Containers configuration

The Workspace configuration page explained that the following configuration nodes can be placed below the hst:workspace node:

/hst:workspace:
  /hst:containers:
  /hst:sitemenus:
  /hst:abstractpages:
  /hst:pages:
  /hst:components:
  /hst:sitemap:
  /hst:channel:

On the Workspace configuration page, we already explained hst:sitemenus, hst:pages and hst:sitemap. This page explains the hst:containers section.

hst:containers

Through the Channel Editor a webmaster can modify certain configurable regions of a web page. These regions are called containers. Containers are only modifiable when they are stored in the hst:workspace. Or more explicitly, when they are configured either 

1. below hst:workspace/hst:pages or
2. below hst:workspace/hst:containers.

This is to enforce that runtime production changes through the Channel Editor do not end up outside the hst:workspace.

Containers configured outside the workspace are not editable. When a non-workspace page (maintained by developer / bootstrap content) needs to have editable regions, then that page needs to reference containers below  hst:workspace/hst:containers. An example configuration (relevant parts) making use of hst:workspace/hst:containers setup is as follows:

/example:
  /hst:pages:
    /home:
      jcr:primaryType: hst:component
      /main:
        jcr:primaryType: hst:component
        /content:
          jcr:primaryType: hst:component
          /container:
            jcr:primaryType: hst:containercomponentreference
            hst:referencecomponent = home/container
  /hst:workspace:
    /hst:containers:
      jcr:primaryType: hst:containercomponentfolder
      /home:
        jcr:primaryType: hst:containercomponentfolder
        /container:
          jcr:primaryType: hst:containercomponent
          /list:
            jcr:primaryType: hst:containeritemcomponent

The configuration above has two new node types:

1. hst:containercomponentreference: this nodetype has one mandatory property hst:referencecomponent. The property must contain a relative path to a node of type hst:containercomponent. The hst:containercomponent node is located in the hst:workspace/hst:containers node.

   If the hst:containercomponent is not present, or the path in hst:referencecomponent is incorrect, the HST does not load the hst:containercomponentreference  into it’s model, i.e. it is entirely skipped.

   Important!

   The HST model uses the node name of hst:containercomponentreference  and not the node name of the hst:containercomponent. For example, if the name of the hst:containercomponentreference node is  mycontainer but the hst:referencecomponent refers to a hst:containercomponent with name yourcontainer, then the HST model knows the component as mycontainer. So, you need to use mycontainer in the hst:include tag:

   <hst:include ref="mycontainer" />

    

   /example:
     /hst:pages:
       /home:
         jcr:primaryType: hst:component
         /main:
           jcr:primaryType: hst:component
           /content:
             jcr:primaryType: hst:component
             /mycontainerjcr:primaryType:
               hst:containercomponentreference
               hst:referencecomponent: home/yourcontainer
     /hst:workspace:
       /hst:containers:
         jcr:primaryType: hst:containercomponentfolder
         /home:
           jcr:primaryType: hst:containercomponentfolder
           /yourcontainer:
             jcr:primaryType: hst:containercomponent
             /list:
               jcr:primaryType: hst:containeritemcomponent

2. hst:containercomponentfolder: this is only a placeholder node that can contain another hst:containercomponentfolder or a hst:containercomponent that can be referenced.

The CNDs for the two new node types are: 

[hst:containercomponentreference] > nt:base orderable
- hst:referencecomponent (string) mandatory

[hst:containercomponentfolder] > nt:base orderable
+ * (hst:containercomponentfolder)
+ * (hst:containercomponent)

Pages in the hst:workspace technically can also use the mechanism to store their containers below hst:workspace/hst:containers, however it is most likely easier to maintain if the containers for hst:workspace pages are just stored below the page directly, for example:

/example:
  /hst:workspace:
    /hst:pages:
      /home:
        jcr:primaryType: hst:component
        /main:
          jcr:primaryType: hst:component
          /content:
            jcr:primaryType: hst:component
            /container:
              jcr:primaryType: hst:containercomponent
              /list:
                jcr:primaryType: hst:containeritemcomponent

Summary  

Only containers stored in the hst:workspace can be modified through the Channel Editor. Modifiable containers can be explicitly stored below hst:workspace/hst:pages or below hst:workspace/hst:containers, in which case they can be referenced by non-workspace pages.