# Using templates

{% hint style="danger" %} <mark style="color:red;">Theme retirement</mark> Ira is no longer available on the Shopify theme store. **Theme support and updates for current users will end after May 18, 2024**. [Learn more here](https://help.fluorescent.co/ira/readme/theme-retirement).
{% endhint %}

**Templates** control the content, layout, and style of all pages and are customized in the theme editor.

There are templates for every type of page, including the *home page*, *product page*, *collection page*, *blog posts*, and more.

{% hint style="warning" %}
At first, there is one **Default template** for every type of page. All product pages, for example, are initially assigned the same default product template. This means that **changes made to a default template will apply to all pages that use that template**.

To change the content or style of specific pages, you will need to **create a new template** and then **assign that template** to those pages in the Shopify Admin.

Alternatively, you can use [metafields and dynamic sources](https://help.fluorescent.co/ira/general/adapting-your-theme/dynamic-content-with-metafields) to automatically display the correct content or settings for pages that use the same template.
{% endhint %}

## **Open templates**

Use the **Templates selector** in the theme editor to find the templates available for each page type. By default, the theme editor opens the *Home page* template.

> See the[ Theme templates guide](https://help.fluorescent.co/ira/pages/templates) for a full overview of all available templates.

## **Preview specific pages**

When you open a template, the theme editor selects a page (e.g. one product or collection) to preview the changes made to that template.

To preview a different page with that template, click **Change** in the "PREVIEW" section at the top of the sidebar.

## **Assign templates to pages**

If a warning symbol **(!)** appears next to the page name, this means that the template you are editing is not applied to that page. Go to the page in the Shopify admin and use the **Theme template** menu to assign a template.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Templates cannot be assigned on unpublished or trial themes**. All changes to your templates will be saved but can only be assigned when purchased and published.
{% endhint %}

## **Create and assign multiple templates**

At first, there is one **Default template** for every type of page. This means that **changes made to a default template will apply to all pages that use that template**.

To change the content or style of specific pages, you will need to **create a new template** and then **assign that template** to those pages in the Shopify Admin.

> Alternatively, you can use [Metafields and dynamic sources](https://help.fluorescent.co/ira/general/adapting-your-theme/dynamic-content-with-metafields) to automatically display the correct content or settings for pages that use the same template.

<details>

<summary><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>STEPS</strong></mark></summary>

In your theme editor (**Customize**):

1. Use the **Templates selector** to open the **Products**, **Collections**, **Pages**, **Blogs**, or **Blog posts** templates.
2. Click **Create template**.

   ![](https://4075298574-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F072gQRkuxS6ZiYGtqLNG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-803b61eb4c4d2c721d00868457d8e6b9c6a795d0%2Fcollections-create-template.jpeg?alt=media)
3. Enter a **Name** for your new template and click **Create template**.

   > The new template will duplicate the settings of the original template.

   ![](https://4075298574-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F072gQRkuxS6ZiYGtqLNG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-39fb96fa233c3f539e84c9e8be5eec83ca5dec41%2Fcreate-template.jpeg?alt=media)
4. Under **Preview**, click **Change** to preview different pages with this template.

   > If a warning icon **(!)** appears, you need to assign the template in your Shopify admin.

   ![](https://4075298574-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F072gQRkuxS6ZiYGtqLNG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-163929428e3361f67e8fd4424e660421e7e3e7b7%2Feditor-preview-change.jpeg?alt=media)
5. To assign a template, go to the page in the Shopify admin and use the **Theme template** menu to select a specific template.

   > Templates cannot be assigned on **unpublished** or **trial** themes. All changes to your templates will be saved but can only be assigned when purchased and published.
6. Click **Save**.

</details>

<br>

***

> **Related links**
>
> [Theme templates](https://help.fluorescent.co/ira/pages/templates)