Studio.Design CMS is a Content Management System (CMS) feature available within Studio.Design. It's useful for managing pages that share the same design on an ongoing basis, such as news, blog posts, job listings, or customer stories.
This article introduces the features and structure of Studio.Design CMS.
Tip: What is a CMS?
CMS stands for Content Management System. It's a system for managing website content in a database, allowing you to add and edit content without needing design or coding knowledge. It's ideal for content that uses the same design and is updated regularly, such as news, blog posts, and customer stories.
Features and structure of Studio CMS
In Studio.Design CMS, you create and manage data in the CMS Dashboard, and create and design pages in the Design Editor. Here are the main tasks for each:
Note: Simply creating data in the CMS Dashboard won't display content on your site. Content only appears on your site once you've completed the connection in the Design Editor.
| Where you work | Main tasks |
Creating and managing data | Creating and managing CMS Models and CMS Items / Setting up CMS Properties / Creating CMS Collections | |
Creating and designing pages | Creating dynamic pages, dynamic modals, and dynamic lists / Setting up page layout and design / Connecting box elements with properties |
Creating and managing data: the CMS Dashboard
Studio.Design CMS content data is created and managed in a database called the CMS Dashboard. You can access it from the Project Dashboard or the Design Editor.
How content data is organized
Content data is made up of these three elements. Set them up in this order: CMS Model ⇨ CMS Item ⇨ CMS Property.
Data type | Description |
A single piece of content data | |
A group that bundles CMS Items together | |
Related information you can add to a CMS Item |
CMS Model
A CMS Model is a group that bundles CMS Items together. When you create content data, you'll start by creating a CMS Model.
There are four model types. Pick the one that fits your use case.
For more details, see CMS Model.
Type | Description |
Optimized for writing articles | |
Best for managing members | |
Best for managing categories, tags, and similar content |
CMS Item
A CMS Item is a single piece of content data managed in Studio.Design CMS. After creating a CMS Model, you can add items to it.
For more details, see CMS Item.
CMS Property
CMS Properties are related pieces of information you can add to a CMS Item. In addition to the default required properties, you can add various types of properties to give your items more information.
For more details, see CMS Property.
CMS Collection
A CMS Collection is a group of items you manually select from a specific CMS Model. It's useful for things like featured article lists or displaying content in ranking order.
For more details, see CMS Collection.
Creating and designing pages: the Design Editor
You'll set up your page layout and design in the Design Editor.
There are three features to work with. For each one, you'll specify which CMS Model to use and connect properties to box elements to display your content.
Feature | Use | Common examples |
Display detailed data for individual CMS Items, one per page | Article detail pages, job detail pages | |
Display items from a CMS Model in a list format | Article lists, member lists | |
Display detailed data for a CMS Item in a modal | Product detail modals |
Display Studio.Design CMS content data on your site
Simply creating data in the CMS Dashboard won't display content on your site. You'll need to make two connections in the Design Editor:
Step 1: Set the data source
Specify which CMS Model to use for dynamic elements like dynamic pages and dynamic lists (CMS Lists).
Step 2: Connect properties to box elements
Connect the properties from the CMS Model you specified in Step 1 to each box element on the screen. This is where you decide which box displays which content.
The connection process differs slightly between dynamic pages and dynamic lists (CMS Lists), as shown below.
Feature | Set the data source | Connect to box elements |
Dynamic page | Specify which CMS Model to use for the page | Connect the properties you want to display to each box on the page |
Specify which CMS Model to use for the list | Connect the properties you want to display to each box in the list |
You can set up these connections in the settings area for each box element in the right panel, or from the [Data] tab. If the panel is closed, open the right panel.
For step-by-step instructions on connecting box elements, see Connect box elements with CMS Properties in the Design Editor.
