Creating an HTML Template

HTML templates ensure a unified structure across the website. Content may vary from page to page, but the structure stays the same. Rather than holding the final content that is displayed in the web page, the template contains a number of placeholders representing the content or functionality that will be substituted when delivered, such as text, menus, graphics, or other programmable functionality.

Important: Templates can be created or modified in any HTML editor but must be saved using a .tpl extension (.tpl is the Website Manager template file extension).

Tip: If you have an existing website, you can quickly recreate your current website's look and feel by saving and modifying an existing page. To make the modifications open the page in an HTML editor and remove the content. Add a placeholder to represent the element that will be substituted in the delivered page. When you have completed the modifications save the page with a .tpl extension.

In most situations a website will use a limited number of page layouts or templates. For example, a website can use a template for the home page and a second template providing the structure for the rest of the website. In some situations the website might use additional templates for specific pages requiring a different layout.

When creating the template consider which elements or content should be substituted with placeholders. If an element will change from page to page (between experiences, or languages) it should be substituted with a placeholder. The most obvious example of an element changing between pages is the body content, which is substituted with a {body} placeholder. You should also substitute menus, images, and functionality with placeholders, as shown in the following example.

If you are delivering your content in different languages there are additional considerations.

Scenario: A company delivers their web content in English and German. The company's logo is a graphic with a short localized slogan. They create two versions of the logo - English and German - and substitute the logo with a placeholder in the template. When Website Manager delivers the page, the placeholder is substituted with the correct logo, ensuring the German visitor sees the German logo and the English visitor sees the English logo.