Switch Content Wizard

The Switch Content wizard is used to change the content assigned to a contribution region on a web page (or assign content if none was assigned yet). Contributors use this same wizard to assign or switch content in the Contributor application. You, as the site designer, control the options available to them when you set up a region definition. For example, you decide what kinds of content can be assigned: a new contributor data file or native document, an existing file on the content server, and/or an existing file on your local computer. You may also limit the file formats of native documents that can be assigned (for example, only Microsoft Word documents). In addition, you may allow the association of content with a contribution region to be removed altogether.

In Designer, you open the Switch Content wizard from a web page that is displayed in the Assign Content dialog (see Assign Content Dialog), which, in turn, is launched by right-clicking an assigned primary or secondary page of a section in the site hierarchy and choosing Assign Content. The page is essentially displayed in contribution mode, and you can right-click the menu in a contribution graphic to switch the content of the associated placeholder (or assign it if no content has yet been assigned).

Description of Switch Content Wizard

The Switch Content wizard consists of multiple steps, depending on the properties of the current contribution region and the choices you make during the process.

Note:

You can step through the wizard faster by clicking the blue arrow to the left of the option you want to use. This automatically selects the option and moves the wizard to the next step.

Selecting a Region Definition or Subtemplate

Depending on how contribution region was set up, you may first be prompted to select the region definition or subtemplate that the region content should be based on.

If you select a region definition, you associate the contribution region directly with a contributor data file or native document (to be selected later in the wizard). Its contents displays in the contribution region in accordance with the selected region definition and its associated region template. You, as the site designer, control what region definitions are available for the contribution region (in the placeholder definition).

If you select a subtemplate, you associate the contribution region with a subtemplate that defines what the region looks like and typically divides it into smaller contribution regions (each of which needs separate content assigned to it). You, as the site designer, control what subtemplates are available for the contribution region (in the placeholder definition).

Selecting the Content

Depending on your wizard choices, you may be prompted to select the type of content file that is associated with the contribution region. The available content file types depend on what was made available in the region definition. Select an option:

To use a new contributor data file, select New Contributor data file. You are taken to a content check-in form, where you can provide the metadata for the contributor data file and check the file into the content server. The file is empty until you (or another contributor) edits it in the Contributor editor.
To use a new native document, select New native file and choose the file format. (The available file formats are set in the region definition.) You are taken to a content check-in form, where you can provide the metadata for the native document and check the file into the content server. All required metadata fields are marked red. The file is empty until you (or another contributor) edits it in its native application.
To use an existing file on the content server, select Existing file from server. You are taken to a search results page, which lists all items on the content server that you can choose from. (The criteria for the search query are set in the region definition.) Select the file you want to use by clicking its associated Select button.
To use an existing file on your computer, select Existing local file. You are taken to a content check-in form, where you can provide the metadata for the file and check the file into the content server. All required metadata fields are marked red. Use the Browse button next to the Primary File field to navigate to the file on your computer to use and select it.
To remove the existing association of a content file with the contribution region, select None. This means that the contribution region no longer has a content file assigned to it.