Cloning (Duplicating) Content

In some cases, it can be helpful to duplicate, or "Clone," content. This guide reviews cases where this could be useful, as well as the process steps.

Examples of When Cloning Content is Helpful

Any content, from events to news items to full webpages, can be cloned. Sometimes it's faster to clone an existing item or page and make a few edits than it would be to recreate the content entirely from scratch. Cloning also allows for consistency in wording and layout, which provides a cohesive feel to your content.
Here are just a few examples of when cloning content might be helpful:
  • Multiple iterations of an event: For example, your unit may host a faculty-student lunch seminar every week. The faculty speaker, topic, and/or location may change week to week, but the basics are the same. Cloning the event and making the necessary date and other changes saves time versus starting from scratch.
  • Similar news items: Perhaps 3 of your faculty members recently won different awards. You could create a news item and clone it, personalizing the content as needed.
  • Copying full pages as templates: If you want multiple pages to have the same appearance but don't want to spend the time setting up the layout (e.g. adding Text Areas, Accordions, Vertical Timelines, choosing images, etc.), cloning the page and personalizing it will speed up your process. For example, if your undergraduate major has multiple subplans from which students can choose, you might make a page for one subplan and clone it as a template for the others.

Steps for Cloning Content

    Go to your Manage Content page (Shortcuts → Manage Content). Scroll to find the content you wish to clone. Optionally, you can use the search bar to locate your content.
    Once you've located the content you wish to clone, check the checkbox to the left of the title. You can clone more than one item at a time if you wish.
    In the "Actions" dropdown menu at the bottom of the page, select "Clone selected content" and click the button to "Apply to selected items."
    You will be asked how many copies you wish to create. Update the number, if necessary, and click "Apply."
This will create an exact duplicate of your page, so you will see two items in your list with the same title and authoring information. Even though one page was just created, it will show the original author and publication date.
Caution: Because the cloned copy is exactly the same as the original, it is impossible to tell which is which. You'll need to open both for editing and look at the menu settings to discern old and new.

Distinguishing the Cloned Content from the Original

Now that you have two copies of the same content, it is critical to identify the original and the duplicate. You'll want to make your edits to the cloned version, as well as assign it a place on your site. Additionally, any links that directed users to the original page will continue to direct users to the original page.
You can discern which is which by looking at the URL.
To view the URL, hover over the page listings in "Manage Content." The cloned copy will have a "-0" at the end.
You can also click into a page and view the URL in your browser.
In these cases, the original url might look like:  samplesite.stanford.edu/original-page . The clone will simply add a -0 or -1 to the end:  samplesite.stanford.edu/original-page-0 .

Editing the Newly Cloned Content

Editing the newly cloned page is exactly the same as editing any other content. However, a best practice is to begin by renaming and "housing" the new page in the appropriate menu area.

Renaming the page

To start, you'll go into the Edit tab, then change the title in both the Title box and the Menu link area.

Organizing the cloned page in the menu

Move the new page as needed. Check out the guide on  ⁠⁠Placing a Page in the Menu⁠  for a refresher on organizing pages.
After following these steps, your duplicated content is ready for editing!
Be sure to save your work when you're finished!