Version 4 supported
This version of Silverstripe CMS is still supported though will not receive any additional features. Go to documentation for the most recent stable version.

Before we begin

To get started, create a new page in the CMS. See Pages and content to learn more.

Creating and editing content

Click the button Add block and select the type of block you want to create from the block selector. You'll see that content block types are also searchable on open. To remove your search click the link Clear.

Choose a block type to create

You'll see the content block type you selected appear in your main content area titled Untitled Content block. If you forget the content block type you've added, hover on the block type icon to view a tooltip.

Content block tooltip

Most blocks are directly editable from within the page allowing you to have easy access adding and editing blocks without switching page views.

To edit, select the content block or click the Expand button shown as a dropdown arrow icon.

Enter your content as required, provide a title for the block and choose whether you want the title to be shown on the page or not via the Displayed checkbox field.

The content block will remain open until collapsed or the page is reloaded.

Expanded content block

Reordering content blocks

To change the order of content blocks in a page, simply click and hold anywhere on the block, then drag and release to reorder the item.

Expanded blocks will collapse upon pick up.

Reordering content blocks

When you release the block will automatically save their new positions, however you may need to publish the page to see the new order.

Similar to the reorganisation of pages, the state of a block is changed after it is relocated and a new version is created.

Adding blocks between existing blocks

An Add block button shown as a bar and plus icon can be activated by moving your cursor between blocks. You can select anywhere on the bar to open a block selector which will allow you to add a block between existing blocks.

Adding in-page blocks

Block state indicators

States are shown on the block type icon as coloured indicators. Each represents the current workflow status your content block is in.

Blue - The block has unsaved changes. Orange full - The block state is Draft and not publicly visible. Orange outline - The block is Modified where it has been published but has some additional draft changes. No state - The block is published.

States of content blocks

More options

The More options dropdown shown as an ellipses icon provides further editing functionality of individual blocks including access to editing content, custom settings, saving, publishing and archiving.

Content block more options

Editing existing blocks

When viewing a page, you can select the content block or select Content from the More options dropdown.

Settings

Your developer may choose to add custom CSS classes allowing you to add theming to the front-end of specific blocks. Custom CSS classes can be added by selecting Settings from the More options dropdown.

In Settings your developer may also choose to add Style Variants to allow for different stylistic changes to adjust the appearance of content blocks. See Style variants for more information.

Saving and publishing content blocks

Pages with content blocks allow you to perform actions like publish at a page level, but you also have access to perform similar actions on individual blocks. Allowing the ability for blocks to be managed and edited by multiple CMS authors while remaining in draft while other blocks get published. This allows for more flexibility of individual blocks for example if a block has user permissions.

To save or publish an individual content block select the More options dropdown. To save or publish the whole page select from the Action toolbar of the CMS. See Saving changes and publishing for more information.

Archiving blocks

To Archive a block select Archive in the More options dropdown. See Archiving for more information.