Skip to content

Branch Management#

The Branch Management interface is accessed by clicking the current branch name in the User Interface navigation menu, which opens the Branch Manager dialog. In this dialog, you can:

  • View existing branches and their details
  • Create new branches
  • Copy branches
  • Merge changesets
  • Delete branches
  • Perform bulk actions on changesets

Branch Manager#

In Branch Manager, you’ll see a batch list of all template branches. For each branch, use the action menu to:

  • Switch your workspace to the selected branch
  • Export its changesets to a CSV file
  • Rename the branch or update its icon color inline
  • Promote it to the primary (Production) branch
  • Copy a shareable preview URL
  • Delete the branch and its changesets

Creating a New Branch#

When you click Add Branch, the Create Branch dialog appears. Here you can:

  • Enter a Branch Name for identification
  • Choose an Icon Color to visually distinguish the branch
  • Select an existing branch under Copy From as a template (optional)

After configuring, click Create. This action:

  • Takes a snapshot of your current store state
  • Spins up a fresh branch for development

Copying a Branch#

The Copy operation is guided by a three-step wizard:

  1. Select Target Branch
  2. Choose Changesets
  3. Add Notes & Commit

Throughout the process, preview panels display the branch state to ensure accuracy. Copy always brings in all changes from the selected branch’s snapshot onward, resulting in an exact replica.

Merging Changesets#

Merging changesets follows a similar three-step process:

  1. Designate Source Branch
  2. Select Individual or Bulk Changesets
  3. Add Merge Notes & Execute

This workflow provides granular control, allowing you to integrate only the specific changesets you need.

Avoiding Production Overwrites

Because branches snapshot your store at creation, merging an outdated snapshot can overwrite newer Production changes. Delete or merge your branch’s initial snapshot first to ensure only intended updates are applied.

Copy vs. Merge#

  • Copy

    • Creates a full snapshot import
    • Brings in all changes from the source branch’s initial snapshot onward
    • Best for point-in-time duplication

  • Merge

    • Offers selective integration of changesets
    • Excludes unwanted updates
    • Ideal for controlled, incremental updates

Use copy when you need an exact duplicate; use merge when you want to apply only specific updates without affecting intermediary Production changes.

Viewing Branch History#

To review past activity, select History from a branch’s action menu. In the History dialog, you can:

  • See all changesets with timestamps, authors, and notes
  • Revert individual changesets to roll back specific updates
  • Filter and sort by date, user, or keywords to quickly locate relevant entries

Tip

Template branches integrate seamlessly with PageBuilder. Experiment with layout changes in isolated branches without impacting live pages. See the PageBuilder guide for more details.