Build posts pages in Composer

This article will help you to learn how to build pages of different types in Composer where you can configure and display posts from the Posts module. 

In this Article


Disclaimer: Homepage vs interior page post elements

Before you start building pages, it's important to understand the difference between Post elements that already exist on your homepage and those you have more freedom to add and configure on interior pages of your website.   

Post elements on homepage vs interior pages

The way you will configure Post elements on the homepage are very limited compared to the wide variety of options you can adjust on interior pages. 

  • Homepage Post elements: Post elements may already be created for you on your homepage. They have very fixed settings that should only be adjusted according to your Site Instructions.
  • Interior page Post elements: Post elements can be placed onto interior pages and customized with a wide variety of different settings to display images just the way you would like them! You can even change the format of your Post elements, but only on interior pages.

All News page 

Your All News Page will show all of the news items from any boards you decide to connect here. Many websites have a button on their homepage leading to this page that is labeled "View All News" or "All News & Announcements." 

view all news button.png

Build an All News page 

If you are building an All News page from scratch, here are a few quick options for you: 

Option #1: Simple Grid format
  1. Start with a blank Composer page with no layout added; a full width column.
  2. Insert a Post element (Element Library, Module tab > Post element).
  3. Click the settings gear to configure the Post element settings.
  4. Select Grid format. Turn off the Element title. 
  5. Toggle on Content Filters > Display posts from Board(s) and connect the board(s) whose posts you'd like to display here. 
  6. Content Details: Choose which parts of your post you'd like to display on this page. A good start might be: Post Title, Publish Date, Summary, Thumbnail. 
  7. Pop-up or Page: If you choose to open your posts up into a pop-up, select from Pop-up Details. If opening a post onto a page, select Link To > Page and select the News Details page.

    Important Note

    If you haven't created your News Details page yet, click Save and come back to set the Link To setting after you've done this.

  8. Consider adding Post Tools elements above the grid or in a narrow side column so that visitors can search and/or filter by topic.
Option #2: Simple List format
  1. From the Page Layout & Appearance menu, add the 2/3 + 1/3 layout option. 
  2. In the wider left column, add a Post element (Element Library, Module tab > Post element). 
  3. Click the settings gear to configure the Post element settings.
  4. Select List format. Turn off the Element title. 
  5. Toggle on Content Filters > Display posts from Board(s) and connect the board(s) whose posts you'd like to display here.
  6. Content Details: Choose which parts of your post you'd like to display on this page. A good start might be: Post Title, Publish Date, Thumbnail, Read more. 

News Details page (or Default Board Post Page)

What is a Default Board Post Page? 

The Default Board Post Page (DBPP) or also called, "News Details page" is a dynamic page used to view the details of a single post's content. When a reader clicks on the title of a post from a post element on any page in the site, the reader can be directed to this dynamic, templated page to read the content. 

This is a short demonstration of how the DBPP works on the live end. 

dbpp live journey.gif

DBPP / News Details page benefits

Here are some benefits to having a default board post page:

  • Direct URL: Each post receives a direct URL allowing it to be used in newsletters or sent out in an email, for example. Clicking the link brings the reader to the dynamically populated DBPP to read the post content.  
  • SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Without a direct URL or content existing on a page, search engines will not pick up your post content. Now the link can be tracked in your site analytics, providing details on how many clicks this particular post receives. 
  • Share to Social Media: Configure Social Media Connections and then a DBPP allows you to share your posts to social media. 
  • Enable reader subscriptions: In the Post Element Settings > Controls, there is an option to Display alert icons giving the reader the option to subscribe to RSS feeds or subscribe to receive email alerts when a new post is published on the board. A DBPP is required in order for these subscriptions to be enabled.
  • Preview your post: Use the eyeball in the bottom right corner to preview the live version, but remember this won't be activated until you apply a DBPP to the board.  

Build a DBPP / News Details page

Convinced? We thought so! Let's walk through the step-by-step process to help you create and configure a Default Board Post Page so that you can have all of the benefits above! 

Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Create or repurpose your page

Any page on your site can be a default post page as long as it has a Single-format Post element on it. 

  1. Create a new page in Composer or open a page that might be called "News Details" or "Post Details" in your Composer page tree.

  2. Add a Post element from the Module section of the element library.

  3. Click the Post element gear to open the settings and choose Single format. 

step 1 for default board post page.gif

Step 2: Configure your element settings
  1. Toggle OFF the element title.
  2. Under Content Filters, select any boards that you want to be able to display in the element. 
  3. Edit any other settings as desired.
  4. Under Formatting select the box next to Override Page Title and SEO Metadata. This will replace the page title with the post title.
  5. Save the element.

What will happen when I check the box next to Override Page Title and SEO Metadata?

  • the following fields on the Page Settings > SEO tab will be overridden:
    • the Page Title and SEO Title will be replaced dynamically with the Post Title.
    • the SEO Description will be replaced by the Post Summary.
    • the Open Graph Image will be replaced by the Post Thumbnail.

    override page settings.png

step 2 default board post page.gif

Step 3: Configure your page settings
  1. Open the page settings to be sure the Page Name is toggled ON
  2. Check the boxes to Hide this Page from Navigation (and or internal/external search) in your page settings.
  3. Publish your page.

step 3 default board post page.gif

Step 4: Configure your board settings

Once your Post page is complete, you can set it as the Default Board Post Page on each individual board.

  1. Navigate to the Boards tab in Posts
  2. Choose a folder whose boards you'd like to manage and whose posts you'd like to display on your News Details / DBPP page.
  3. Hover over the board, click on the three-dot Action Menu, and open up Settings.

  4. Choose the page you just created in the window that pops up, next to Default Board Post Page.

Step 4 default board post page.gif

Step 5: Preview post on your new DBPP!

Once this page is set, you’ll see the blue "i" / info circle when creating a post.

  1. Hover over the blue circle to confirm that your default board post page had been connected and receive a reminder to make your URL slug unique for this post.
  2. Click on the link icon to see and copy the full URL.
  3. Paste the URL into a new browser tab to confirm that the post appears as you want it to on your new default board post page. 

step 5 default board post page.gif

Now you can enjoy all the benefits that come with using posts with a Default Board Post Page. 

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