PageBuilder Editor: Selective Linking and Copying

Linking is a very powerful functionality that allows you to reuse a block or chain already configured on a Published Page or Template. If you are new to Linking, PageBuilder Editor: Linking 101 will help you get started.

Sometimes you need to link to a block on another Page as a true duplicate link and obtain both the layout (structure) and content i.e the linkable block in its entirety. Whereas at other times, you may only be interested in the layout or just the content of the block.

With Link Types, PageBuilder Editor provides you the added flexibility to choose from various options to selectively link or copy linkable blocks and chains. This document will help you understand what these options mean.

1. All - Content and Custom Fields for the Block

e.g If a storycard on your regional Homepage is linked to the storycard on your national Homepage with the Link Type as “All”, you will not only get the content but also the visual presentation configured through custom fields. Any time your colleague Bob updates the headline or adjusts the alignment of the text on the story and publishes the national Homepage, you will notice the changes on your regional Homepage as well.

2. Content

e.g If you are only interested in following the content of the storycard on national Homepage but prefer your own visual presentation for the regional Homepage or other Pages setup for different devices needing different layout, then you can choose “Content” option as the Link Type. This time, if Bob updates the headline and adjusts the alignment of the text of the story and publishes the national Homepage, you will only receive the updates to the content but no changes in alignment on your regional Homepage.

3. Custom Fields

e.g If you have a story about a local Sports Team winning a championship featured on the national Homepage as well as on the regional Homepage, you may want to control the headline and content details in a manner that speaks to the regional audience than giving a broader treatment. However the updates made to the alternate art, for instance, could be linked and shared across the two Homepages.

Summary for selective linking options for blocks

The table below shows whether the linked block gets the Content and/or Custom Fields from the linkable block for each of the option.

Similar to the options for blocks, chains provide multiple Link Types and you can choose from either “All”, blocks or chain Content depending on your needs for content and presentation.

1. All - Content and Custom Fields for chains and blocks

- Blocks inside the linked chain get the Content from the blocks inside the linkable chain

- Blocks inside the linked chain get the Custom Fields from the blocks inside the linkable chain

In the example below, Recipe Page on the left is the child Page and Food Space on the right is the parent Page.

For the weather chain, city is a content configuration and background color is a custom field. Since the linked chain on the Recipe Page has “all” Link Type selected, both the content field city and custom field background color are updated.

2. Blocks - Content and Custom Fields for blocks only

- Blocks inside the linked chain get the Content from the blocks inside the linkable chain

- Blocks inside the linked chain get the Custom Fields from the blocks inside the linkable chain

3. Chain Content

In the example below, Recipe Page on the left is the child Page and Food Space on the right is the parent Page.

For the weather chain, city is a content configuration and Background Color is a custom field. Since the linked chain on the Recipe Page only has chain content selected, only the content field city is updated.

Summary for selective linking options for chains

While linking or copying a block or chain, you can either use the Linking card or Other Pages tab from Add Block or Chains modal.