Creating a Page that Inherits from a Generic Page in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM)

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is a feature-rich content management system that allows the creation of diverse web pages. One of its powerful features is the ability to create a new page that inherits from a generic or base page. This process can save development time and ensure consistency across a website. This guide will explain how to create a page that inherits from a generic page in AEM.

Key Takeaways

• AEM provides the capacity to create a page that inherits properties from a generic page.
• The process involves creating a base page, creating a new page, and setting the inheritance.
• Understanding AEM’s inheritance feature can streamline the creation of consistent and efficient web pages.
• Common issues and their solutions are worth considering for a smooth development process.

Understanding Inheritance in AEM

Inheritance in AEM allows a page to inherit properties and components from a base or generic page. This feature brings about efficiency and consistency in the creation of web pages. The base page acts as a blueprint, providing the structure and common components that will be shared among its child pages.

Creating a Base Page

1. Navigate to the Page Editor: From the AEM interface, go to “Sites” and then “Create” > “Page”.
2. Select Template: Choose a suitable template for your base page.
3. Configure the Page: Name your page and fill in any other necessary properties, then click “Create”.
4. Add Components: Add the components that you want to be inherited by other pages.

Creating a New Page that Inherits from the Base Page

1. Navigate to the Page Editor: Go to “Sites” and then “Create” > “Page”.
2. Select the Base Page as Template: Instead of choosing a regular template, choose the base page you created earlier.
3. Configure the Page: Name your new page and fill in any other necessary properties, then click “Create”.

Setting Up Inheritance

In AEM, inheritance is automatically set up when you create a new page using a base page as a template. The new page will inherit all the components and properties of the base page.

Managing Inheritance

Inheritance can be managed in AEM using the “Inheritance” tab in the page properties. This allows you to control which components are inherited and which are not. It also allows you to cancel inheritance for specific components, if necessary.

Best Practices

• Consistency: Use consistent naming and organizational practices for your pages to make management easier.
• Efficiency: Leverage the power of inheritance to avoid duplicating common components across pages.
• Flexibility: Remember that inheritance can be cancelled for specific components, offering flexibility when needed.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Like any development process, you may encounter issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

Issue	Solution
Components not inheriting properly	Ensure that the inheritance has not been cancelled for those components.
Base page changes not reflected in child pages	Remember to publish the base page after making changes, so they are inherited by the child pages.

Conclusion

Creating a page that inherits from a generic page in AEM is a powerful feature that facilitates consistent and efficient web page creation. By understanding this feature, and following the steps to create a base page, create an inheriting page, and manage inheritance, you can make the most of your AEM development process. As with any tool, practice and experience will lead to increased proficiency over time.