# Total CMS1 **URL:** \ **Category:** Elements\ **Created:** [September 19, 2026, 8:37am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659 "2026-09-19T08:37:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![guywoodland](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/guywoodland/32/37481_2.png) [@guywoodland](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/guywoodland)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 8:37am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/1 "2026-09-19T08:37:36Z")
I use Total CMS1 on all of my websites Foundation 6 and Rapidweaver Classic and was really happy with the combo. A simple question. If I use Elements and Elements CMS. Through the browser can I create new “pages”? ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 11:34am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/2 "2026-09-19T11:34:46Z")
Hey @guywoodland, You can create new pages that are part of a collection, so blogs posts, or project pages, for example. They won’t be added to the main site menu, but they will appear in the collection/listing on the page (hope that makes sense). Do you have an example of what you need to do? Hopefully I can give you am ore concrete answer and show you how to do it 🙂 Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![guywoodland](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/guywoodland/32/37481_2.png) [@guywoodland](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/guywoodland)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/3 "2026-09-23T13:48:35Z")
Hi Dan. This site [https://woodviewkennels-cattery.co.uk](https://woodviewkennels-cattery.co.uk) is built with Rapidweaver Classic, Stacks and Foundation. It is really simple, the list is based on blog, Featured, Newest First. I have dozens of sites like this. The client just goes through the browser adds content using featured to appear on the home page. ---
**Author:** ![guywoodland](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/guywoodland/32/37481_2.png) [@guywoodland](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/guywoodland)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 1:54pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/4 "2026-09-23T13:54:28Z")
The second type of site again using the same ingredients [https://fodarmedforcessupport.org.uk](https://fodarmedforcessupport.org.uk) has sections set on the home page utilising category. Again simple. Total CMS1 drives the whole site. ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 2:44pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/5 "2026-09-23T14:44:08Z")
Hi @guywoodland, That’s great, thank you for those samples! The good news is, that yes, I think you could build both of these sites in Elements. Once you’re more comfortable with the way Elements works, you could dig into the CMS. We have some [getting started guides for the CMS](https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/elements-docs/cms/getting-started/quickstart) in the Docs. But of course, if you ever get stuck with anything we’re always around to help! ---
**Author:** ![MartWaring](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/martwaring/32/834_2.png) [@MartWaring](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/MartWaring)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/6 "2026-09-29T15:26:24Z")
Hi Guy. I’m in the same position i.e. looking for a replacement for TCMS1. I have 76 sites running on TCMS1 and I love the simplicity of how it works for my clients. I thought with the Online Editor arriving it was getting to look like Elements could one day replace TCMS1. Sadly I haven’t yet been able to get static fields (such as the address or phone number) created in the on-line editor to work across the whole site yet (they only work on the Home page). I am probably missing something somewhere. I’m wondering if you have had more luck than me. Obviously having an online editor attached to the site is a must if it’s going to replace TCMS1. ---
**Author:** ![RapidBase](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/rapidbase/32/24626_2.png) [@RapidBase](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/RapidBase)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/7 "2026-09-29T15:42:10Z")
@MartWaring If you are looking for a replacement for TCMS1, why don’t you consider upgrading to TCMS3 (which also has a built-in online editor)? ---
**Author:** ![guywoodland](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/guywoodland/32/37481_2.png) [@guywoodland](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/guywoodland)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/8 "2026-09-29T15:47:03Z")
Hi Martin. It is all a bit scary at the moment. When I get a chance I have tried (started to) experiment with Elements and am building a new site so using stacks and Rapidweaver and then hidden in a folder is the Elements version to compare. I haven’t as yet implemented TCMS1 yet and have yet to try Elements equivalent. Come November I will have to make a decision and dont have a clear pathway. That being said I have been using ChatGPT which is familiar with Stacks, Foundation6 and Rapidweaver with interesting results. ---
**Author:** ![MikeB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MikeB](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/MikeB)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/9 "2026-09-29T16:25:26Z")
Hi @guywoodland , I’m on the process of redeveloping my portfolio in Elements. I own a home improvement company. I’m currently working in a sub-domain. I’ll end up with around 100 projects in the portfolio. I’ll be using tags to filter the different projects (kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms etc. I’m not working with the online setup yet. I will move to that in time but, for now, I’m doing everything locally in Elements. Feel free to take a look. It’s very much work in progress but I’m happy to share and show you how it’s going. > **[Your Space Living | Home Renovation Portfolio for Cardiff and South Wales](https://webdev26.yourspaceliving.com/portfolio/)** > > Discover our portfolio of stunning home renovations, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and more from Your Space Living. Explore inspiration and design expertise. ---
**Author:** ![MartWaring](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/martwaring/32/834_2.png) [@MartWaring](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/MartWaring)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/10 "2026-09-29T17:09:27Z")
Hi Matthias. Yes - I have tried TCMS3 but to be honest it’s a bit like taking a sledge hammer to crack a nut. For complex sites I am sure it is the best CMS out there but all I need to do is offer Admin pages to maintain static data (like Easy CMS does) and occasionally I may need to provide an easily editable blog as well. I don’t need masses of functionality for the type of sites I build. ---
**Author:** ![Pegasus](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/pegasus/32/25035_2.png) [@Pegasus](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Pegasus)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/11 "2026-09-29T18:13:55Z")
With the CMS in Elements, you are absolutely capable of rebuilding even more complex websites that were previously created with TCMS1. By now, the Elements CMS has become very powerful and, in my experience, absolutely stable. Compared to TCMS3, it is also considerably more cost-effective, especially if, like me, you run multiple blogs. With more than eight blogs that I currently manage, the costs would simply become disproportionately high. Even with my larger projects, where the CMS generates and manages more than 3,000 pages, I haven’t experienced any problems. Of course, with projects of that size, you need to put some thought into how you structure everything so that you don’t lose track of your content – but the same applies when using competing CMS solutions. Even though the competing product is clearly more powerful in terms of features, I deliberately chose the Elements CMS. For me, the overall foundation is simply better and provides exactly what I need – something I feel is missing from the competing solution. ---
**Author:** ![PMUK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@PMUK](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/PMUK)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 8:01pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/12 "2026-09-29T20:01:28Z")
Hi Guy hope you OK? Elements v3 has a CMS, online editor and I am using SuperGrok though an MCP server although it does take most AI’s models. I have just completed a ‘catalogue” in CMS which has 1600+ items with upto 8 variants per item. Works a treat and very fast and simple to do when you get the hang of items and collections. Give it a try you will be amazed! ---
**Author:** ![MartWaring](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/martwaring/32/834_2.png) [@MartWaring](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/MartWaring)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 9:31am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/13 "2026-09-30T09:31:35Z")
It sounds like you are pretty much where I want to go Pegasus I’d love to get my hands on a simple example project that has: a) The Online editor installed on an Admin page b) A couple of pages that show how static fields like: opening hours and address in the footer can be maintained across several pages. (This is the bit I’m really struggling to get working). c)A simple blog with a summary, date, author, image and content fields - again maintainable from an Admin page. ---
**Author:** ![guywoodland](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/guywoodland/32/37481_2.png) [@guywoodland](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/guywoodland)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 10:09am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/14 "2026-09-30T10:09:20Z")
I agree that would be useful, an online demo. ---
**Author:** ![Pegasus](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/pegasus/32/25035_2.png) [@Pegasus](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Pegasus)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/15 "2026-09-30T17:06:48Z")
I have to admit that I’m still struggling a little with the Online Editor as well. That’s not because it doesn’t work well, but rather because the “App CMS” came first and the “Online CMS” was added later. For my projects, I often use fairly extensive YAML frontmatter structures with multiple nested levels. With the App CMS, it’s possible to build a very clean, well-structured and maintainable frontmatter setup – and many of my existing projects are already built around this approach. With the Online CMS, however, I sometimes run into limitations. More complex and deeply nested YAML structures can’t always be recreated in the same way. In many cases, you can only go so far with nested levels. So, if you decide from the beginning that you want to use the Online CMS, you may need to take a different approach when designing your frontmatter. The data structure often needs to be considerably flatter than it would be in a project primarily managed through the App CMS. That doesn’t mean that the Online CMS is necessarily less powerful than the App CMS. In my opinion, the real issue is the enormous flexibility of the Elements CMS. On the one hand, that flexibility is one of its greatest strengths. On the other hand, it can sometimes lead to a certain lack of consistency between the different options and workflows. At times, I’m missing a clear and consistent path for how certain things should ideally be implemented. I hope you understand what I mean. **That’s why my current recommendation would be to decide as early as possible which route you want to take: Online CMS or App CMS.** Especially with larger projects, I think it makes sense to make that decision before building a complex frontmatter structure. As for providing an example project for the Online CMS, I think we may have to wait for another CMS update. At least at the moment, I don’t see a really practical way of sharing a fully preconfigured example project. The main problem is that, as far as I know, the configuration of the frontmatter fields in the Online CMS currently can’t simply be exported and then imported into another project. Since every user first has to install the Online CMS themselves, they also have to manually create and configure the required fields after installation. So at the moment, an example project would only provide part of the required setup. My feeling is that the Realmac team has probably already recognised this issue, and perhaps we’ll see an update addressing it later this year. Ideally, once you’ve configured your frontmatter fields, the configuration wouldn’t just be stored within that particular Online CMS project – you’d also be able to export the complete field configuration and import it into another project. And since I’m pretty sure the Realmac team is reading this, I’ll just add: **the competition already has this feature. ^^** So, for anyone who wants to use the Online CMS right now: [have a look at Ben’s instruction video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0C35ZbTvoY). It actually explains pretty much everything you need to know, although Ben goes through some of the steps rather quickly. Maybe our moustachioed guys will follow up with a more detailed tutorial at some point. 😉 And otherwise, just ask here in the forum. That’s what it’s here for. ---
**Author:** ![thominator](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/thominator/32/35233_2.png) [@thominator](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/thominator)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/16 "2026-09-30T18:13:17Z")
Total agreement. I’d further say this: always define your YAML structure early with the App CMS, even if you’re going to use the Online CMS. The reason for that is that you can create a couple of test posts and do local quick previewing as you’re doing the rest of the site. ---
**Author:** ![MartWaring](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/martwaring/32/834_2.png) [@MartWaring](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/MartWaring)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 3:06pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/17 "2026-10-01T15:06:05Z")
Yes - I did watch Ben’s video before installing the Online Editor but rather than jumping straight into blogging I wanted to use it to maintain specific static data fields on the site so I created a whole set of fields using the online editor that appeared on my Home page that a client might reasonably want to be maintainable. Then I used the twig syntax to get them to appear on the Home page (which they do). All good so far. But then, when I then duplicated the Home page as Home Copy - suddenly these fields didn’t work anymore and all I see on the new Home Copy page was ’No Item Found’ for each field. Watching the video again I don’t see much mention of static fields - just posts and other collection type data such as authors and tags. I’m left wondering whether I shouldn’t be trying to use it for static data at all, but if thats the case how could I implement a client site where the client couldn’t maintain their address or telephone number? I’ve had two clients in the last couple of weeks wanting to do just that - one to change address and the other to change phone number - and those fields typically appear in the footer on every page! > > ![](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/pegasus/45/25035_2.png "Pegasus") | [Pegasus](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/pegasus) Developer > > September 30 | > > > > - | - | > > I have to admit that I’m still struggling a little with the Online Editor as well. That’s not because it doesn’t work well, but rather because the “App CMS” came first and the “Online CMS” was added later. > > For my projects, I often use fairly extensive YAML frontmatter structures with multiple nested levels. With the App CMS, it’s possible to build a very clean, well-structured and maintainable frontmatter setup – and many of my existing projects are already built around this approach. > > With the Online CMS, however, I sometimes run into limitations. More complex and deeply nested YAML structures can’t always be recreated in the same way. In many cases, you can only go so far with nested levels. > > So, if you decide from the beginning that you want to use the Online CMS, you may need to take a different approach when designing your frontmatter. The data structure often needs to be considerably flatter than it would be in a project primarily managed through the App CMS. > > That doesn’t mean that the Online CMS is necessarily less powerful than the App CMS. In my opinion, the real issue is the enormous flexibility of the Elements CMS. On the one hand, that flexibility is one of its greatest strengths. On the other hand, it can sometimes lead to a certain lack of consistency between the different options and workflows. > > At times, I’m missing a clear and consistent path for how certain things should ideally be implemented. I hope you understand what I mean. > > **That’s why my current recommendation would be to decide as early as possible which route you want to take: Online CMS or App CMS.** Especially with larger projects, I think it makes sense to make that decision before building a complex frontmatter structure. > > As for providing an example project for the Online CMS, I think we may have to wait for another CMS update. At least at the moment, I don’t see a really practical way of sharing a fully preconfigured example project. > > The main problem is that, as far as I know, the configuration of the frontmatter fields in the Online CMS currently can’t simply be exported and then imported into another project. > > Since every user first has to install the Online CMS themselves, they also have to manually create and configure the required fields after installation. So at the moment, an example project would only provide part of the required setup. > > My feeling is that the Realmac team has probably already recognised this issue, and perhaps we’ll see an update addressing it later this year. Ideally, once you’ve configured your frontmatter fields, the configuration wouldn’t just be stored within that particular Online CMS project – you’d also be able to export the complete field configuration and import it into another project. > > And since I’m pretty sure the Realmac team is reading this, I’ll just add: **the competition already has this feature. ^^** > > So, for anyone who wants to use the Online CMS right now: [have a look at Ben’s instruction video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0C35ZbTvoY). It actually explains pretty much everything you need to know, although Ben goes through some of the steps rather quickly. > > Maybe our moustachioed guys will follow up with a more detailed tutorial at some point. 😉 > > And otherwise, just ask here in the forum. That’s what it’s here for. > > * * * > > [Visit Topic](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/15) or reply to this email to respond. > > * * * > > #### In Reply To > > > ![](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/martwaring/45/834_2.png "MartWaring") | [MartWaring](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/martwaring) Martin Waring > > September 30 | > > > > - | - | > > It sounds like you are pretty much where I want to go Pegasus I’d love to get my hands on a simple example project that has: a) The Online editor installed on an Admin page b) A couple of pages that show how static fields like: opening hours and address in the footer can be maintained across seve… > > * * * > > [Visit Topic](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/15) or reply to this email to respond. > > To unsubscribe from these emails, click here. Martin Waring [martwaring@gmail.com](mailto:martwaring@gmail.com) ---
**Author:** ![thominator](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/thominator/32/35233_2.png) [@thominator](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/thominator)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/total-cms1/57659/18 "2026-10-01T16:16:59Z")
> [@MartWaring](#): > > all I see on the new Home Copy page was ’No Item Found’ for each field. Again, that suggests that you haven’t used the inspector to link the CMS Components on the copied page. When you shared the Project, that’s what I found. Linking them up properly should fix the problem.