Craft CMS 3: Unique Templates For Specific Pages

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Hey guys! Ever found yourself in a situation where you need a specific page, like a Terms & Conditions or Privacy Policy, to have its own unique template in Craft CMS 3, but all your entry-type pages are stuck using the same old shared template? It's a common head-scratcher, but don't worry, we've all been there. Let's dive into how you can solve this and give those special pages the individual flair they deserve.

Understanding the Challenge

Before we jump into the solution, let's quickly break down the problem. In many Craft CMS setups, you have a primary entry type, like "Pages," which handles the majority of your website's content. These entries often rely on a single template to maintain consistency. However, there are times when you need to break free from this uniformity. Think about legal pages, landing pages with unique designs, or any other page that requires a distinct look and feel. The goal is to allow certain pages to use a different template without disrupting the overall structure of your site.

Why Use Unique Templates?

So, why bother with unique templates in the first place? Here’s the deal: it's all about flexibility and control. A unique template lets you tailor the layout, styling, and functionality of a specific page to meet its exact requirements. For example, your Privacy Policy page might need a different structure than your standard content pages, with specific sections for legal jargon and contact information. Similarly, a landing page might require a visually striking design to capture visitors' attention. By using unique templates, you can achieve these customizations without cluttering your main template or resorting to complicated conditional logic. This not only keeps your code cleaner but also makes it easier to manage your website's design in the long run.

Planning Your Approach

Okay, so you’re on board with the idea of unique templates. The next step is to plan your approach. There are several ways to tackle this in Craft CMS 3, each with its own pros and cons. We'll focus on a straightforward and effective method that involves adding a custom field to your entry type and using it to specify which template to use. This approach is relatively easy to implement and maintain, making it a great choice for most projects. Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's outline the basic steps:

  1. Create a New Template: Design the unique template for your specific page (e.g., privacy-policy.twig).
  2. Add a Custom Field: Create a new field in your entry type to select a template.
  3. Update Your Main Template: Modify your main template to use the selected template if it exists.

With a clear plan in mind, you'll be well-prepared to implement this solution and give your special pages the attention they deserve.

Step-by-Step Implementation

Alright, let's get our hands dirty and walk through the implementation. Follow these steps to add template options for your specific pages in Craft CMS 3.

1. Create the Unique Template

First things first, you need to create the unique template for your page. Let's say you're working on a Privacy Policy page. Create a new Twig file in your templates directory, such as privacy-policy.twig. This file will contain the HTML, CSS, and any other code that defines the unique layout and styling for your Privacy Policy page. Feel free to use your favorite code editor to create this file.

{# templates/privacy-policy.twig #}

{% extends "_layout" %}

{% block content %}
 <div class="container">
 <h1>{{ entry.title }}</h1>
 <div class="content">
 {{ entry.body }}
 </div>
 </div>
{% endblock %}

In this example, we're extending a base layout template (_layout.twig) and overriding the content block to include the title and body of the entry. You can customize this template to match the specific requirements of your Privacy Policy page. Add any unique elements, styling, or functionality that you need. Make sure to save the file in the templates directory so that Craft CMS can find it.

2. Add a Custom Field

Next, you'll need to add a custom field to your entry type. This field will allow you to select a template for each entry. In the Craft CMS control panel, navigate to Settings → Fields and click the New field button. Configure the field as follows:

  • Name: Template Override
  • Handle: templateOverride
  • Field Type: Dropdown

In the Dropdown Options section, add the following options:

  • privacy-policy: Privacy Policy Template
  • terms-and-conditions: Terms & Conditions Template

You can add more options as needed for other unique templates. The key here is that the privacy-policy and terms-and-conditions values match the names of your template files (without the .twig extension). Save the field. Now, go to Settings → Sections and edit the section that contains your pages. In the Edit Section page, click the Edit Entry Types button and add the Template Override field to your entry type. This will make the field available when you create or edit entries in this section.

3. Update the Main Template

Now comes the crucial step: updating your main template to use the selected template if it exists. Open your main template file (e.g., _entry.twig) and add the following code snippet:

{% set templateOverride = entry.templateOverride %}

{% if templateOverride and craft.app.view.templateExists(templateOverride) %}
 {% include templateOverride }
{% else %}
 {# Default template content #}
 <div class="container">
 <h1>{{ entry.title }}</h1>
 <div class="content">
 {{ entry.body }}
 </div>
 </div>
{% endif %}

Let's break down what this code does:

  • {% set templateOverride = entry.templateOverride %}: This line retrieves the value of the Template Override field for the current entry.
  • {% if templateOverride and craft.app.view.templateExists(templateOverride) %}: This condition checks if a template is selected in the Template Override field and if that template file exists in the templates directory.
  • {% include templateOverride %}: If the template exists, this line includes it, effectively using it to render the page.
  • {% else %}: If no template is selected or the selected template doesn't exist, this block renders the default template content.

This code snippet allows you to dynamically switch between templates based on the value of the Template Override field. If a specific template is selected and exists, it will be used; otherwise, the default template will be used. Make sure to place this code at the beginning of your main template file.

Testing and Troubleshooting

After implementing these steps, it's time to test your solution and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

Testing Your Implementation

To test your implementation, follow these steps:

  1. Create or Edit an Entry: Go to the Craft CMS control panel and create a new entry or edit an existing one in the section where you added the Template Override field.
  2. Select a Template: In the entry editor, find the Template Override field and select the template you want to use for this entry (e.g., Privacy Policy Template).
  3. Save the Entry: Save the entry and view it on your website.
  4. Verify the Template: Check if the page is rendered using the selected template. If everything is set up correctly, you should see the unique layout and styling defined in your template file.

Repeat these steps for other entries and templates to ensure that your implementation works as expected.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with careful implementation, issues can sometimes occur. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

  • Template Not Found: If you see an error message indicating that the template file cannot be found, double-check the file path and name. Make sure that the template file exists in the templates directory and that the file name matches the value in the Template Override field.
  • Incorrect Template Rendering: If the page is not rendered using the selected template, verify that the code snippet in your main template file is correct. Check if the templateOverride variable is being set correctly and if the craft.app.view.templateExists() function is returning the expected result.
  • Caching Issues: Sometimes, caching can interfere with template rendering. Clear your Craft CMS cache to ensure that you're seeing the latest version of your templates.

By following these testing and troubleshooting steps, you can ensure that your implementation works smoothly and that your specific pages are rendered using the correct templates.

Conclusion

And there you have it! By following these steps, you can easily add template options for specific pages in Craft CMS 3. This approach gives you the flexibility to create unique layouts and designs for your Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, and any other special pages that need a little extra love. So go ahead, give it a try, and take your Craft CMS skills to the next level! Happy templating, folks!