AEM PagesTemplates Identification

[nsvsrk]

Hi,

I have some AEM pages to be developed and want to identify Templates to be created for them.

What are the guidelines? Ofcourse, we want to have as minimum number of templates as possible.

Some pages have 1 column, some 2 column and others 3 columns.

In some cases, the differences among the pages/templates could be bridged by components. I mean rather than creating different templates, we could create one template and create different components to meet the functionality.

Could you please show me 2-3 examples of pages where a single template would suffice and some pages where different templates should be created?

Appreciate your time in responding.

Thanks,

Rama.

[edubey · Accepted solution]

Hi,

This is one good component

https://helpx.adobe.com/experience-manager/using/custom_columns.html

It can generate alot different layout

[nsvsrk]

Hi,

Thanks for responding.

Apart from layout, what are the different factors that make us choose different templates, rather than using a single template?

I mean, could you please show me 3 different pages that require a single template and 3 different pages that require different templates?

My confusion is that given some pages how will I decide what and how many templates to design.

Adding to this is the fact that some differences in templates could be covered up by components, ie, as opposed to having two different templates, have one template and let the component cover up the difference.

Thanks,

Rama.

[smacdonald2008]

Factors really depend upon if a certain template allows certain child components or not. You can define some templates that only allow certain components, while others allow all components. That is --  a template is a basis of a page and it defines which components can be used within the selected scope. Its the hierarchy of nodes that has the same structure as the page to be created, but without any actual content. So if you have a site where a group of components used on page A and others are used  on page B - you will need to define corresponding templates to define that component use. 

See this community article: 

http://www.praveenmodi.com/adobe-aem-cq5-development-for-beginners-how-to-build-a-cq5-page-template/

Also -- look at the geometrixx out of the box AEM examples (under /apps) - they show use of different templates. 

[kautuk_sahni]

As mentioned by Scott, Use use of Templates to scope out the components. Means, create a page and define which components can be used within the selected scope. A Template is built up of component, the term component could be described as a collection of scripts that uses JSPs, Java servlets to render the content from the repository. 

Sites with same templates :- 1. http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html and http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html (Create a template and that can use used across many web pages, as here same template is used by both illustrator and photoshop).

2. http://www.adobe.com/products/pdfprintengine/features.html and http://www.adobe.com/products/pdfprintengine/buying-guide.html (these pages are different but both of them have same template, because not every template allow us to use all the components )

I hope this would help you.

Thanks and Regards

Kautuk Sahni