> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://salsa-digital.gitbook.io/govcms-site-builder/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://salsa-digital.gitbook.io/govcms-site-builder/readme.md).

# GovCMS8 Site Building Training Manual

[![CC BY-SA 3.0](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/54f85ff154017b9f86a8882c3469d7dfcab63442ae40f2ec49b7bbffede2d475/68747470733a2f2f696d672e736869656c64732e696f2f62616467652f4c6963656e73652d434325323042592d2d5341253230332e3025323041552d6c69676874677265792e737667)](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/au/)

![GovCMS Logo](/files/-M8Kx_AKAtcS5iO6q-Sk) ![Salsa Digital Logo](/files/-M8Kx_ANrcMEtAsy_JWy)

This manual is aimed at developers familiar with Drupal and/or other web content management systems (CMSs) who want to build or extend a GovCMS SaaS website. You should have skills in basic HTML, CSS, some Twig and basic PHP.

Public URL: [https://salsa-digital.gitbook.io/govcms-site-builder](https://salsa-digital.gitbook.io/govcms-site-builder/) GitHub URL: <https://github.com/govcms-training/site-builder>

## What you will learn

In this training manual, you will learn how to:

1. Extend default functionality in GovCMS to meet advanced functional requirements
2. Show best practices for GovCMS site building
3. Configure both controlled vocabularies and free tagging with Taxonomy
4. Manage navigation through the GovCMS menu system
5. Use URL path configuration to improve your site’s search
6. Configure automatically generated images and thumbnails
7. Create advanced listings of content
8. Maintain a secure and well-performing website

This manual also includes challenge exercises, which are designed for those who have additional time or who want to know more about a particular feature.

## Contributing & Feedback

We’re continually working on improving these documents with community input and we appreciate any feedback, whether it's helping to contribute to further documentation or code, grammar issues, or simply a suggestion or improvement! Please refer to the [Contributing guide](/govcms-site-builder/contributing.md) for more guidance on this topic.

Alternatively you can also provide any feedback by emailing [**govcms.training@salsadigital.com.au**](mailto:govcms.training@salsadigital.com.au)**.**

## License

[![CC BY-SA 3.0](https://camo.githubusercontent.com/54f85ff154017b9f86a8882c3469d7dfcab63442ae40f2ec49b7bbffede2d475/68747470733a2f2f696d672e736869656c64732e696f2f62616467652f4c6963656e73652d434325323042592d2d5341253230332e3025323041552d6c69676874677265792e737667)](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/au/)

This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Australia License (CC BY-SA 3.0 AU)](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/au/).

> This manual has been created for the GovCMS Site Builder course. The manual uses a combination of content from drupal.org, adapted content from drupal.org and content we’ve written specifically for the GovCMS Site Builder course. Re-used and adapted content is in accordance with the [Creative Commons License, Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 (CC BY-SA 2.0)](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/).

[![](https://licensebuttons.net/l/by-sa/4.0/88x31.png)](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/au/)


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://salsa-digital.gitbook.io/govcms-site-builder/readme.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
