Authoring templates
An authoring template determines the design of a content form, defines what fields and elements appear on a content form and specifies default values for fields and elements.
Element and component selection for content items
The fundamental purpose of the authoring template is to provide a way for the template author to select the elements that appear on the content form. When constructing the authoring template, you can select more than one element field of the same element type.
For example, you might add three text element fields, two rich text element fields, and four image element fields to the same authoring template.
Default values for content
When you create an authoring template, you can specify default values to be used when creating new content based on the template. Well selected default values can make it easier and more efficient for a content author to create new content and can streamline the content creation process. Set default content values for the following sections of the authoring template:
Tip: In most cases, you should be sure to specify default values for the following options when creating an authoring template:
- Identification
- Contains descriptive information identifying the template, such as the name, title, and description. In addition you can specify additional authors and owners who can access and manage content items created with this template.
- Profile
- Contains profile information that can be used to group and categorize content items or to build page elements such as menus. You can select categories to associate with the content item or enter keywords that will be assigned to the content item.
- Content properties
- On a content form, this section contains information about the current content item including template maps and the site areas that the item is stored under.
- Content
- Contains the elements or components that are available for rendering as part of the content form. For each element or component, you can specify default values or settings as appropriate for the item.
For example, for a text element you could specify the default text that would appear in the field on the content form, as well as related information such as the height and width of the field.
- Workflow
- Contains workflow information, including the default workflow that will be associated with a content item generated with the template. In addition to specifying the default workflow, you can set other workflow-specific properties such as the date and time when the content item should be published or expired.
- Access Control
- Contains information about which users and groups have access to the content item. You can restrict access according to user, type of access, or combination thereof.
- Workflow
- Access Control
Simplified form layout
The authoring template provides features that help you simplify the presentation of the content form and screen the content author from unnecessary complexity.
Content form layout options. You can control the general layout of the fields on the content form by specifying a content form layout option. Depending on the layout option you select, this can reduce the vertical space required to display the elements on the content form.
Hidden fields. In addition to organizing a content form with a layout option for the fields, you can further simplify the form presented to the content author through the use of hidden fields. With the exception of those fields that are required for a content form, you 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 content form, thereby streamlining the form's visual appearance. Note, however, that although a hidden field is not displayed on the content form, the information defined in the field is still associated with the content 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 content form to ensure that the field's value cannot be changed by the content author.
For example, you might want to set access control levels for content generated from the authoring template in the Access Control section of the template and then hide that section on the resulting content form. When a content item is generated from the template, the access control levels for the content item will be derived from the default values in the template.
Customized help text
To further help tailor the content form for a content author, IBM Lotus Web Content Management provides the capability of adding customized help text to the authoring template.
- You can define help text for the entire content form that is generated from the authoring template. This help text can be used to describe the purpose of the form, for example, or to explain at a higher level how the form contributes to the site content that the form supports. Because it is fully customizable, you are free to include whatever specific information you feel would be of use to the content authors using the form.
- In addition to the HTML text you can add to describe the entire content form, you 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.
Presentation templates and authoring templates
When referencing content components in a presentation template:
- It is essential that all the components (and component types) the presentation template uses are available in the authoring template the content is based on.
- It is acceptable to have more or less components stored within a content item than are actually used within one particular presentation template.
You should also be aware that an authoring template could be used by different presentation templates in different site areas.
Labeling elements
The names of element labels in different content items must be the same if an element reference in a presentation template is to change depending on the current content. 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.
Table 1. Example: An element reference called Heading from Current Site Area
Site area Element label Element type Business Heading Image Personal Heading Rich Text Features Heading Text News Heading Text
Parent topic:
Web site design features
Related tasks
Creating an authoring template