Create Templates in Sitecore, including data types (field types), insert options, and standard values

1. What is a Template in Sitecore?

A Template defines the structure of content items in Sitecore—similar to a class in programming.

It controls:

• What fields an item has
• What kind of data each field stores
• Default behavior and rules

Example: A “Blog Post” template might include fields like:

• Title
• Body
• Author
• Publish Date

2. Template Structure (Core Parts)

A Sitecore template is made up of:

• Sections → Logical grouping of fields (e.g., “Content”, “SEO”)
• Fields → Individual data elements
• Standard Values → Default values
• Insert Options → What can be created under an item

3. Template Field Types (Data Types)

Field types define what kind of data is stored and how it is edited.

• Common Field Types
• Text-Based Fields

Number & Date Fields

• Number → Numeric values
• Integer → Whole numbers
• Date /Datetime → Calendar-based input

Link & Reference Fields

• General Link → Internal/external links
• Droplink /Droplist → Select one item
• Multilist /Treelist → Select multiple items
• Checklist → Multi-select checkboxes

Media Fields

• Image → Store images from Media Library
• File → PDFs, docs, etc.

Advanced / Special Fields

• Checkbox → True/False
• Name Value List → Key-value pairs
• Rules → Conditional logic
• Password → Encrypted value

4. Insert Options

What are Insert Options?

Insert options control what types of items can be created as children under a specific item.

Example:

If you have a Folder template, you might allow:

• Blog Post
• News Article
• Landing Page

This ensures content structure consistency.

How Insert Options Work

Insert options are configured via:

• __Masters field (standard way)
• Insert Options section in Standard Values

Key Use Cases

• Restrict content authors to valid structures
• Improve editorial workflow
• Maintain clean content hierarchy

5. Standard Values

What are Standard Values?

Standard values define default values andbehavior for all items created from a template.

What You Can Do with Standard Values

• Set default field values
• Define insert options
• Use tokens like:
  • $name → Item name
  • $date → Current date
  • $id → Unique ID

Example

If “Author” field has a standard value:

Admin

Every new item will default to Admin unless changed.

Inheritance via Standard Values

Templates can inherit from other templates, and standard values can cascade.

Quick Summary

Pro Tips

• Keep templates modular and reusable
• Use base templates for shared fields
• Avoid overusing complex field types unless needed
• Use standard values for consistency and speed

Happy Coding!