What's synced and what you can edit
Some information in the CMS comes from another system. It arrives automatically on a schedule, and the CMS overwrites it every time that sync runs.
If you edit one of those fields, your change is replaced the next time the sync runs. Nothing is broken — the field simply isn't owned by the CMS.
This article explains which information is synced, which you control, and where to make a change so it lasts.
How to tell at a glance
Synced fields are read-only. You'll see the value but you can't click into it and type. If a field is greyed out, it belongs to another system.
Fields you can edit look and behave normally.
Quick reference
| Information | Where it comes from | Can you edit it? | What happens if you try |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synced events | Your events feed | Not recommended | Overwritten when the feed updates that event |
| Events you create in the CMS | You | Yes | Kept — the sync ignores them |
| Office ID and sync dates | Your data source | No | Read-only |
| Pages, news, documents | You | Yes | Kept |
Events
Events synced from your events feed are matched on the feed's own event ID. The sync creates new events, updates ones that have changed, and skips ones that are already up to date.
The sync never deletes anything. If an event disappears from the feed, its record stays in the CMS.
You can create events directly in the CMS
This is worth knowing, because staff often assume they can't. Events you create in the CMS are not part of the feed, so the sync leaves them completely alone. Use this for anything the feed doesn't carry.
If you edit an event that did come from the feed, your change will be replaced the next time that event is updated at source. Change it in the source system instead.
Offices
Office records are synced from your data source. The fields the sync owns — the office's ID and the sync timestamps — are always read-only.
Whether anything else on an office record can be edited, and whether offices appear on your public website, depends on your site. The greyed-out test above is the reliable guide: if you can type in it, your change will be kept.
If a synced value is wrong
- Confirm the field is actually read-only (greyed out). If you can type in it, it's yours to change.
- If it's read-only, correct it in the source system. The change appears in the CMS after the next sync.
- If the source system is already correct and the CMS still isn't after a sync has run, contact support — that is worth reporting.
Related
- Getting started
- Pages and the page builder