Plan a site framework

 

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The items that make up a site framework

A site framework consists of a single top-level site containing a set of site areas that contain content items. Although a site framework contains only a single site item, we can create multiple site frameworks for use in a single Web site.

Site framework items.

Sites:

  • A site is the top-level item in a site framework. Each site framework must contain a site, but a site framework can only contain a single site item.

  • You save site areas within sites.

  • You define the default mappings between authoring templates and presentation templates for an entire site in site items. Mappings set in site areas overrule mappings that are set in sites.

  • Site specific Web content is stored in sites in the form of elements.

  • The presentation template used to display elements stored in a site is determined by the which presentation template is used to display the current content item.

Site Areas:

  • Use site areas to build the site framework within which you group content items. The site areas that comprise the site framework can be classified into...

    • ancestors
    • descendants
    • siblings

    Depending on where you are within a site, site areas can act as ancestors and descendants. Site Areas that share the same ancestor are known as siblings.

    Site framework hierarchy.

  • Relationships between authoring templates and presentation templates are set in site areas.

  • Site area specific Web content is stored in site areas in the form of elements.

  • The presentation template used to display elements stored in a site area is determined by the which presentation template is used to display the current content item.

Content Items:

  • Use content items to store Web page specific content in the form of elements.

  • You save content items within site areas.

  • We can save content items within multiple site areas and multiple site frameworks.

  • You must select an authoring template when creating content items. The authoring template determines which elements are available to enter Web content into.

  • The site area a content item is located under, and the content item's authoring template, determines which presentation template to use to display elements stored within a content item.

  • Use categories and keywords to profile content items that the IWWCM application uses to generate further pieces of content such as menus.

 

When to use sites, site areas and content items

Sites and site areas and content items are similar item-types. They all store Web content in the form of elements, but they are used in different ways:

  • A site is always used as the top-level item in a site framework.

  • Site areas are used to define different sections within a site framework.

  • Content Items represent Web page specific content and can be used in multiple site areas and multiple site frameworks.

The structure of a Web site will determine whether a single site framework, or multiple site frameworks are used.

In the following examples, a company sells three different product brands.

 

Example 1: A single web site

In this example, the simplest method to use is a Web site comprising a single site framework with multiple site areas:

Site

  • Site area for Brand A

    • Content Item A1
    • Content Item A2
    • Generic content item

  • Site area for Brand B

    • Content Item B1
    • Content Item B2
    • Generic content item

  • Site area for Brand C

    • Content Item C1
    • Content Item C2
    • Generic content item

 

Example 2: Intranet, extranet and Web site

In this example, a separate site framework is created for an intranet, an extranet and a Web site. Some content items are used in more than one site framework.

Intranet Extranet Web site
Site Area A
  • Content Item A1
  • Content Item A2
  • Content Item A3 (intranet only)
  • Generic intranet content item
  • Generic content item

Site Area B

  • Content Item B1
  • Content Item B2
  • Content Item B3 (intranet and extranet only)
  • Generic intranet content item
  • Generic content item

Site Area C

  • Content Item C1
  • Content Item C2
  • Content Item C3 (intranet only)
  • Generic intranet content item
  • Generic content item
Site Area A
  • Content Item A1
  • Content Item A2
  • Content Item A4 (extranet only)
  • Generic extranet content item
  • Generic content item

Site Area B

  • Content Item B1
  • Content Item B2
  • Content Item B3 (intranet and extranet only)
  • Generic extranet content item
  • Generic content item

Site Area C

  • Content Item C1
  • Content Item C2
  • Content Item C4 (extranet and web only)
  • Generic extranet content item
  • Generic content item
Site Area A
  • Content Item A1
  • Content Item A2
  • Content Item A5 (Web only)
  • Generic Web content item
  • Generic content item

Site Area B

  • Content Item B1
  • Content Item B2
  • Content Item B4 (Web only)
  • Generic Web content item
  • Generic content item

Site Area C

  • Content Item C1
  • Content Item C2
  • Content Item C4 (extranet and web only)
  • Generic Web content item
  • Generic content item

 

Parent Topic

Create a site framework