Collections

Collections serve as your site's content database. They allow you to store structured, repeatable data — such as team members, products, testimonials, or features — and render them dynamically inside your site.

You can manage your CMS data from two locations:

1. Site Dashboard: Under the Collections tab, designed for full schema configuration, CSV imports, and large-scale item editing.
2. Visual Page Editor: In the left-hand panel under the Data Panel (Database/CMS icon), allowing you to tweak collections, global variables, and APIs without leaving your layout canvas.

---

Creating a Collection

To create a new content database:

1. Navigate to your site dashboard and click the Collections tab.
2. Click New Collection in the top right.
3. Enter a Name (e.g., "Team Members", "Products").
4. Click Create.

A Collection Editor Dialog overlay will open automatically, displaying two tabs: Schema Configuration and Content Items.

---

Defining the Schema (Fields)

A schema defines the fields that describe each item. Define it once; all items in the collection will share this structure.

Adding Fields

1. In the Schema Configuration tab of the Collections editor, click + Add Property Field.
2. Set the following parameters for each field:
   • Field Name: The display label (e.g., "Profile Name").
   • API Key: The database key (prefixed with #). This auto-generates from the name (e.g., profile_name) but can be edited manually.
   • Type: The data input type (see below).
3. If you want this collection to be accessible across other sites in your workspace, check the Share in Workspace checkbox at the bottom.
4. Click Save Schema & Sync in the bottom right to apply changes.

Field Types

---

Adding Content Items

Once your schema is saved, switch to the Content Items tab to input your records.

1. Click Add Item. This creates a collapsed row (e.g., Item 1).
2. Click the item row to expand it.
3. Enter the values for each field in your schema:
   • For Image fields, click the field to open the Asset Library picker, or paste an external image URL. An image preview is displayed below.
   • For other fields, type the values directly.
4. Auto-Saving: Changes are saved automatically when you press Enter or click away from the input field (onBlur). There is no manual save button for items.
5. To delete an item, click the Trash icon next to its row.

---

Bulk Import via CSV

You can import bulk items and schemas from spreadsheet software:

1. Go to the Schema Configuration tab and find the Import from CSV card.
2. Click Download Sample CSV to view the required column formatting.
3. Structure your CSV headers to define both the Field Name and Type using brackets:

   Name [TEXT],Avatar [IMAGE],Bio [TEXT],Order [NUMBER]
   Jane Doe,https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1506744038136-46273834b3fb,Creative Director,1

4. Click Upload CSV and select your file.
5. Asset Migration: The importer automatically detects external image URLs in your CSV, uploads them to your site's local Asset Library, and maps them to local asset URLs automatically.

---

Global Variables

Global Variables store single, site-wide values (e.g. your business support phone number, corporate brand color, or social links) that you want to reference in multiple blocks.

Managing Variables

1. Open the visual page editor and open the Data Panel (Database/CMS icon) in the left panel.
2. Select the Variables tab.
3. Click + Add Variable and define its Name, Key, Type, and Value.
4. Update it once in the Variables tab to synchronize the value across all bound blocks on your site.

---

Binding Data to Editor Blocks

To display CMS data on your pages, you must bind visual elements to your collections or global variables.

List Binding (Repeating Section Items)

Use list bindings to generate a repeated list of cards, logos, features, or testimonials automatically:

1. In the page editor, click to select a section that supports lists (e.g., a Logos showcase or a Team grid).
2. Look at the right-hand settings panel and find the List Binding section.
3. Change the mode from Manual to Collection.
4. Select the target Collection from the dropdown menu.
5. Map each internal card field (e.g. image, title, description) to the corresponding collection field key.
6. The section will automatically duplicate itself to match the number of items in the collection, pulling content dynamically.

Field Binding (Single Elements)

Use field bindings to bind individual text, image, or link fields to a single value:

1. Select any individual block (e.g., a headline text block or an image block).
2. In the right-hand panel, click the Database/Link icon next to the input field.
3. Select the source:
   • Variables: Choose a global variable (e.g., global.phone_number).
   • Collections: Choose a specific item and field (e.g. collection.team_members.0.profile_name).
4. To unlink the field and enter static text, click the Trash/Remove binding icon next to the field in the sidebar.