Editing Page Content

Last update: April 17, 2024

Topics:
Authoring

CREATED FOR:

User

Once your page is created (either new or as part of a launch or live copy) you can edit the content to make the updates you require.

Content is added using components (appropriate to the content type) that can be dragged onto the page. These can then be edited in place, moved, or deleted.

NOTE

Your account needs the appropriate access rights and permissions to edit pages; for example, adding, editing or deleting components, annotating, unlocking.

If you encounter any problems we suggest you contact your system administrator.

Sidekick

The sidekick is a key tool when authoring pages. It floats when authoring a page, so it is always visible.

Several tabs and icons are available, including:

Components
Page
Information
Versioning
Workflow
Modes
Scaffolding
Client Context
Websites

chlimage_1-71

These provide access to a wide selection of functionality; including:

selecting components
showing references
accessing the audit log
switching modes
creating, restoring and comparing versions
publishing, unpublishing a page
editing page properties
scaffolding
client context

Inserting a Component

After you open the page, you can start to add content. You do this by adding components (also called paragraphs).

To insert a new component:

There are several methods of selecting the type of paragraph you want to insert:
- Double-click the area labeled Drag components or assets here… - the Insert New Component toolbar opens. Select a component and click OK.
- Drag a component from the floating toolbar (called sidekick) to insert a new paragraph.
- Right-click an existing paragraph and select New… - the Insert New Component toolbar opens. Select a component and click OK.
In both the sidekick and the Insert New Component toolbar you see a list of the available components (paragraph types). These may be split into various sections (for example, General, Columns, and so on), which can be expanded as required.

Depending on your production environment, these choices may differ. For complete details on components, see Default Components.
Insert the component that you want on the page. Then double-click the paragraph, a window opens that lets you configure your paragraph and add content.

Inserting a Component using the Content Finder

You can also add a new component to the page by dragging an asset from the Content Finder. This automatically creates a component of the appropriate type containing the asset.

This is valid for the following asset types (some will be dependent on page/paragraph system):

Asset Type

Resultant Component Type

Image

Document

Download

Product

Video

Flash

NOTE

This behavior can be configured for your installation. See Configuring a Paragraph System so that Dragging an Asset Creates a Component Instance for further details.

To create a component by dragging one of the above asset types:

Make sure that your page is in Edit mode.
Open the Content Finder.
Drag the required asset to the required position. The component placeholder shows you where the component will be positioned.

A component, appropriate for the asset type, will be created at the required location - it will contain the selected asset.
Edit the component if necessary.

Editing a Component (Content and Properties)

To edit an existing paragraph, do one of the following:

Double-click the paragraph to open it. You see the same window as when you created the paragraph with the existing content. Make your changes and click OK.
Right-click the paragraph and click Edit.
Click twice on the paragraph (a slow double-click) to enter the in-place editing mode. You will be able to directly edit the text on the page, instead of inside a dialog window. In this mode, you will be provided with a toolbar at the top of the page. Just make your changes and they will be automatically saved.

Moving a Component

To move a paragraph:

NOTE

You can also use Cut and Paste to move a component.

Select the paragraph to be moved:
Drag the paragraph to the new location - AEM indicates where the paragraph can be moved to with a green checkmark. Drop it in your desired location.
Your paragraph is moved:

Deleting a Component

To delete a paragraph:

Select the paragraph and right-click:
Select Delete from the menu. AEM WCM requests confirmation that you want to delete the paragraph as this action cannot be undone.
Click OK.

NOTE

If you have set your User Properties to show the Global Editing Toolbar you can also perform certain actions on the paragraphs by using the Copy, Cut, Paste, Delete buttons available.

Various keyboard shortcuts are also available.

Cut/Copy/Paste a Component

As when Deleting a Component you can use the context menu to copy, cut and/or paste a component

NOTE

If you have set your User Properties to show the Global Editing Toolbar you can also perform certain actions on the paragraphs by using the Copy, Cut, Paste, Delete buttons available.

Various keyboard shortcuts are also available.

NOTE

Cutting, copying, and pasting content is only supported within the same page.

Inherited Components

Inherited components can be the product of various scenarios, including:

Multi site management; also in combination with scaffolding.
Launches (when based on livecopy).
Specific components; for example, the Inherited Paragraph System within Geometrixx.

You can cancel (then re-enable) the inheritance. Depending on the component, this can be available from:

Live Copy

If a component is part of a livecopy or launch, it is indicated by a padlock icon. You can click the padlock to cancel the inheritance.
- The padlock icon is shown when the component is selected; for example:
- The padlock is also shown in the dialog of components; for example:
An Inherited Paragraph System

The configuration dialog. For example, as with the Inherited Paragraph System within Geometrixx:

Adding Annotations

Annotations allow other authors to provide feedback on your content. This is often used for review and validation purposes.

Previewing Pages

There are two icons in the bottom border of the sidekick that are important to previewing pages:

Bottom border of the sidekick with a horizontal row of seven icons. Two of the icons at the start of the row, the edit icon and the preview mode icon, are indicated by a pencil symbol and a magnifying glass symbol, respectively.

The pencil icon shows you that you are currently in edit mode where you can add, modify, move or delete content.
The magnifying glass icon lets you select preview mode where the page is displayed as it will be seen in the publish environment (a page refresh is sometimes also needed):

In preview mode the sidekick will be reduced, click the down arrow icon to return to edit mode:

Find & Replace

For larger scale edits of the same phrase a Find & Replace menu option lets you search for, and replace multiple instances of a string, within a section of the website.

Locking a Page

AEM lets you lock a page, so that no one else can change the contents. This is useful when you are making numerous edits to one specific page, or when you need to freeze a page for a short while.

CAUTION

Locking a page should be used with care as the only person who can unlock a page is the person who locked it (or an account with administrator privileges).

To lock a page:

In the Websites tab, select the page that you want to lock.
Double-click the page to open it for edit.
In the Page tab of sidekick, select Lock Page:

A message shows that your page is locked to other users. In addition, in the right pane of the Websites console, AEM WCM displays the page as locked and indicates which user has locked the page.

Unlocking a Page

To unlock a page:

In the Websites tab, select the page you want to unlock.
Double-click the page to open it.
In the Page tab of sidekick, select Unlock Page.

Undoing and Redoing Page Edits

Use the following keyboard shortcuts while the content frame of the page has focus:

Undo: Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Cmd+Z (Mac)
Redo: Ctrl+Y (Windows) or Cmd+Y (Mac)

When you undo or redo the removal, addition, or relocation of one or more paragraphs, flashing (default behavior) highlights indicate the affected paragraphs.

NOTE

See Undoing and Redoing Page Edits - The Theory for the full details of what is possible when undoing and redoing page edits.

Undoing and Redoing Page Edits - The Theory

NOTE

Your system administrator can configure various aspects of the Undo/Redo features according to the requirements for your instance.

AEM stores a history of actions that you perform and the sequence in which you performed them. So, you undo several actions in the order that you performed them. Then, you can use redo to re-apply one or more of the actions.

If an element on the content page is selected, the undo and redo command applies to the selected item, such as a text component.

The behavior of the undo and redo commands is similar to that in other software programs. Use the commands to restore the recent state of your web page as you make decisions about content. For example, if you move a text paragraph to a different location on the page, you can use the undo command to move the paragraph back. If you then decide again to move the paragraph, use the redo command.

NOTE

You can:

redo actions as long as you have not made a page edit since you used undo.
undo a maximum of 20 edit actions (default setting).
also use Keyboard shortcuts for undo and redo.

You can use undo and redo for the following types of page changes:

Adding, editing, removing, and moving paragraphs
In-place editing of paragraph content
Copying, cutting, and pasting items within a page
Copying, cutting, and pasting items across pages
Adding, removing, and changing files and images
Adding, removing, and changing annotations and sketches
Changes to Scaffold
Adding and removing references
Changing property values in component dialog boxes.

Form fields that form components render are not meant to have values specified while authoring pages. Therefore, the undo and redo commands do not affect changes that you make to the values of those types of components. For example, you cannot undo the selecting of a value in a drop-down list.

NOTE

Special permissions are required to undo and redo changes to files and images. Also, undo history for changes to files and images lasts for a minimum of hours. Beyond this time however, the undo of the changes is not guaranteed. Your administrator can provide permissions and change the default time of ten hours.

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