Content types

Content types are structured models of content. They can be simple or complex. For example, you can have a simple Title content type that consists of a single text field, or something more complex like an Address content type that has a test field for the street, city, and state, and a number field for the zip code. See Building blocks of the user interface for an overview. See also a demonstration of Visual Builder content types.

The main structure models for content types are Experience, Section, Element, Page, and Block types, and Media types such as Images, Video, and Media. You can customize these types into specific content models for your purposes, such as Article, Article List, Call to Action, Card, and more by defining each model's properties. Each type contains the properties where editors enter information. You can find property settings at Settings > Content Types > {select content type} > Properties when you work with content types.

For a content type, you define properties that can hold information, such as a link to an image, a web page, or editorial text. A typical application has a set of content types that match the identified functions needed on that application.

The content type is the foundation for creating one or many experience, page, or block instances. The content type and its properties must be mapped to the corresponding rendering to display content to visitors.

The content concept in Optimizely Content Management System (CMS) (SaaS) is based on inheritance from a "generic" content type, which is then used to create specific content types, such as a page type or a media folder.

Experience type

An experience type is an extension of the page type, enhanced to be used with Visual Builder. It is managed by Optimizely, so you cannot adjust the Settings, but you can modify Permissions and other properties, similar to changes to page types described in Create a page type from the Settings view. 

For example, the Blank Experience content type has a single property called SEO Settings, which is a Block property with the specifications of the Page SEO Setting block Type.

Section type

A section type is not available as an option in the dropdown when you create a content types, but it comes as a default with CMS (SaaS) to help organize your content in an experience type in the Visual Builder.

You cannot adjust a section type, but you can modify Permissions and other properties, similar to changes to page types described in Create a page type from the Settings view.

Element type

An element types is an extension of the block type, enhanced to work with Visual Builder. From the Settings view, you can add properties, modify permissions, and set some settings.

Edit the settings for an existing Element type as follows:

1. Go to Settings > Content Types, and select an Element type.
2. Click Settings.
3. Enter the following information.
   • Name – A name for the Element type.
   • Display name – The name to be displayed in the list of available Element types.
   • Description – The text describing the Element type also displays in the list of available media types.
   • Sort index – A number determining the (ascending) sort order in the list of available Element types. The default is 0.
   • Available in edit view – Select to make the Element type available for selection when creating pages in the editorial interface. You should hide rarely used page types, such as the start page type. You can make these available when needed and then hide them again.
4. You can modify Permissions and other properties, similar to changes to Page types described in Create a page type from the Settings view.
5. Select Define > Properties and specify the components of your element type. For example, the Call To Action element content type has the Link and Text properties, each further defined in Configure Property.

   

6. Click Save to define the Call To Action content type. When you click Add Element in edit view, Call To Action is among the selection choices.

   

   When you add Call To Action to a column in the experience, you can define what goes in that Call To Action content type. In the following image, and image is selected and text is entered. Visual Builder displays this in the preview panel.

   

Page type

A page type is content that you can display with a template and unique URL, used to represent a webpage on your application. You can have multiple web pages using the same page type, but each webpage must be a page type. The following list shows typical uses of the page type.

• A template for a page where the layout is defined and you fill in content, such as a search result page or a product listing page.
• A container page where there is no set layout, and you can modify the layout and content, sich as a special campaign page or terms and conditions page.
• A mix of template and container where there is some set layout defined, but you have some freedom for certain layouts or structures such as a homepage with predefined areas for content, but you can change two, three, or four columns in certain areas.

Edit a page type

To edit settings for an existing page type, perform the following steps. See Define page properties for details about page settings.

1. Go to Settings > Content Types.
2. Select the page type from the list.
3. Click Settings.

   

4. Modify the form.
5. Click Save.

Create a page type from the Settings view

1. Go to Settings > Content Types, and select Create New > Page Type.

   

2. Set values in the new page Settings tab.

   

   • Name – A name for the page type.
   • Display name – The name to be displayed in the list of available page types.
   • Description – The text describing the page type also displays in the list of available page types.
   • Sort index – Enter a number to determine the (ascending) sort order for content types listed on the Content Types page.
   • Available in edit view – Select to make the page type available for selection when creating pages in the editorial interface. You should hide rarely used page types, such as the start page type. You can make these available when needed and then hide them again.
3. Set the values on the Permissions tab.

   You can use the Search box to filter and find users and groups to which you want to give access.

   

4. Set values on the Default Values tab for some of the built-in properties.

   

5. Set values on the Child Content Types tab.

   When creating pages, limit the available page types in the page type list to make it easier for editors to choose the correct page type. For example, for a Bank Deposits parent page, you can specify that the only available page type is a Bank Deposits page and not on others.

   

6. Click Save.

Copy an existing page type

When you copy a page type, its properties are copied also. You can then edit the information for the page type and its properties. Copy a page type as follows:

1. Select Copy Page Type in the Manage Page Types tab in the Settings view.
2. Select the page type you want to copy from the drop-down list and click Copy. A window will display the same properties.
3. Edit the page type information to suit your requirements and click Save.

Block type

A block type is a component or module that makes up a portion of a web page. It is reusable content you can display with a template; it does not have a URL. It can consist of other block types, content, and media types. You can create block types to do the following (and more):

• A carousel container, used for holding multiple slides
• A slide used in a carousel
• A button
• A navigation menu
• SEO settings for a page
• Label dictionary for the application
• An interactive map

Block types are similar to Page types, and you can modify some settings from the Settings view. See also Define page properties.

Edit the settings for an existing block type as follows:

1. Go to Settings > Content Types, and select a block type (such as Card Component).
2. Click Settings.

   

3. Change one or several settings as described for Create a page type from the Settings view.
4. Click Save.

Media type

Media types are any file you want to load into CMS (SaaS). You can add properties, modify permissions, and some settings from the Settings view. The following list shows media types.

• Image – jpg, png, webp, svg, gif, tiff, and so on.
• Video – mp4, avi, mov, wmv, webm, mkv, ogg, and so on.
• Media – Everything else such as pdf, docx, mp3, zip, iso, ttf, js, css, and so on.

Edit a media type

Edit the settings for an existing media type as follows:

1. Go to Settings > Content Types, and select a media type (Image, Video, or Media).
2. Click Settings.
3. Enter the following information.
   • Name – A name for the media type.
   • Display name – The name to be displayed in the list of available media types.
   • Description – The text describing the media type also displays in the list of available media types.
   • Sort index – A number determining the (ascending) sort order in the list of available media types. The default is 0.
4. Click Save.

Create a media type from the Settings view

1. Go to Settings > Content Types, and select Create New > Media Type.

   

2. Enter the following information.
   • Name – A name for the media type.
   • Display name – The name to be displayed in the list of available media types.
   • Description – The text describing the media type also displays in the list of available media types.
   • Sort index – A number determining the (ascending) sort order in the list of available media types. The default is 100.
   • Type – Required for image and video types. Select the media type.

     

   • Supported media extensions – Comma-separated list of file extensions the media type supports.
3. Click Save.

Other content types

By default, there are generic content types for other types of content, such as folders and media files. Based on these, developers can create specific content types. You can have a specific folder or media file content type where you can add properties such as Copyright or Photographer.