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Template maps

Template maps are used to determine which presentation templates are used to display each content item.


Template map strategies

The presentation template used by a content item is determined by the relationship between the content item's authoring template and a presentation template defined in the authoring template, or a template map defined in a site or site area in the path of the current content item. Template maps assigned in sites and site areas will override those set in authoring templates.

This can result in the following relationships:

Defined in authoring templates

If you select a default presentation template in an authoring template, it will be used as the default presentation template for all content items based on that authoring template. This will ensure that all content items based on that authoring template will be rendered with the same presentation template, but it does not guarantee design consistency between other content items located in the same site or site area. If a different template map is specified in any site or site area in the content item path, then the template map defined in the lowest part of the content item path will be used instead.

Defined in sites

If you define a template map in a site, this will ensure that all content items based on the selected authoring template will, by default, use the same presentation template in that site. If a different template map is specified in any site area in the site, then the template map defined in site area in the lowest part of the content item path will be used.

Defined in site areas

If you define a template map in a site area, this will ensure that all content items based on the selected authoring template will use the same presentation template in that site area. If a different template map is specified in any child site areas of the parent site area, then the template map defined in site area in the lowest part of the content item path will be used.


Template map examples

In these examples the following template maps are used:

The presentation template used by each content item will be determined by the authoring template the content item used, and the location of the content item in the site framework.


Table 1. Template Map Results

Content and location Result
Content 1 using Authoring Template 1 located in Site Area 1 As Site Area 1 contains no template maps, Content 1 is displayed using Presentation Template 1 which is the default presentation template of Authoring Template 1.
Content 1 using Authoring Template 1 located in Site Area 2 As Site Area 2 contains a map between Authoring Template 1 and Presentation Template 2, Content 1 is instead displayed using Presentation Template 2.
Content 2 using Authoring Template 2 located in Site Area 1 As Site Area 1 contains no template maps, Content 2 is displayed using Presentation Template 2 which is the default presentation template of Authoring Template 2.
Content 3 using Authoring Template 3 located in Site Area 1 As Site Area 1 contains no template maps, Content 3 is also displayed using Presentation Template 2 which is the default presentation template of Authoring Template 3.
Content 4 using Authoring Template 4 located in Site Area 1 As Site Area 1 contains no template maps, Content 4 is displayed using Presentation Template 3 which is mapped to Authoring Template 4 at the site level.


Element references

When referencing elements in a presentation it is important to note the following:

Although the template author can identify a number of elements that can be displayed on the content item form, whether the elements are displayed depends on the presentation template used with the authoring template to render the content form. A presentation template might not include every element defined in an authoring template, but in order for an element or element type to be available to a presentation template, the element must be included in the authoring template used to create the content.


Parent topic:

Web site design features