An item can have a 'custom structure', which exists only on that item, or the item can have a template applied to it. A template is a saved custom structure, which can be easily applied to other similar items at once.
Please note: If you plan to migrate content to your CMS using one of our integrations, your items must use Templates. Custom structures will not be recognised when creating field mappings.
An example of this would be having a structure saved as a template called 'Blog Post', which contains all fields needed to capture content on a typical blog post page or an employee bio page for staff profile pages on a new website.
Accessing the template/structure editor
You can edit the structure of an item or template applied to an item two ways:
From an item
From the Templates tab
From an item
1. Open the item that has either a 'custom structure' or template already applied.
2. From within the item, select the current structure:
3. For a custom structure, click the 'No template applied' link and then 'Edit the structure'.
4. For a template, click the template name link and then 'Edit template'.
5. You're now in the structure editor!
From the Templates tab
1. Navigate to the Templates tab.
2. Click the template that you would like to edit.
3. You're now in the structure editor!
Editing structure
Adding new fields
To add new fields, you can either drag new fields from the field menu on the left or simply click on them. Dragging allows you to position new fields in the exact position you want them to be in, whereas clicking will add new fields to the bottom of your current tab.
Removing fields
To remove fields from your template/structure, hover over the field, and click on the delete button that appears alongside the drag handle.
Warning: Any fields removed will also remove any content on items that use that field, once you hit 'Save'. If you accidentally remove a field, reload the template/structure without saving your changes.
Changing the order of the fields
To change the order of fields, click and drag a field using the drag handle that appears when hovering over a field.
Using tabs
Check out our dedicated help article to find out more about using tabs.
Save your changes
Once you're happy with the changes you've made, save the structure or template by clicking the 'Save' button.
You can also click on the arrow and select 'Save and close' to save your changes and return to where you were straight away.
Tip: If you're working on an item when someone changes its structure, you'll receive a message letting you know this.
Disconnecting a template from an item
If you have a template that needs to be slightly different for one item, you can disconnect the template and convert it to a custom structure. This allows you to tweak the template structure, without it affecting all the original template.
An example of this could be if you're working with staff bios, and the CEO's page needs additional fields, you could disconnect a template and add these in.
1. Click on the template name link and click 'Disconnect'.
Tip: This link will only appear if you have permission to edit templates.
2. You've just disconnected this item from the original template, but it's kept its structure and the content.
Example templates
Example templates are added to your project by default based on the project type that you select when you create the project. These are a great way to see how other people have used GatherContent for the same type of content.
You can also use the example templates for your own project, or edit or delete them if you choose to.