Preview Mode

Overview

Preview Mode lets you keep selected contents and content lists hidden from regular visitors on the frontend, while still being able to preview them yourself through a secret link before making them fully public.

It relies on a generated token and a browser cookie: only visitors whose browser holds a valid preview cookie can see the contents/content lists you flagged as "included" in preview mode. Everyone else sees them as if they didn't exist on the frontend, even though the corresponding content types are otherwise visible.

Where to configure it

Stores → Settings → Configuration → Blackbird Extensions → Advanced Content Manager → Preview Mode

  • Contents Types included: content types whose contents are hidden from the frontend by default, unless the visitor has a valid preview cookie.
  • Excluded Contents: specific contents from the content types above that should stay always visible (an exception list).
  • Contents Lists included: content lists that are hidden from the frontend by default, unless the visitor has a valid preview cookie.

How to preview hidden content

  1. In the configuration page, click Enable Preview Mode. This generates a token and links to a URL of the form contentmanager/previewmode/index?store=<store_id>&preview=1&token=<token>.
  2. Open that URL in your browser (on the desired store view). Magento sets a preview cookie in your browser and confirms with the message "Cookie successfully created, you are in preview mode!".
  3. You can now browse the frontend of that store and see the contents/content lists included in preview mode, even though they stay hidden for other visitors.
  4. To leave preview mode, click Disable Preview Mode in the configuration (or visit the same URL without the token/preview parameters) — the cookie is deleted and you get the message "Cookie successfully deleted, you are no longer in preview mode!".

Clicking Enable Preview Mode again generates a new token, which invalidates any previously shared preview link/cookie.

Notes

  • The preview cookie is scoped per browser: sharing the preview URL with someone else (e.g. a client or reviewer) lets them enter preview mode too, as long as the token hasn't been regenerated since.
  • Preview mode is a global (store-scoped) configuration; content types/content lists are added or removed from it through the configuration page, not per content.
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