Place a block using layout updates

Layout updates make it possible to customize the layout of a page. Layout updates offer more flexibility than a widget, but require access to the server and a basic knowledge of XML.

The following steps show how to use a layout update to place a block on a page. For specific examples and help with syntax, see Common layout customization tasks in the Frontend Developer Guide.

Step 1: Create the block

  1. Create the block that you want to place.

  2. Take note of the block_id, because it is used in the layout update instructions.

Step 2: Compose the layout update in XML

  1. Compose the layout instructions in XML to Reference a CMS Block.

  2. Save the layout instructions on the server in the layout folder where XML files are saved for the theme.

    For example:

    <theme_dir>/<Namespace>_<Module>/layout

    The layout handle is the filename that begins with cms_page_view_selectable_, followed by the URL key of the CMS page, the layout update option, and the xml file suffix. In the following example, customer-service is the URL key of the page, and ChatTool is the option that you select to apply the layout update to the page.

    cms_page_view_selectable_<customer-service>_<ChatTool>.xml

    ElementDescription
    CMS Page IdentifierThe URL key of the page with any forward slash (/) replaced by an underscore (_).
    Layout Update NameThe option that appears for Custom Layout Update.