Linked pages

In this Article

• Linked page types
• Create a linked page
• Convert a normal page into a linked page

Linked pages are used to redirect users from one URL to another, either another page on your site, or to a page on a different site entirely. This is often done in order to create an easy-to-remember URL that can be given out to parents, students, etc., that points to a page that's much deeper in the site navigation. For more information about creating custom URLs, refer to Customize page addresses and URLs.

Linked page types

There are three types of linked pages available. An Internal Redirect sends the user to another page on your site. An External Redirect sends the user to a direct URL, frequently another website entirely. Finally, Reuse Content is a way to display the contents of another page on your site without sending the user to that page. From the user's perspective, it will appear as if that other page's content is located in the section of the site where you created this Linked Page.

Reuse Content can be beneficial when you have an entire page of information that needs to be consistent across multiple areas of your site, but you don't want to take the user out of the area they've been browsing. You can also add different banners to a Reuse Content page to differentiate it, if necessary. For example, you may have a district policies page that you want to be repeated in an individual school's section of the site. With a Reuse Content page, the main content would be updated whenever the page on the district's site is changed, but the user isn't taken away from the school's site and the page features the school's colors and navigation.

Note: You can achieve a similar effect by cloning a page. (Hover over a page in the left bar and select "Clone Page.") The difference is that, when a page is cloned, it creates a completely separate page. In this case, any edits to the original page would not impact the content on the clone.

Create a linked page

Linked pages are created just like any other page.

1. In the left bar, hover over the page you want to be the "parent" of the linked page, and click "New Page."

   

   Best practice: Many Finalsite clients create a new branch in Composer specifically for linked pages.

2. In the New Page dialog window, select the "Linked Page" format.

   

3. Give your page a name. Notice as you do that the "URL" field automatically mirrors the page name (replacing any spaces with hyphens).

   

   You can override the automatic URL string with whatever text you want to include. If you have created a custom URL for use in printed brochures, etc., make sure that this field matches the web address that you're distributing.

   Note: This must be a unique URL! If you try to create a custom URL that's already being used by another page, you'll see an error telling you to choose a different address.

4. Select the type of linked page and configure the link:

   • To redirect to another page on your website, select "Internal Redirect," and then click "Select Page."
     

     Use the page picker window that appears to select the page on your site where you want users to end up.

   • To send users to a different website entirely, select "External Redirect," and paste the target URL in the "Redirect to this page" field.

     

   • To link the page's content only with another page on your site, select Reuse Content, click "Select Page," and choose the page from the page picker.

     

5. Save and publish the page.

   Composer will indicate that visitors to the custom URL you set up will be redirected to whatever page you selected. In the page tree, the linked page will be designated by a link icon to the right of the page name.

   

Convert a normal page into a linked page

An existing page can be changed into a linked page to fulfill a different purpose in your site navigation. The process is very similar to when Creating a New Page with a slightly different strategy.

To update an existing linked page, follow these steps:

1. Select the page in your left navigation Composer page tree to open the page in the main panel.
   
   
2. In the bottom right corner, select the Page Settings gear to open up the menu. 

     3. Select the "Linked" tab in the Page Settings menu 

     4. Selecting the box next to the words "Linked page" will display more settings along with a warning. 

Note: Converting a Linked Page will discard existing page content.

     5. Select the type of linked page and configure the link:

• To redirect to another page on your website, select "Internal Redirect," and then click "Select  Page." Use the page picker window that appears to select the page on your site where you want users to end up.

• To send users to a different website entirely, select "External Redirect," and paste the target URL in the "Redirect to this page" field.

• To link the page's content only with another page on your site, select Reuse Content, click "Select Page," and choose the page from the page picker.

• Save and publish the page. Composer will indicate that visitors to the custom URL you set up will be redirected to whatever page you selected. In the page tree, the linked page will be designated by a link icon to the right of the page name.