Changing the index page.

[Hobbyist]

If I change the name of the index page then rename another page index, will that cause any harm to the website? The code requires 1 index page in every website? So renaming a page to index and removing or changing the index page to something else is a formality and is fine?

[Pablo]

After renaming the index page, all internal links will still be pointing to that page.
However you can use the 'Global Replace' tool to rename the internal links.

[Hobbyist]

Ok understood.

[MGD4me]

Pablo...

Could you expand the steps of your Global Replace solution, please?

I want to create some special Holiday home pages. These pages would have unique information relevant to these holidays. I would create them well in advance, and name them whatever... Easter.php, Christmas.php, Vacation.php, etc. When needed, I would want to use one of these pre-made pages as my index.php page.

Okay, suppose I am now using a 'special' page as my home page. Do I Global Replace just that page, or the whole site? Just the URL? I don't want to destroy a working site to try something I'm not that sure about.

Thanks for any tips.

[Pablo]

1. Rename the original index page.
2. Rename the other page to 'index'
3. Use global replace -> internal link to replace
old: rename old index
new 'index'

[WWBman]

@MGD4me, I have a site with many pages each relating to a particular year.
To make things easy to manage I have a dummy index page that just has a redirect to the 'current' year.
Each new year I just change the redirect so there's no need to change anything else.

[MGD4me]

@Pablo: Thanks for the details. That makes sense now. I'll be sure to keep my backup handy just in case! ;o)


@WWBman: Great thinking outside the box! That sounds like a novel approach which is very simple to implement. It kind of makes me wonder "why didn't I think of that myself?" LOL

[kevindef]

Sorry to hijack your thread MGD4me, but I am faced with a similar issue on the index page.

So Pablo; in your reply explaining the steps of your Global Replace solution, just trying to get my head around it:

Global Replace
1 Pages > Current page ?
2. Objects > select 'Navigation' ?
3. Property > select 'ID' ? and select 'Match Case'
Old value: rename old index?
New: 'index' ?

is this correct? BTW, on this particular project I an using WB12.

[Pablo]

1 Pages > Current page ?

I think you want to select the entire website.

2. Objects > select 'Navigation' ?

I think you want to select all objects

3. Property > select 'ID' ? and select 'Match Case'

No, you will need to select 'Internal link'
This option is only available in WB14.

[kevindef]

Ooooh! I've got WB14 but this particular project is in WB12 - might tell a prayer and switch the project to WB14. Thanks mate for explaining the process clearly.

[MGD4me]

@kevindef: You might want to have a look at the suggestion by WWBman.

It is pretty simple to set up "dummy" index which then redirects to whichever other index page you want. When changes are required to display a different index page, you ONLY have to change the name in your dummy page to the new index page. Done!

I tried it, and couldn't believe how simple it is. Works like a champ! (Thanks WWBman!)