What is a URL?
A URL is a specific web address where content is displayed and users visit. Within BLOX CMS, the page layout of a URL can be modified within Design Blocks.
By default, sites using BLOX CMS will present URLs using the following structure:
domain name + section tag + asset type + asset title + asset ID
For example, let's break down the structure of this article:
Domain name: https://www.help.townnews.com
Section tag(s): blox_cms/other/settings/general/url_maps
Asset title: url-maps
Asset type: article_
Asset ID: 9dfb8a91-ed40-5ec9-bc78-7fd2e6923248
What is a URL Map?
A URL Map is a directory of all of the URLs and sub-URLs within a site. A site can feature multiple URL maps, but only one can be Active. Typically when a site is being redesigned, the redesign is created within a secondary, non-active URL map. When the map is made Active, it will act as the new website.
In addition to being able to modify the page layouts of these URLs within Design Blocks, the URL Map is also where URL skin changes and other page customizations can be made.
Sections vs URLs
In almost all instances, a Section will have a corresponding URL (or sub-URL) of the same name.
In terms of naming and presentation, Sections offer more flexibility in formatting and support spaces and uppercase characters, while URL structure is much more strict and limits naming to underscores between words and lowercase characters. For example, the /news/world/ URL could feature a Section called World News.
Since we recommend that all URLs have an associated Section tag associated with them, new URLs should be added during the Section tag-creation process. There are however instances where it's acceptable to create a URL without a Section tag.
For example, a site features a newsletter that pulls in news, sports and entertainment content from throughout the site. The content blocks within the newsletter page are looking for content that has been specifically assigned to the /news, /sports and /entertainment sections and ARE NOT looking for content section tagged to /newsletters/news, /newsletters/sports or /newsletters/entertainment. The /newsletters URL merely needs to exist as a page to display content, but not necessarily content specific for that URL, /newsletters.
In another example, a site futures a NOW mobile app that pulls in content from throughout the site. Content isn't being assigned to any of the Now app sections or subsections, so a /nowapp URL isn't required for tagging content and is only required for displaying content.
How to Add a URL
Within the Manage maps panel, to create a primary URL, select the name of the URL map. This is listed in bold and is typically named "flexsystem". Next, select +New and then choose Create new URL. Within the Edit URL panel, specify a URL name and URL skin (if needed). Select Save changes to add the new URL.
To create a sub-URL, select the desired primary URL (instead of the name of the URL map) and then select +New and create the new URL.
Application Skins
Each application within BLOX CMS features its own Application Skin or URL skin. An Application Skin is a collection of templates, blocks, and other support files that connect the software and create the user experience.
When creating a new URL, it's important to choose the correct skin, otherwise unexpected results will occur.
How to change a URL skin
A URL skin can be changed after it's created by selecting the URL within the URL map and then toggling the "Set URLs's own skin" radio option within the Edit URL tab. The /newsletters URL is currently set to inherit the URL skin from the parent URL, but another URL skin can be set by selecting the second radio option, Change and the new skin from the menu.
Page Properties
This is where you set various Page Properties that enhance the SEO performance of your website. It builds out the tag information for your site.
Page Title: This will display on the Section page of the site (e.g. Marketplace).
Label: This is a newer feature that adds another layer to the SEO processing of the site. On the front end, it will display the Label name instead of a long title or collection title.
Description: Put in a description that is descriptive of the page. This helps with the SEO process as it builds in the <meta name="description"> tags on the page.
Keywords: Enter in any and all keywords that apply to the page separated by a comma. This helps with the SEO process as it builds out the <meta name="keywords"> tags on the page.
Priority: This allows you to specify a priority for this URL. Enter in a number between 0 and 1, the default is .5. This is used for the sitemap.xml file that the search engines reference.
Change Frequency: This allows you to specify a frequency for this URL. This is used for the sitemap.xml file that the search engines reference.
Require HTTPS: HTTPS is less an SEO item and more of a security issue, however, SERPS have notoriously favored HTTPS sites and content. There are many articles on the differences and recommendations of this.
Allow archiving: This setting ensures content that’s published and scraped by bots is indexed and preserved on SERPS. Common for most news related sections, less common for vertical pages like classifieds.
Prevent indexing: This setting ensures content that’s published cannot be scraped by bots and will not be preserved.
Searchable: This setting refers specifically to your BLOX site search result pages. Not the same as SERPs like Google or Bing. Checking this box will allow readers to search filter content specifically on the indicated section.
Customizations
The Customizations panel contains most of the properties that dictate overall look, feel and functionality of a BLOX site. Customizations can be made on the home (or flexsysystem) URL and affect the entire site. Customizations made within a URL or subURL will be localized to to those URLs.
Since many of the customizations are page layout centric, these customizations are also available within Design Blocks within the Page Customizations panel. Each panel is synced, so when a change has been made to one panel, it will be reflected in the other, and vise-versa.
How to Delete a URL
A URL or sub-URL can be deleted by highlighting the URL and then choosing Delete from the toolbar.
How to Preview a URL
BLOX CMS features a 5-minute cache cycle, so site and content changes can take up to 5 minutes to appear. The Preview option provides BLOX admins with the freedom of viewing an uncached version of the website. Uncached preview pages take slightly longer to load than their cached counterparts, but the content should be current.
How to Create a New URL map
To create a new URL map, select +New and then choose Create new map. Within the Create a new URL map panel, specify a map name and maintain Site templates as the default Template library.
URL map names should be lowercase with words being separated either by underscores or hyphens. Select Create to build the new map.
How to Export a URL map
To export a URL map, right-click the map and then choose Export. This will initiate a download of the .JSON file that contains the URL map.
How to Import a URL map
To import a URL map, select +New and then choose Import map.
To to Duplicate a URL map
To duplicate a URL map, right-click the map and then choose Duplicate. Within the Duplicate URL Map panel, create a name for the new map. When it comes to the template library, this should be set to Flex.
In addition to duplicating the entire URL map, the Migrate associated templates option should also be enabled so that current skins and block templates from the Active URL are also migrated. This may result in template packages being duplicated into the selected library.