Pages#
Pages serve as the foundational elements within the Miva Merchant ecosystem, empowering developers with unparalleled flexibility and control over website structure and functionality. Paired closely with items, pages form the backbone of Miva Merchant sites, dictating both appearance and behavior.
A page refers to a collection of templates responsible for defining the visual layout and behavior of the website as a whole. The functionality exhibited by each page is contingent upon the items assigned to it. For instance, the Storefront page differs in functionality from the Product or Category pages due to variations in assigned items.
Customization and Extensibility#
Developers possess the freedom to create an unlimited number of new page templates tailored to specific requirements. These templates can serve as the framework for core functionality or simply as containers for content. Despite their seemingly basic nature, pages play a crucial role in website development, serving as canvases onto which HTML, CSS, item tags, entities, and logic are intricately woven.
Visualizing Page Composition#
A typical Storefront page can be deconstructed into distinct sections, each contributing to the overall user experience. From the global header to the page footer, various elements come together to create a cohesive layout. The arrangement of these sections may vary, with the presence or absence of components like the Category Tree influencing the page’s appearance.
Item Integration#
Items play a pivotal role in shaping the content and functionality of pages. For instance, to display a navigation bar on the Storefront page, a corresponding item must be assigned, and its associated item tag positioned within the page template. This modular approach allows for seamless integration of diverse features and functionalities into the page structure.
Managing Page Templates#
Within the Miva Merchant admin interface, developers can access and modify page templates effortlessly. By navigating to the Templates section under the User Interface menu, users can edit the properties of existing pages or create new ones, thereby exerting full control over the site’s layout and behavior.
Customization and Global Impact#
Global items, such as HTML profiles, enable developers to enact changes that propagate across multiple pages uniformly. By centralizing modifications within the User Interface Settings, developers ensure consistency and efficiency in managing site-wide elements.
Summary#
In essence, understanding the role of page templates within Miva Merchant is essential for harnessing the platform’s full potential. By leveraging pages and items effectively, developers can craft dynamic, visually appealing websites tailored to meet the unique needs of their clients and customers.