Assigning a Primary Page

A primary page acts like a landing or default page for each section of the Web site. When users click a link to go to that section (for example, Products), they are taken to the primary page associated with that section.

Both primary and secondary pages provide true scalability for a growing Web site. You can manage the "look and feel" of your entire site, regardless of its size, with just a few page templates.

To assign a page template to use as the primary page for a section, perform these tasks:

1. In the Site Hierarchy pane, right-click the desired section and choose Select Primary Page.

2. In the Select (Primary) page template dialog (see Select (Primary) Page Template Dialog), choose how you want to create the primary page for this section:

   • Create a new page template: A new page template is created, checked into the content server, and associated with this section. Choose hcsp, jsp, or asp as the file extension. The available extension depends on the site type that you chose when creating the site.

   • Select existing page template from the content server: An existing page template in the content server is associated with this section. Select the page template in the menu or select <Choose From Server> to browse to it in the content server when this dialog closes.

   • Create a new page template from an existing one: A new HCSP, JSP, or ASP page is created based on another page template, checked into the content server, and associated with this section. The page template that is used to create the new one can come from one of two sources:

     • stored in the content server: A page template stored on the content server is used. Select it from the menu (if the page template is one you created recently); if not, select <Choose From Server> to browse to it in the content server when this dialog closes.

     • stored on the file system: A page template stored on the file system is used. This option can be useful if you've created a page template on your file system (perhaps using a third-party editor) and want to use that design for this page template. The file must have the appropriate file extension (hcsp, jsp, or asp).

   • Use an external URL: Uses the web page of another Web site instead of a page template. As a result, visitors going to this section are directed to the web page URL that you specify here. (This option applies only to primary pages and is not available for a home page or a secondary page.)

3. Click OK to close the Select (Primary) Page Template dialog.

   Depending on your choices above, you may be taken to the content server screen to select an existing page template or assign metadata to a new page template.

The only case when neither a primary page nor a secondary page is used by a section is if you choose to use an external URL in the Select Layout dialog. This option inserts the URL of another Web site in the section instead of a page template. When visitors click a link for this section, they are taken to the Web site that you specified. (This option is useful for linking to partner sites or department-level sites within the same organization.)