Headless Content Management has become a popular approach for delivering content across multiple channels and devices. Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is a powerful content management system that supports structured content management through Content Fragments. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at how to create Content Fragment models in AEM as a Cloud Service to enable headless content management.
Step 1: Create a Content Fragment Model
Before you begin, be sure to enable Content Fragments models, the data schemas of Content Fragments, in AEM’s Configuration Browser. Then, navigate to the Content Fragment Models console in AEM. Here, you’ll be able to create a new Content Fragment model or modify an existing one. A Content Fragment model is a blueprint for your Content Fragments and defines the structure of your content. Think of it as a template that defines what information will be stored in your Content Fragment.
When creating a Content Fragment model, you’ll be asked to provide a name and description for the model. You’ll also need to define the structure of your content fragment by adding Data Types.
Step 2: Add Data Types to Your Content Fragment Model
Once you’ve created a new Content Fragment model, you can start adding Data Types. To add an element, simply drag the correct field type from the right-side toolbar to the appropriate place in your model. You can choose from a variety of different field types, such as "Text", "Number", "Boolean", "Date and Time", "Tags", etc.
After adding an element, you’ll need to define the specific properties for that field. Properties are used to capture specific information about the element, such as the element name, label, specific data type, and any validation rules.
You can also use the Data Types for Content Reference and Fragment reference to created nested content. You can then have a parent/child relationship between different content types. This is especially useful for headless content delivery.
Once all of the Data Types have been defined in the model, we recommend exporting the model as XML and committing it into the project code repository.
Step 3: Use Your Content Fragments in AEM
Now that you’ve created your Content Fragment model, you can start using your content fragments in AEM. To do this, simply create a new Content Fragment and select the Content Fragment model that you want to use. You can then add content to your Content Fragment by filling out the fields that you defined in your Content Fragment model.
Once you’ve created your Content Fragments, you can use them in your AEM pages, emails, or any other digital experience that you want to deliver. Because Content Fragments are decoupled from your presentation layer, you can deliver your content across multiple channels and devices without having to worry about reformatting or restructuring your content.
Step 4: Create Your Content Fragment Variations
Content fragment variations allow you to create different versions of your Content Fragment model that can be used to deliver content across different channels and devices. To create a new variation, navigate to the “Variations” tab in your Content Fragment model and click on the “Create Variation” button.
When creating a variation, you’ll need to specify the name of the variation. Then you can start editing the content for the variation. You can also synchronize the variation with the Master variation at any time.
Conclusion
Adobe Experience Manager as a Cloud Service provides a powerful headless content management solution, and Content Fragment models are a key component to enable headless content delivery. Creating Content Fragment models can seem overwhelming at first, but with the proper planning and understanding of the process, it can be a straightforward and efficient way to manage content. Remember to keep in mind the key considerations, such as data types, variations, and inheritance, as well as the importance of maintaining consistency and reusability in your content models. With these tips in mind, you can begin creating content fragment models and leveraging the power of headless content management in Adobe Experience Manager as a Cloud Service.