Create content

There are two ways to create content in OrchestraCMS:

• Create a new content item that you can build from the ground up.
• Clone an existing content item, which makes a copy that you can modify.

Creating new content requires you to set content properties and, in most scenarios, select a content template. (Form and taxonomy content types do not require you to select a content template. You also do not have to select a content template if you have configured the content type to automatically assign content templates.)

To create new content

1. In the Content Actions panel, click Add New Content.
2. In the Create New Content dialog:
   • In Select Content Type select the type of content you are creating, which determines the content templates that are available to use.
   • In Select Content Template, select the relevant template.
   • Fill in a Name (required): The name that is used to refer to the content in OrchestraCMS. It should make the content easily identifiable by you and other OrchestraCMS users.
   • Enter the Start date (required): The date and time that the content starts appearing on your site if it is published and on a page that is also published.
   • Enter the End date: The date and time that the content stops appearing on your site.
   • Enter a Description: A description of the content that makes it easily identifiable by you and other OrchestraCMS users.
3. Click Finish to return to the Content section or Finish and Edit to open the content in the content editor.

Clone existing content

If you want to create content that is almost identical to an existing content item, you can clone the existing item. This creates a copy of the content that you can use as a foundation for your new content.

To make a clone of existing content

1. In the content editor, in the Actions panel, select Clone.
2. In the Clone dialog, give the new content a unique name.
3. Click OK.

Select a file from the media library

Many content templates provide the ability to select a file from the media library, such as when you need to insert an image. This opens a dialog where you can select an existing file, upload a new file, or create a new media library folder.

To select an existing file from the media library

1. In the media library tree, click to select the exact folder that contains the file; selecting a parent folder does not give you the ability to select the file.
2. In the file list, click to select the check box beside the file.
3. Click Select.

To upload a new file to the media library

1. Click Upload in the Actions panel.
2. In the Upload dialog, choose Drop your files here or.., or click Browse to select an image from your computer. You can add several files at once.
   
3. Click Upload, and wait until a green check mark symbol appears beside each file name to indicate that it has been uploaded.  
4. Click Done.

To create a new media library folder

1. Click the node on the media library tree that you want to be the parent of the new folder­—this could be the top node of the media library or an existing folder.
2. Click New Folder.
3. In the New Folder dialog, enter a name for the folder, and then click OK; the new folder appears in the media library tree.

Select a link to a page or file

Many content templates provide the ability to select a link to a page or file. You can enter an external link, but often the link is to another page or file in OrchestraCMS. If you need to link to a file, you have the option of uploading a new file when this interface is displayed.

Initially, you are provided options to select where the link opens and what you are linking to.

Select one of the following options from the Open In list to determine where the link opens:

• The Current Window. The link opens in the current window or section.  
• A New Window. The link opens in a new window or section.
• A Pop Up Window. The link opens in a pop-up window.

Select one of the following options from the Link To list to determine what the link is:

A page in this CMS. In the Page box, begin typing the page name and select it from the list.

• A file in this CMS.
  

• A page or file on another site. In the External URL box, enter the complete URL.

When editing a menu item, a Select Category Taxonomy Selector appears under the selected page in the Menu Item Editor.