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Basic information

This article explains how to create Sections in Pangea CMS.

What is a Section?

A Section is a collection of Widgets are interactive content blocks, used to build Sections and other components on Pangea websites. They can promote content pages, live streams, newsletters, podcasts, and more. Pangea offers several widget types, each serving a different purpose. Learn more., dedicated to sharing the latest news and stories on a particular topic (such as sports, economics, or politics).

You can create two types of Sections:

  • Standalone Sections are independent pages. Your homepage is an example of a standalone Section.
  • Merged Sections are not independent pages. A merged Section is merged with a Category and appears on the Category page above the content list.

If you are creating a merged Section to display on a Category page, refer to our guidance on how to create these Sections:



Get started

To start creating a new Section:

  1. Go to Build > Sections.
  2. Select + Add new.

On the New Section dialog, you need to perform the following actions:

  1. Layout: Select the starting layout for your new Section.
  2. General settings: Provide titles in your local website language and in English.

Find more details below:

On the Layout subpage, select the starting layout for the Section. This controls which Layout blocks provide the underlying structure for your Section. Each block runs horizontally across the page width and includes one or more areas for displaying widgets. Learn more. will initially be available for displaying widgets.

Select the layout that best fits your needs. You will be able to add and remove the layout blocks later, according to your exact requirements. Select Blank page if you prefer to build a custom layout from scratch.

Add the following general settings:

  • Title: The title for the Section in your local website language.
  • English title: The title for the Section in English. Providing a title in English is helpful for Pangea users who do not understand your local langugage.

If needed, you will have the option to change these titles later.

The following rules apply:

For standalone Sections:

The main page title (in your local website language) is displayed on the published Section page. The English title is visible internally in Pangea CMS.

For merged Sections:

Both titles are visible internally in Pangea CMS (not on the public site). Merged Sections are part of the Category page, which shows the Category title. For detailed information, visit the following article:

After you hit Add, the edit page for your new Section opens.

The new Section is saved with the Draft status. While it has the Draft status, the Section is saved internally in Pangea CMS but is not accessible on the public site.

When you work on the Section edit page in Pangea CMS, Pangea saves some changes automatically, while you need to save other changes manually.

If all changes are saved, the action button shows the label Saved and is not clickable. If the Section has unsaved changes, manually save the changes by hitting the Save button.

The following rules apply, depending which subpage you are working on:

Layout

On the Layout subpage, Pangea saves all changes automatically.

Editor

On the Editor subpage, Pangea saves the following changes automatically:

  • Adding a library widget.
  • Moving any widget.
  • Disabling / enabling any widget.
  • Deleting / removing any widget.

When you create a new widget or edit an existing widget, you need to save the widget manually on the widget edit page (not on the Section edit page).

Settings

On the Settings subpage, you need to save all changes manually.

The remaining chapters in this article describe the most important steps for creating and publishing a new Section:



Set the page title

Merged Sections are part of the Category page. Only the title for the Category page is shown on the page. For detailed information, visit the following article:

For each standalone Section page, you can choose one of the title options below:

  • (A): Standard title: A simple text title.
  • (B): Title graphic: A full-width graphic that shows the page title over a background image.

For both title options, provide the title text via General > Title. Try to keep the title as short as possible. (1-3 words should be sufficient in most cases.)

If you want to display a Title graphic, enable the Title graphic slider. For detailed instructions on how to configure a Title graphic, visit the following article:



Boost SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Merged Sections are part of the Category page. Only the metadata for the Category page is used. For detailed information, visit the following article:

Go to Settings > SEO to add the Metadata is descriptive information, which helps search engines to understand and categorize the content on a page. It is not displayed on the page itself, but search engines might show the meta title and meta description on results pages. This data helps users on search engines to decide whether to open the page. for the Section.

You will not be able to save a new Section (standalone or merged) until you add the following required metadata:

  • Meta title
  • Meta description

Find detailed information about all the settings below:

The meta title for a page helps search engines to understand and categorize the page content. It might also be displayed as follows:

  • As the clickable headline on search engine results pages
  • In the browser tab for the page
  • In the The social teaser for a page appears when the link is shared on social media platforms and messaging apps. It is normally a simple card that includes a title, description, and image. for the page

NOTE: The meta title is your suggestion for what to show on search engine results pages. We cannot guarantee that search engines will always follow this recommendation. Search engines sometimes show the page title instead of the meta title.

When creating meta titles, follow the guidelines below:

  • Use the local language for your site.
  • Use clear, human-readable language.
  • Make the title unique. Do not reuse the same meta title for multiple pages.
  • Keep the title concise. Titles longer than around 70 characters are cut on most search engine results pages.

The meta description for a page helps search engines to understand and categorize the page content. It might also be displayed as follows:

  • As the description on search engine results pages
  • In the The social teaser for a page appears when the link is shared on social media platforms and messaging apps. It is normally a simple card that includes a title, description, and image. for the page

NOTE: The meta description is your suggestion for what to show on search engine results pages. We cannot guarantee that search engines will always follow this recommendation. Search engines sometimes show other text from the page instead of the meta description.

When creating meta descriptions, follow the guidelines below:

  • Use the local language for your site.
  • Use clear, human-readable language.
  • Make the description unique. Do not reuse the same meta description for multiple pages.
  • Keep the description concise. Descriptions longer than around 160 characters are cut on most search engine results pages.

You can add meta keywords via SEO > Meta keywords. This is optional.

Most search engines (including Google) no longer consider meta keywords when ranking pages. However, this data might still influence how pages rank via some search engines (such as Yandex and Baidu).

You can select an image via SEO > Image. This is optional.

The SEO image is shown in the The social teaser for a page appears when the link is shared on social media platforms and messaging apps. It is normally a simple card that includes a title, description, and image. for the page and might also appear on search engine results pages. It will not be displayed on the Section itself. If you do not select a custom SEO image, the default image for your site is used.

We also recommend adding a Custom URL for all standalone Section pages.



Add a Custom URL

Merged Sections are part of the Category page. Only the Custom URL for the Category page is used. For detailed information, visit the following article:

A Custom URL is a short piece of human-readable text (normally 1-3 words) that replaces the numerical ID in a page URL.

Custom URLs offer the following main benefits:

  • Descriptive URLs tell users where they will go after clicking a link.
  • URLs that include keywords might rank more highly on search engine results pages.
  • Consistent use of descriptive, user-friendly URLs boosts the authority of your domain for search engines.

For a standalone Section, create a Custom URL via SEO > Custom URL.

For detailed information, including tips and best practice, visit the following article:



Add a Sub navigation

Merged Sections are part of the Category page. Sub navigations are not currently supported on Category pages, so any Sub navigation selected on the Section edit page will not be displayed.

A Sub navigation is a horizontal collection of links, which appears directly below the site header. These prominent links provide quick access to key pages.

To add a Sub navigation to a standalone Section page:

  1. Go to General > Sub navigation.
  2. Select a Sub navigation from the list.

The selector shows the available Sub navigations for your site. To create a new Sub navigation, go to the separate Sub navigation page in Pangea CMS. For instructions, visit the following article:



Merge the Section with a Category

You can create two types of Sections:

  • Standalone Sections are independent pages. Your homepage is an example of a standalone Section.
  • Merged Sections are not independent pages. A merged Section is merged with a Category and appears on the Category page above the content list.

If you are creating a merged Section to display on a Category page, refer to our guidance on how to create these Sections:

To merge a Section with a Category:

  1. Go to General > Category.
  2. Select a Category.

The following conditions apply:

  • You can only select one Category.
  • You cannot select a Category that is already merged with another Section.
  • You can only select a Content Category that uses the List with images layout.

When a Section and a Category are merged, the Section is part of the Category page. The Category settings have priority. This means:

  • The page shows the Category title. To update this title, go to the Category edit page in Pangea CMS.
  • The page uses the Category metadata. To update this metadata, go to the Category edit page in Pangea CMS.
  • The page uses the Custom URL that is set for the Category. To update this Custom URL, go to the Custom URL list in Pangea CMS.

If you merge a Section that was previously a standalone page, the Section URL will automatically redirect to the Category page after merging. You do not need to manually update any links or create a URL redirect.

For detailed information about merging Sections and Categories, visit the following article:



Add and manage layout blocks

Layout blocks provide the underlying structure for your Section. Each block runs horizontally across the page width and includes one or more areas for displaying widgets. One area can display one widget. For example, the block below has four areas and can display four widgets.

To add and manage layout blocks, select Layout in the left panel.

The following actions are available:

To add a new layout block:

  1. Scroll to the position where you want to add the block.
  2. Hit + Add block.
  3. Select the block you want to add.

Pangea CMS offers the following types of layout blocks:

  • 3-column: On desktop, each row can include 1-3 items.
  • 4-column: On desktop, each row can include 1-4 items.
  • Special: These blocks can only display Content widgets that use one of the special layouts ("Feature" or "Media slider").

For detailed information about the special Content widget layouts, visit the following articles:

Empty layout blocks do not impact the look of the published Section. However, you might delete empty blocks to clarify the desired layout for other Pangea users.

To delete an empty layout block, hit the Delete button.

You cannot delete a block that contains widgets. First, open the Editor subpage and delete all the widgets from the block. For detailed information about how to manage widgets, go to the following chapter in this article:

To move a layout block, use the selector on the left side of the block. For example, if you select 2, the block is positioned second. You can move empty layout blocks and blocks that contain widgets.

Special layout blocks can only display Content widgets that use one of the following special layouts:

  • Media slider
  • Feature

For detailed information about these special Content widget layouts, visit the following articles:



Add and manage widgets

Widgets are interactive content blocks, used to build Sections and other components on Pangea websites. Widgets can promote content pages, live streams, newsletters, podcasts, and more. Pangea offers several widget types, each serving a different purpose. For an overview of the available widget types, visit the following article:

To add and manage widgets, select Editor in the left panel.

Two options are available for adding a new widget to a Section:

For existing widgets, several actions are available:

  • Edit a widget
  • Replace a widget
  • Move a widget
  • Disable / enable a widget
  • Delete / remove a widget

To learn more about these actions, go to the following section:


Create a new widget

You can create a new An independent widget is an isolated widget instance, used in just one place on your website. Edits to an independent widget do not impact other widgets, and independent widgets do not inherit updates from other widgets..

To create a new independent widget in an empty area:

  1. Select an empty area.
  2. Ensure New widget is selected. Then, select the type of widget you want to create.

The widget edit page opens in the same tab. To learn about the widget settings, visit the relevant article below (according to the type of widget):

Content | FactCheck | HTML | Live stream | Manual stream | Multimedia | Podcast | Poll | Subscription | Trends


Use a library widget

The Section can display an existing library widget from the The Widget library is a collection of ready-to-use widgets. Widgets saved in the Widget library are known as "library widgets". One library widget might be used in multiple places across your website. Learn more..

To display a library widget in an empty area:

  1. Select an empty area.
  2. Select Library widget. Then, search for and select the widget you want to use.

Your selected library widget is now displayed in the area. On the Editor subpage in Pangea CMS, library widgets are marked with the Widget library badge.

To learn more about library widgets, visit the following article:


Manage widgets

For existing widgets, the following actions are available:

To edit an existing widget, select the widget area.

The widget edit page opens in the same tab. To learn about the widget settings, visit the relevant article below (according to the type of widget):

Content | FactCheck | HTML | Live stream | Manual stream | Multimedia | Podcast | Poll | Subscription | Trends

You can replace any widget to show a different widget in the same area.

To replace a widget, select + Replace in the widget box.

The following options are available:

  • New widget: Replace the widget with a new independent widget.
  • Library widget: Replace the widget with an existing library widget.

When replaced, a widget might be permanently deleted. The following rules apply:

  • Independent widgets are permanently deleted.
  • Library widgets are only removed from the current Section.

You can move a widget from one area to another. If the target area already contains another widget, the two widgets will switch places. The widget in the target area will not be deleted.

To move a widget, select the Move button in the widget box.

After you hit the Move button:

  • (A): The widget you are trying to move is marked blue.
  • (B): All areas where you can move the widget are marked green. These are areas where the widget is supported.
  • (C): Any areas where you cannot move the widget are marked red. These are areas where the widget is not supported.

Select the target area where you want to move the widget. If you no longer wish to move the widget, hit the X button to cancel the action.

Any areas where you cannot move the widget are marked red. These are areas where the widget is not supported. Areas can be marked red in the following cases:

  • If you are moving a Podcast widget. These widgets are only supported in single-column areas.
  • If you are moving a Feature widget. These widgets are only supported on Feature layout blocks.
  • If you are moving a Media slider widget. These widgets are only supported on Media slider layout blocks.
  • If the Section includes a Feature layout block. These blocks only support Feature widgets.
  • If the Section includes a Media slider layout block. These blocks only support Media slider widgets.

To learn about the special "Media slider" and "Feature" widget layouts, visit the following articles:

If you disable a widget, the widget remains saved in Pangea CMS but will not be visible on the public site. This is useful if you do not want a widget to always be visible. You can conveniently disable and enable the widget as needed.

To disable a widget, hit the Disable button in the widget box. To show the widget again, hit the Enable button.

Disabled widgets show the Disabled badge in Pangea CMS.

You can delete an independent widget or remove a library widget. Find more details below:

Delete an independent widget

When you delete an independent widget, the widget is permanently deleted from Pangea CMS.

To delete an independent widget, select ... > Delete in the widget box.

Remove a library widget

When you remove a library widget, the widget is only removed from the current Section. Other instances of the widget on other pages are not impacted. Library widgets are marked with the Widget library badge.

To remove a library widget, select ... > Remove in the widget box.

To learn more about library widgets, visit the following article:



Preview the Section

Before you publish a new Section, check how it will look on the website. Choose your preferred option under Preview in the left panel:

  • Desktop: Check how the Section will look when viewed on a desktop computer.
  • Tablet: Check how the Section will look when viewed on a tablet.
  • Mobile: Check how the Section will look when viewed on a mobile device.

The preview includes unsaved changes. You do not need to save changes before checking them in the preview.

NOTE: For merged Sections, the preview shows the Section as a standalone page. You do not see how the Section will look on the Category page.



Publish the Section

To publish a new Section:

  1. Select Published in the status selector.
  2. Hit Publish / Publish & close.

The Section is now published.

You can visit the page and retrieve the URL for the new Section using one of the methods below:

  • On the Section edit page, hit the Live site button.
  • On the Sections list, hover over the panel and hit the Live site button.

NOTE: If the Section is merged with a Category, the Section URL redirects to the Category page URL.

By default, your new Section appears at the bottom of the Sections list. If you want to move the Section, two options are available:

Change the position using the selector. For example, if you select 2, the Section will be placed second.

The order of the Sections does not impact user experience on the public site. For convenience, you might place Sections that are more regularly updated towards the top of the list.

NOTE: The highest Section with the Published status is automatically used as your homepage (marked with the Homepage badge).

You can create a nested structure, where one parent Section has one or more children. In the example below, the parent Section "Iran" has two children: "Farda Visuals" and "Iran Features".

To place a child Section below a parent Section:

  1. Open the edit page for the child Section.
  2. Go to General > Parent Section.
  3. Select the parent Section.
  4. Select Save & close / Publish & close to confirm the action.

On the Sections list, the child Section is now listed below the parent.

The structure does not impact user experience on the public site. By recreating your website organization / hierarchy inside Pangea CMS, you provide more information for web editors.

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