> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.norrnext.com/norrcompetition/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.norrnext.com/norrcompetition/contests/creating-contest.md).

# Creating Contest

Learn how to create and configure a contest in NorrCompetition.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Categories and custom fields are required for contests and should be created first. Read more in [Custom Fields – Creating Field](/norrcompetition/fields/creating-field.md) and [Categories – Creating Category](/norrcompetition/categories/creating-category.md).
{% endhint %}

Contests can be created from the backend Control Panel (explained below) or directly from the frontend by authorized administrators.

To create a new contest, proceed to **Components > NorrCompetition > Contests** and click the **New** toolbar button. The contest edit form opens:

<figure><img src="https://4110454137-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FemWP543OtNCmlHpJBjKV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-ef2a49d3b9f5d0c37ba00855ed4573642582e620%2Fnc-creating-contest-min.png?alt=media" alt="Contest Edit Form"><figcaption><p>Contest Edit Form</p></figcaption></figure>

### 1. Contest Details

* **Title** – the name of the contest (required).
* **Alias** – SEF URL slug. If left blank, Joomla automatically generates it from the title.
* **Short Description** – concise overview displayed in contest list views. If left empty, the full description is used.
* **Description** – detailed contest description and rules using the WYSIWYG editor.

#### Right Sidebar Settings

* **Category** – assigned category (required).
* **Type** – contest media format:

  * **Photo** – photo contest requiring contestants to upload image files.
  * **Video** – video contest requiring contestants to submit video URLs from supported providers (**YouTube**, **Vimeo**, **Dailymotion**, **Instagram**, **Wistia**, **Rutube**).
  * **Simple** – general submission contest without mandatory photo/video uploads, driven by custom fields.

  <div data-gb-custom-block data-tag="hint" data-style="warning" class="hint hint-warning"><p>The contest type can only be changed while the contest has zero entries. Once an entry is submitted, the type is locked.</p></div>
* **State** – publication status (*Published*, *Unpublished*, *Archived*, or *Trashed*).
* **Status** – operational state (*Active* or *Closed*).
* **Access** – viewing access level (*Public*, *Registered*, *Special*, etc.).
* **Start Date** – contest opening date and time.
* **End Date** – contest closing date and time. When this timestamp is reached, the status automatically switches to *Closed*.
* **Meta Description & Keywords** – custom metadata tags for search engine optimization.

### 2. Publishing Options

<figure><picture><source srcset="/files/P1hqickDYCnlaCuwJPLS" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)"><img src="https://4110454137-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FemWP543OtNCmlHpJBjKV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3613c6c91d6d82f674f739ef7956880b41588425%2Fnc-creating-contests-publishing-options.png?alt=media" alt="Creating contest - publishing options"></picture><figcaption><p>Publishing Options</p></figcaption></figure>

* **Created Date** – creation timestamp (UTC).
* **Created By** – user account assigned as the creator of the contest.
* **Robots** – indexing directives (*Use Global*, *Index, Follow*, *Noindex, Follow*, *Index, Nofollow*, *Noindex, Nofollow*).

### 3. Fields

<figure><picture><source srcset="/files/lU6XHtMesEXrE0ncT7nR" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)"><img src="https://4110454137-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FemWP543OtNCmlHpJBjKV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-240b23e929e62fa528f3b93e87ea0321cb821baa%2Fnc-creating-contests-fields-min.png?alt=media" alt="NorrCompetition Creating contest - Fields"></picture><figcaption><p>Fields Configuration</p></figcaption></figure>

* **Field type 'Title'** – select which custom field serves as the title/name of entries in this contest. This field generates the entry alias in URLs and acts as the primary identifier (e.g. "Full Name" for portrait contests, "Pet Name" for animal contests, or "Artwork Title").
* **Contest Fields** – repeatable subform to assign and order custom fields available in this contest's entry submission form.

### 4. Basic Options

<figure><picture><source srcset="/files/XQHC5UKhNmH9r2sRKxA9" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)"><img src="https://4110454137-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FemWP543OtNCmlHpJBjKV%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-cde8810f6ccc050b9caa805ab8b5ce33d88bf908%2Fnc-creating-contests-basic-options-min.png?alt=media" alt="NorrCompetition Creating contest - Basic Options"></picture><figcaption><p>Basic Options</p></figcaption></figure>

* **Cover Image** – main banner or cover image for the contest.

#### 4.1. Application Options (Entry Submission)

* **Entries per Contest** – maximum number of entries a single contestant can submit.
* **Entry Approval** – moderation requirement for submissions: *Use Global*, *None* (auto-publish), *New* (moderate new submissions), *Changed* (moderate edits to existing entries), or *All*.
* **Email Notification** – send email alerts to administrators on submissions: *Use Global*, *None*, *On New*, *On Changed*, or *All*.
* **Notification Emails** – custom comma-separated list of recipient email addresses.
* **Multiple Photos** – allow contestants to upload additional photos for an image gallery on the entry page.
* **Multiple Photos Limit** – maximum number of additional photos allowed per entry.
* **Total Entries Limit** – maximum allowed entries for the entire contest (0 = unlimited).
* **Default Entry Creator** – fallback Joomla user assigned as author when guest/unregistered submissions are enabled.
* **Save Contestant IP** – log the submitter's IP address with the entry record.

#### 4.2. Voting Options

* **Enable Rating** – enable or disable the voting system for this contest.
* **Vote Mode** – voting mechanism:
  * **Standard Vote** (`vote`) – simple single-click vote count.
  * **Rating** (`rating`) – score-based star rating.
* **Rating Max** – maximum rating score (*1 - 5* or *1 - 10*, active when Vote Mode is Rating).
* **Voting Start Date** – timestamp when voting opens (if blank, defaults to contest start date).
* **Voting End Date** – timestamp when voting closes (if blank, defaults to contest end date).
* **Count Past Votes** – if *Yes*, all historical votes are counted. If *No*, only votes cast within the current active voting period window are counted (useful for multi-stage contests).
* **Vote for Own Entry** – allow contestants to vote for their own submissions.
* **Unvote Period** – time window (in minutes) during which a voter can cancel their vote (0 = unvote disabled).
* **Modal Confirmation Form** – require a popup confirmation modal when voting: *Off*, *Guests Only*, or *All Users*.

#### 4.3. Contest Voting Limits

* **Max Votes per Contest** – total votes a single voter may cast across the entire contest.
* **Vote Frequency** – minimum interval between votes across the contest (*No limit*, *1 hour*, *6 hours*, *12 hours*, *1 day*, *1 week*, *1 month*).
* **Custom Vote Frequency** – custom numeric interval overriding standard frequency options.
* **Custom Frequency Mode** – units for custom interval (*Seconds*, *Minutes*, *Hours*, *Days*).

#### 4.4. Entry Voting Limits

* **Max Votes per Entry** – total votes a single voter may cast for a specific entry.
* **Vote Frequency** – interval between votes for the same entry.
* **Custom Vote Frequency & Mode** – custom numeric interval and units for entry-level voting.

#### 4.5. Anti-Fraud & Verification Checks

* **Check IP** – record and check voter IP address to prevent repeat voting.
* **Check IP + Fingerprint** – evaluate browser fingerprint combined with IP.
* **Check Fingerprint** – evaluate client device canvas/browser fingerprint.
* **Check Cookie** – place a tracking cookie in the voter's browser.
* **Cookie Expiration Time** – expiration duration in days.
* **Save Tracking Data** – store client user agent, screen resolution, and language metadata in the votes log for security analysis.

#### 4.6. Verification Code (Token / OTP) Options

* **Verification Code Required** – require one-time confirmation code verification: *Off*, *Guests Only*, or *All Users*.
* **Code Length** – number of digits in the verification code (default: 6).
* **Code Expiration** – validity period in seconds (default: 300).
* **Max Verification Attempts** – maximum failed attempts before code invalidation.
* **Resend Cooldown** – cooldown period in seconds before a new code can be requested.
* **Max Resends** – maximum code resend requests allowed.
* **Flood Window** – rate limiting observation window in seconds.
* **Max Codes per IP / Recipient** – flood control thresholds.

### 5. Layout Options (Contest Page)

Fine-tune the single contest view layout, counters, countdown timers, and filtering options. See [Contest Layout Options](/norrcompetition/contests/contest-layout-options.md).

### 6. Contests Layout Options (List Views)

Control how this specific contest card is presented when rendered within category overviews or contests directory lists:

* **Image** – show or hide the contest cover thumbnail.
* **Description** – show or hide the short description.
* **Contest Information Block** – toggle metadata block visibility (type badge, category link, status, total entries count, creation date, start/end dates, voting period dates).

### 7. Entry Layout Options

Configure how individual entry pages look within this contest. See [Entry Layout Options](/norrcompetition/entries/entry-layout-options.md).

### 8. Images & Media Options

Override global thumbnail sizes, aspect ratios, cropping, watermarks, and video player settings. See [Configuration - Images](/norrcompetition/configuration/images.md).

### 9. Permissions

Set granular ACL permissions for this contest (*Create*, *Edit*, *Edit Own*, *Delete*, *Vote*, *Unvote*, *Create Before*, *Create After*, *Edit After*). See [Configuration - Permissions](/norrcompetition/configuration/permissions.md).