf - Downloads</td><td>Latest, most popular, featured downloads or those of a category</td></tr> </tbody></table>

The plugins are enabled on the first installation. Always keep “System - Fileshelf” enabled; you can disable the others if you do not use their feature.

[Deutsche Fassung](https://docs.graup-it.de/link/395)