Module Configuration for 1C-Bitrix Start Edition

The "Start" edition is the minimum functional set of the 1C-Bitrix platform. You purchase a license, install it — and discover that half the settings you need are either not where you expect them, or require an understanding of how the platform's modules work. Without basic configuration, the site operates incorrectly: forms don't send, search doesn't index, caching is not configured.

Module Configuration for 1C-Bitrix Start Edition

What's Included in the Start Edition

The "Start" edition includes a limited set of modules compared to higher editions. Available modules:

• Main module (main) — platform core, user and group management, site settings
• Information blocks (iblock) — the foundation for storing content: news, portfolio, catalog (without commerce)
• Search (search) — full-text search across the site
• Web forms (form) — feedback forms, surveys
• Subscriptions (subscribe) — email subscriptions
• Statistics (statistic) — built-in visit statistics (typically replaced by Yandex.Metrica)
• Photo gallery (photogallery) — in its basic form

The e-commerce module (sale), CRM, advertising, and a number of other modules are not included in the "Start" edition.

Basic Configuration After Installation

Main module. Settings → Product Settings → Main Module:

• Site encoding (UTF-8)
• Time zone
• Administrator email address (system error notifications are sent here)
• Mail settings: sending type (SMTP preferred), connection parameters

Caching. Settings → Product Settings → Caching. Optimal for most sites: component cache enabled, lifetime 3600 seconds, page auto-caching — situational. If the server is low-powered — enable managed_cache with filesystem storage; on high-load servers — memcached or Redis.

Information Blocks module. Create information block types (logical groupings) and the information blocks themselves for the site's tasks: "News," "Services," "Portfolio," "Reviews." For each, configure properties — record fields (text, file, list, section link).

Search module. Settings → Search. Add indexable content types (information blocks), run reindexing. Without this step, the bitrix:search.page component returns empty results.

Web forms. Create forms: feedback form, request form. Configure fields, statuses, and mail events for sending results — FORM_RESULT_ADD.

User Groups and Permissions Configuration

Standard groups in Bitrix: "Administrators," "All Users" (guests), "Registered Users." For most sites on "Start" this is sufficient.

Permissions for information blocks are configured in the information block card: the "All Users" group — "Read" permission, the "Administrators" group — "Full Access." Without this step, the public side cannot see information block content.

Common Issues and Solutions

Forms don't send emails — mail is not configured or is configured to use mail() without a proper sendmail. Solution: configure SMTP.

Search returns empty results — indexing has not been run. Solution: Settings → Search → Reindex.

Site is slow — caching is not configured or has been reset. Check caching settings in the main module.

Timelines