Work with authoring templates

When working with authoring templates we define settings for the authoring template itself, as well as defining default settings for the items created using the authoring template.

Authoring template types

Site area templates

Site area authoring templates are used to define the default settings of site areas. A default site area is installed with Web Content Manager. This can be used to maintain the behavior of site areas migrated from previous releases. To disable the creation of new site areas using the default site area template, in WCM WCMConfigService set...

wcm.authoringui.defaultSiteAreaTemplateEnabled=false

Content templates

Content authoring templates are used to define the default settings for content items. We create render content in two different ways:

Content rendering

If we configure a content authoring template to render as content, then the content items created will be standard content items. These are designed to store elements that can be rendered within presentation templates.

Resource rendering

If we configure a content authoring template to render as a resource, then the content items created will be based on a file stored in a file resource element. When a resource content item is rendered, the file stored in the selected file resource element is rendered on the web page. No presentation template is used when the file is rendered, only the content of the file itself. This is useful when to store a file, such as a PDF file, and render it directly on a page but would also like to have the PDF file listed in navigational components such as menus and navigators.

Defining authoring template properties

Element selection

When creating an authoring template we add elements to the template to determine what types of content will be stored within the item. When constructing the authoring template, we can select more than one element field of the same element type. For example, we might add three text element fields, two rich text element fields, and four image element fields to the same authoring template.

Default values

We can specify default values for each field and element in the authoring template. Well selected default values can make it easier and more efficient for an author to create new items and can streamline the item creation process.

Form layout

Authoring form layout options

We can control the general layout of the fields on the authoring form by specifying an authoring form layout option. Depending on the layout option selected, this can reduce the vertical space required to display the elements on the authoring form.

Hidden fields

In addition to organizing an authoring form with a layout option for the fields, we can further simplify the form presented to the item author through the use of hidden fields. With the exception of those fields required for an authoring form, we can designate any other field in the authoring template to be hidden. A field marked to be hidden in the authoring template is not displayed on the authoring form, thereby streamlining the form's visual appearance. Note, however, that although a hidden field is not displayed on the authoring form, the information defined in the field is still associated with the authoring form and will be processed with the form. This is particularly useful when used in conjunction with a default value for a field because it enables you to specify a setting for a field and then hide the field on the authoring form to ensure that the field's value cannot be changed by the item author. For example, we might want to set access control levels for item generated from the authoring template in the Access Control section of the template and then hide that section on the resulting authoring form. When an item is generated from the template, the access control levels for the item will be derived from the default values in the template.

Custom help text

To further help tailor the content form for a item author, WCM provides the capability of adding customized help text to the authoring template.

• We can define help text for the entire authoring form generated from the authoring template. For example, this help text can be used to describe the purpose of the form. You should include whatever specific information you feel would be of use to the authors using the form.

• In addition to the HTML text we can add to describe the entire authoring form, we can also specify in-line help text that is displayed with each element on the form. This help text can provide targeted information for a particular field on the form, explaining possible values or noting special conditions related to the field.

Labeling elements

The names of element labels in different items must be the same if an element reference in a presentation template is to change depending on the current context. This is an important consideration if two authoring templates will be using the same presentation template. The element types however, do not have to be consistent.

Site area	Element label	Element type
Business	Heading	Image
Personal	Heading	Rich Text
Features	Heading	Text
News	Heading	Text

Parent: Create authoring templates

Related: Create authoring templates