--- title: Structure the website slug: cms-12/docs/structure-the-website docTags: createdAt: 2026-08-10T15:55:57.000Z --- In the Optimizely Content Management System (CMS), the page tree structure is located in edit view under **Pages**. The root page is at the top of the structure, usually with one or more start pages directly underneath. The structure of the website is made up of pages. By default, the page structure is reflected in the navigation menus. To simplify navigation, limit the submenu structure to a maximum of three levels. ## Icons in the UI By hovering over an icon in the user interface (mostly in the Page tree), information about the page displays, such as ID and [page type](docId:9jRO-nJUivGhx8O7-UMt6). A set of page tree symbols provides additional information about the structure. Some of these icons are only displayed for the first draft version of a page before any published version exists. :::hint{type="info"} **Note** Your website might be customized with other symbols implemented by the partner developer and look different from the symbols in the following table. ::: | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/uzxE7jwT57ID-4bvFF9BQ-20260720-145539.png" alt caption} | Root page. | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/cO-XuWj_kXSdSsjIfkFr1-20260720-145539.png" alt caption} | Start page. | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/zCQRZPDafgGSPGuhFnxnn-20260720-145539.png" alt caption} | The container page used for storing other pages; is not visible on the website. | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/brGn-fW5EXvweO5zHAOsv-20260720-145540.png" alt caption} | Page locked for editing for the logged-in user, or another user is editing the page. You can see who by hovering your mouse over the icon. | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/8MpJRRRdn0x2rbcS0F5jh-20260720-145539.png" alt caption} | Draft of a new page; not visible on the website yet. See [Publish versions of content](docId\:IAQMaKQIeHjFyf57lmTsL). | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/Cl48mF9r2y8E0C5qYytsZ-20260720-145539.png" alt caption} | A page that is set to **Ready to Publish** or is scheduled for publishing; is not visible on the website yet. See [Publish versions of content](docId\:IAQMaKQIeHjFyf57lmTsL). | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/daA5zB3H6nDkT9qqI1vr3-20260720-145539.png" alt caption} | Published page. See [Publish versions of content](docId\:IAQMaKQIeHjFyf57lmTsL). | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/2nY6ds0NKdcefcGtn-LsM-20260720-145539.png" alt caption} | An expired or previously published page; not visible on the website anymore. See [Publish versions of content](docId\:IAQMaKQIeHjFyf57lmTsL). | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/Rhjp1tdI1iRauipBXtoPW-20260720-145539.png" alt caption} | A page that links to another page on the same website. See **Shortcut to page in Optimizely CMS** under [Shortcut](docId\:d3R8i01k20fkNNZR7zagr) in [All properties editing view](docId\:d3R8i01k20fkNNZR7zagr). | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/1X2oDVefnJu_oO2FZ3YrD-20260720-145540.png" alt caption} | A page that links to an external website or a specific address. See **Shortcut to page on another website** under [Shortcut](docId\:d3R8i01k20fkNNZR7zagr) in [All properties editing view](docId\:d3R8i01k20fkNNZR7zagr). | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/Cia2fBkFtYw4YQX9yzmDu-20260720-145540.png" alt caption} | A page containing a shortcut that is not linked anywhere; it only displays the text and is used to create a heading with no link in the menu. See **No shortcut, display text only** under [Shortcut](docId\:d3R8i01k20fkNNZR7zagr) in [All properties editing view](docId\:d3R8i01k20fkNNZR7zagr). | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/mNxNYHw4eLtOE4X3vJuqD-20260720-145540.png" alt caption} | A page that fetches and displays content from another page on the same website. See **Fetch content from page in Optimizely CMS** under [Shortcut](docId\:d3R8i01k20fkNNZR7zagr) in [All properties editing view](docId\:d3R8i01k20fkNNZR7zagr). | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/vH8CQiX11OK9oETfYRqRJ-20260720-145540.png" alt caption} | Published page. **Note:** This icon displays for project items, not in the **Pages** navigation panel. See [Manage projects](docId\:buCChIQJt46-4iwiL_h3g). | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/GW9q5lP-39B6REn49_jrA-20260720-145540.png" alt caption} | The page is currently **In review** and must be reviewed and approved before publication. See [Approve content](docId\:FJT9V4MfH6aJdlcxjWAxh). **Note:** This icon displays for project items, not in the **Pages** navigation panel. See [Manage projects](docId\:buCChIQJt46-4iwiL_h3g). | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/vRQP_FnfeLyZhKTT3T6AW-20260720-145540.png" alt="No access rights icon" caption} | You do not have the right to publish this item, or the specific item version no longer exists. **Note:** This icon displays for project items, not in the **Pages** navigation panel. See [Manage projects](docId\:buCChIQJt46-4iwiL_h3g). | | :inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/QLrh6dQGetSSjBaQIKyOd-20260720-145540.png" alt caption} | A page that is set to **Rejected**. **Note:** This icon displays for project items, not in the **Pages** navigation panel. See [Manage projects](docId\:buCChIQJt46-4iwiL_h3g). | ## Move a page Use drag and drop to move a page, or select **Cut** in the context menu for the page you want to move and select **Paste** for the destination page. You can also move pages using the keyboard commands CTRL+X for cut (on Mac: CMD+X), and CTRL+V for paste (on Mac: CMD+V). :::hint{type="info"} **Note** When you move a page, internal links are redirected to the new location and are not broken. However, any external links pointing to the moved page will be broken. ::: ## Copy a page Press CTRL (or on Mac: Option) on your keyboard and drag and drop to copy a page, or select **Copy** in the context menu for the page you want to copy, then select **Paste** for the destination page. You can also copy pages using the keyboard commands CTRL+C for copy (on Mac: CMD+C), and CTRL+V for paste (on Mac: CMD+V). Subpages and associated media files in local page folders are copied also, and the links point to the new copy of the page. Settings, such as dynamic properties and categories are copied also with the new page. :::hint{type="info"} **Note** When you copy and paste a page under the same node, the **Name in URL** property of the copied page is typically named **Name in URL1**, which you need to change after copying. ::: ## Remove content Removed folders, pages, blocks, and media files are moved to trash and are not publicly available on the website. Remember to update any links to removed content. When you remove a page, all underlying pages are removed. See [Delete and restore content](docId:0pqGFZioU_HLUXVQrPAZD). ## Sort page order in menus The pages in the tree structure are sorted according to a predefined sort order. By default, the page created most recently is placed at the top of the tree structure, for example, in news listings. Other sorting options exist, such as alphabetically or by sort index. The last option lets you control the sorting through an index defined on each page. ![Sort page order in menus](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/hHJGHKS1KCvXnhsOKSu5Z-20260720-145540.png) The sort order is set for the parent page of a branch and is inherited by the subpages: 1. Select the parent page of the branch in the structure where you want to set the sorting. 2. Edit the page and select the **Settings** tab. 3. Select sorting criteria under **Sort subpages**. 4. Publish the page for the changes to take place. ### Sort according to the sort index If you want to control exactly how the pages in the structure are sorted, select the **According to sort index** option for the parent page. Then give each child page a unique sort index number, and they are sorted in ascending order according to their number, with the lowest number on top. Change the sort order of pages by dragging the page and dropping it where you want it in the tree structure. Sorting pages with drag and drop is only interesting for branches that are sorted with a sort index. - If you move a page into a branch that is not sorted according to the sort index, you get prompted to move the page and, at the same time, apply the sort index as sort order for that branch. Confirm with **OK**. When you drag a page into a new position in a page tree branch, the sort index is automatically recalculated to fit the sort order of that branch. - If you drop a page under a different parent page (with the sort index set as sort order), the page is first moved, copied, and sorted. The page remains in the tree where it was first dropped. :::hint{type="info"} **Note** The pages you move are saved again, meaning you must have publishing rights to use drag and drop for sorting. You also must have publishing rights for the page branch with a sort index to which you move a page. ::: ### Sort according to sort index manually You can set the sort index manually for each child page. Open the page for editing, select the **Settings** tab, and change the number in the **Sort index** box. The sort index number must be an integer, but no restrictions exist. Work with whole tens or hundreds to insert additional pages between existing ones in the structure. Publish the page to apply changes to the structure. ![Sort according to sort index manually](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/F0AIadV_qgYXP1c4Zr0-d-20260720-145540.png)