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    5. Content Manager: About Sandbox and Live Collections and Syncing

Content Manager: About Sandbox and Live Collections and Syncing

Important:
We are in the process of updating the default setting for collections. Newly built sites now have the optional Sandbox set to 'disabled' by default. Existing sites will have the option to 'disable' the Sandbox under the Advanced Settings menu .

A screenshot of the Content Manager dashboard, highlighting the Advanced Settings option under the More Actions drop-down.
Adding the Wix Content Manager adds collections to your site to hold content like text, images and files. 
Each collection has the option of both a Live and an optional Sandbox version. The default setting has the optional Sandbox version set to 'disabled'.
A screenshot of the Advanced Settings panel in the Content Manager, showing the Sandbox option.
The optional Sandbox collection is a test collection accessed through your Editor. The Live version is the collection used on your live site that displays content to your visitors. These two versions can have different content, however the optional Sandbox collection can be synced to the Live collection at any time. 
Note for users familiar with content collections:
We use the word "structure" to describe what is traditionally called "schema."

Sandbox collections

A Sandbox collection is an optional test environment you can use to organize and hold your site content as you build your site. The content is only visible through the Editor and does not affect your live site unless synced to a Live collection. 

To access your optional Sandbox collection:

  1. Go to the Content Manager in your Editor:
    • Wix Editor: Click Content Manager  on the left side of the Editor.
    • Editor X: Click Content Manager  at the top of Editor X.
  2. Click Collections.
  3. Click a collection to open it. 
  4. Click the Sandbox Collection tab to view your Sandbox collection.
  5. (Optional) Manage your collection. 
A screenshot of a Sandbox Collection view in the Content Manager with the Sandbox Collection tab highlighted.

Live collections

A Live collection holds content like text, images and files. This is the content that visitors view and interact with on your live site. Live collections can have different content from their optional Sandbox counterparts.
You can modify the content in a Live collection, so it is different to the content in the Sandbox collection. The structure (or schema) of the collection is the same for both. Learn more about working with collections.
Important:
To make your Live collections available in your site's dashboard, sync your Sandbox collection to your Live collection.

To access your Live collection:

  1. Go to the Content Manager in your Editor:
    • Wix Editor: Click Content Manager  on the left side of the Editor.
    • Editor X: Click Content Manager  at the top of Editor X.
  2. Click Collections.
  3. Click a collection to open it. 
  4. Click the Live Collection tab to view your Live collection.
A screenshot of a Live Collection view in the Content Manager with the Live Collection tab highlighted.

Syncing a Sandbox collection to a Live collection

You can build and edit your optional Sandbox collections without effecting the look or functionality of your live site. At any time, you can sync the content in the Sandbox collection to your Live collection. If there is already content in your Live collection, you can choose to overwrite the Live content with the Sandbox content. 
A screenshot of a Sandbox Collection view in the Content Manager with the Sync Sandbox to Live option highlighted.

To sync your Sandbox collection to your Live collection:

  1. Go to the Content Manager in your Editor:
    • Wix Editor: Click Content Manager  on the left side of the Editor.
    • Editor X: Click Content Manager  at the top of Editor X.
  2. Click Collections.
  3. Click a collection to open it. 
  4. Click Sync Sandbox to Live at the top. 
  5. Select the number of items to sync. 
A screenshot of the Sync Content panel with the 'Sync all items from Sandbox to live' option selected.
  1. Click Sync.
  2. Click Continue Syncing.
    Note: Live content will be overwritten. 

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Related Content

Content Manager: Syncing Content Between Sandbox and Live Collections
Content Manager: Index of Terms
Content Manager: About Your Collection Fields
Content Manager: Accessing Your Optional Sandbox and Live Collections
Content Manager: An Overview

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