1. Building page templates and branches

Create and configure a page branch

In the Page builder, page branches let you define reusable page structures that content authors can use as a starting point when creating new pages. You can use page branches when you want to create landing pages or other page types with a flexible but consistent structure, provide authors with ready-made page setups that include layout and components, or reuse the same page structure across multiple pages while allowing local customization.

Pages created from a page branch contain a copy of the page branch layout and its local data sources. After creation, authors can freely modify the page like any other page in the Page builder.

Page branches complement page designs: the components defined in partial designs remain centrally managed, and page branches extend this model by allowing you to define complete, reusable page starting points that authors can use when creating pages.

Keep the following in mind when working with page branches:

  • Pages created from a page branch are independent copies; later changes to the page branch do not affect the original page branch.

  • Page branches use existing page templates.

  • You can control where page branches can be used by configuring rules.

  • Page branches must be published before content authors can use them to create pages.

Create a page branch for a site

When you have created a page branch, you can edit the page branch content and layout like any regular page. You can also add subpages to your original page branch. When editors create a page based on the page branch, all the pages, including content, layout, and data sources, are copied to the site tree.

To create a page branch for a site:

  1. In Page builder in Templates mode, in the left panel, click Page branch.

  2. In the top-right corner, click Create > Page branch.

  3. In the New page branch dialog, enter a name for the branch, and choose a template for the root node of your branch.

  4. Click Create.

  5. In the canvas, you can add components to the new page branch.

  6. In the left-hand panel branch map, to add a page as a child of the initial branch page, click Create a page. You can move this page using the drag icon to reorganize the Branch tree.

  7. When you are done, click Close.

Configure insert options

For content authors to be able to use a page branch in their sites, you must make it available for them to insert.

Note

If you are using shared sites, you can define rules for page branches on the shared site.

To configure the insert options for a page branch:

  1. In Page builder in Templates mode, click Edit insert rules. It opens the Content Editor /sitecore/content/<site collection>/<site>/Presentation/Page Branches.

  2. In the Content Editor, on the Content tab, under Data, click Edit rule. This opens a new dialog box where you can define conditions for your rule.

  3. In the Choose conditions field, under Item information, click where the item is specific template.

  4. In the Edit rule field, click specific template, then choose the correct page type in the Projects folder.

  5. In the Choose actions field, under Item information, click add the specified Page Branch to the insert options.

  6. In the Edit rule field, click specified, then choose the new page branch.

  7. Verify that the rule now reads where the item template is <name of page template> add the <name of new page branch> Page Branch to the insert options .

  8. In the top-left corner, click Save.

Content authors can now insert the page branch on items that meet the conditions for the Rule field.

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