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Chapter 12

Creating and Using Templates

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1. Create templates with editable regions

2. Use templates to create pages

3. Use templates to update a site

4. Use advanced template options

Chapter 12 Lessons

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• A template is a special kind of page that contains both locked regions and other types of regions that cannot be modified by authors.

• Locked regions are areas on the page that cannot be modified by page authors.

Creating and Using Templates

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• An optional region is an area in the template that users can choose to show or hide.

• An editable region is an area where template users can add or change content.

Creating and Using Templates

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Tools You’ll Use

Creating and Using Templates

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• Templates are saved with a .dwt extension.

• When you save a template, by default, the content on the page is locked.

Creating Templates with Editable Regions

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• An optional region’s visibility is controlled by the conditional statement if.

• If you want to give users the ability to show or hide page elements, then you can define the element as an editable optional region.

Creating Templates with Editable Regions

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activities_pages template with editable region added

Creating Templates with Editable Regions

Editable region label

Selected editable region is marked by blue outline

Templates list arrow

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• When you create a template, you save time and ensure consistency in your web pages.

• When your mouse pointer appears in the shape of a circle with a line cutting through it, you are positioned over a locked region.

Use Templates to Create Pages

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Use Templates to Create Pages

Working with a template-based page

Pointer positioned over a locked region

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• When you add a link to a page that is based on a template, you must use document-relative links.

• The path to a link goes from the template file to the linked page.

Use Templates to Create Pages

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• You can attach a template to an existing page that you have already created.

• Before you attach the page, delete any elements on the page that also appear on the template.

Use Templates to Create Pages

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• You should update a website frequently to keep the content fresh and timely.

• You can make changes to a template in the Assets panel or the Files panel.

Use Templates to update a Site

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Use Templates to update a Site

Update Template Files dialog box

Any change that you make to a template is applied to all nested templates and the pages that are based on the template

Files based on activities_pages template

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• If your template will be used by many people, you should include several optional regions in it so they can pick and choose form content element.

• Nested templates are those that are based on another template.

Use Advanced Template Options

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Use Advanced Template Options

The Editable Tag Attributes dialog box can be used to specify that certain attributes of locked regions be editable

Editable Tag Attributes dialog box