# Customize category and article pages in the classic editor

_Category: Classic template editor_

Choose how category pages list their articles and how article pages look: the layout, the order of articles, a table of contents, sharing buttons and more. You'll also find the settings for the page readers see when a link is broken.

**Who can do this:** Owners and Admins · **Plans:** All plans

Your changes save to a draft automatically, and readers see them after you click **Publish**. See [Save, preview and publish in the classic editor](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/classic-editor-publish).

## Set up category pages

1. In the left menu, click **Template editor**, then click **Category Page**.
2. Under **Layout:**, click **Simple** or **Detailed**.
3. Optionally, turn on **List articles under subcategories**.
4. Click **Publish**.

- **Simple**, the default, shows your categories in a menu at the side and the category's articles as a list next to it.
- **Detailed** uses the full width of the page: each subcategory gets a box with its first articles, and the category's own articles show as cards.
- **List articles under subcategories** works with **Simple**: it lists each subcategory's articles under its name instead of only linking to the subcategory.
- **Components** at the top of the group adds blocks below the articles on every category page: a **Contacts Section**, a **Heading** or **Custom HTML**. Click **+ Add New**, choose one and click **Add**. They work like the blocks on your home page. See [Arrange your home page in the classic editor](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/classic-editor-home-page).

## Choose the order of articles

1. Click **General**.
2. Pick an option in **Order articles under category by:**.
3. Click **Publish**.

- **Last Updated** and **Create Date** come with **Desc**, newest first, or **Asc**, oldest first. Last updated, newest first, is the default.
- **Custom** follows the order you set by dragging articles on the Articles page. See [Change the order of articles and categories](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/reorder-articles-and-categories).
- **Alphabetically** currently lists articles from Z to A. For A to Z, pick **Custom** and arrange the articles in that order yourself.

## Set up article pages

Click **Article**. The settings at the top of the group shape every article page:

| Setting | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Layout:** | **Two Columns**, the default, shows your categories in a menu next to the article. **Single Column** centers the article on its own. |
| **Expand FAQs** | FAQ articles in lists open right under their title instead of on a page of their own. |
| **Display metadata underneath the title** | On by default: shows the author's name and picture and when the article was last updated. |
| **Show table of contents** | **Never**, **When 3 or more top-level headings in article**, or **Always (regardless of number of headings)**. The table of contents lists the article's headings at the top. |
| **Display recommendations** | Shows up to five similar articles after the article. |
| **Show recently viewed articles** | Shows up to five articles the reader opened before. The list stays hidden until the reader has viewed other articles. |
| **Display share options after an article** | Adds buttons to share the article on X, Facebook and LinkedIn. |
| **Display print and export menu** | Adds a **Copy page** button next to the title. Its menu lets readers view the article as Markdown, print it, or download it as a PDF or Markdown file. Some options show only on a public help center. |

Every article page also shows the rating question, and comments if you turn them on. See [Turn on ratings and comments in the classic editor](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/classic-editor-ratings-and-comments). The **SEO** settings are covered in [Set SEO and social sharing options in the classic editor](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/classic-editor-seo).

Under **Components**, you can add a **Contacts Section**, a **Heading** or **Custom HTML**. They show under the rating question on every article page.

The preview in the editor shows a sample article and doesn't draw the blocks you add to category or article pages. To check them, click the eye icon (**Preview**) and open a real article or category.

## Set up the 404 page

Readers see the 404 page when they open a link to a page that doesn't exist. Its settings are under **Advanced**, in **404 Page (Not Found)**:

- **Redirect to homepage on 404:** sends readers to your home page instead of showing a 404 page. It's off by default, and turning it on hides the four wording fields at the end of this list.
- **Jump to the closest matching article:** forwards readers straight to an article when the broken address looks like one of yours. It's off by default because the match is a guess: when it's off, the article appears as a suggestion instead.
- **Suggestions heading**, **404 page heading**, **404 page description** and **Back to homepage text** change the wording of the page. Until you type your own, the heading, description and back-to-homepage fields show sample wording, but readers see the standard 404 texts.

The new template editor lets you place any component on category and article pages. See [Move your help center to the new template editor](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/move-to-the-new-template-editor).

## Troubleshooting

**Articles appear in the wrong order.** Check **Order articles under category by:** under **General**, and publish. For your own order, pick **Custom** and arrange the articles on the Articles page.

**The table of contents doesn't show.** With **When 3 or more top-level headings in article**, articles with fewer headings have none. Pick **Always (regardless of number of headings)** to show it whenever the article has headings.

**A block I added to category or article pages doesn't show.** Publish, then check a real page with **Preview** or on your help center. A Contacts Section also needs a **Contacts Email** under **General**.

## Related articles

- [Turn on ratings and comments in the classic editor](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/classic-editor-ratings-and-comments)
- [Arrange your home page in the classic editor](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/classic-editor-home-page)
- [Set SEO and social sharing options in the classic editor](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/classic-editor-seo)
- [Change the order of articles and categories](https://self.helpcenter.io/content/reorder-articles-and-categories)