Multifront includes a built-in content management system. This system is meant to allow end users to easily manage content without technical expertise. The content is stored in XML files and database tables to allow integration with other systems.
Types of content managed areas in Multifront:
| 1. | Content Pages: These are static content pages that can be created by logging into the storefront siteadmin as a content editor. An example of this content type is the "About Us" page. Once the content page is created, it can be edited using a WYSIWYG editor |
| 2. | Message Blocks: These are static content areas that are implemented in the ASP.NET code using a Message Block Control. At run time the control gets it's messages from the database by looking up the message by ID (previous versions of Multifront stored messages in an XML file located in WebApp\Data\Default\Config\MessageConfig.xml). You can use the storefront siteadmin to edit content in these message blocks. The advantage of the message block is that it can be referenced in several pages (for example: you could create a message block to display the customer service phone number. This block can then be placed on different types of pages - the phone number will be displayed on all of these pages) |
Steps to add a Custom Message Block to an ASP.NET Page
1: Add the control declaration
<%@ Register Src="CustomMessage.ascx" TagName="CustomMessage" TagPrefix="uc1" %>
2: Add an instance of the control. Note that the "messagekey" property corresponds to the referenced content in the database. In the example below, the control will display the Footer Copyright.
<uc1:custommessage runat="server" messagekey="FooterCopyrightText"></uc1:custommessage>
Editing Content Pages using SiteAdmin
Globalization support for the content pages
To Add a new page:
| 1. | Login to the Multifront administration website. The Dashboard page is displayed. |
| 2. | On the top menu, click Manage Pages under Advanced. The Manage Pages page is displayed listing all the pages in the storefront. |
| 3. | Click Add New Page. The Add a Content Page page is displayed. |
| 4. | In addition to the other details, please ensure that you select these details for Globalization: |
| • | Select Store: Select a store that this page applies to from the drop-down list. |
| • | Select Locale: Select a language from the drop-down list. |
| • | Page content: Enter the page content for the corresponding language. Using this WYSIWYG editor, you can easily add rich content such as text, images, flash movies and document links. |
| 5. | Click Submit. The Manage Pages page is displayed listing the newly added page under Page List. |
To Edit a page:
| 1. | Login to the Multifront administration website. The Dashboard page is displayed. |
| 2. | On the top menu, click Manage Pages under Advanced. The Manage Pages page is displayed listing all the pages in the storefront. |
| 3. | Click Edit. The Edit Content Page page is displayed. |
| 4. | In addition to the other details please ensure that you select these details for Globalization: |
| • | Select Store: Select a store that this page applies to from the drop-down list. |
| • | Select Locale: Select a language from the drop-down list. |
| • | Page content: Enter the page content for the corresponding language. Using this WYSIWYG editor, you can easily add rich content such as text, images, flash movies and document links. |
| 5. | Click Submit. The Manage Pages page is displayed listing the newly added page under Page List. |
To Delete a page:
| 1. | Login to the Multifront administration website. The Dashboard page is displayed. |
| 2. | On the top menu, click Manage Pages under Advanced. The Manage Pages page is displayed listing all the pages in the storefront. |
| 3. | Click Delete on the page you want to delete. The Please Confirm page is displayed. |
| 4. | Click Delete to confirm. The Manage Pages page is displayed with the page removed from the list. |
Editing Message Block Content using SiteAdmin
See Also:
Customizing the Multifront Theme