CMS 13 - Documentation Handbook
A complete onboarding reference for Optimizely CMS 13 — covering the editor interface, Visual Builder, content management, administration, and AI-assisted workflows with Opal.
Dylan Walker
Principal Strategy Consultant
CMS 13 Overview — Part 1
FoundationWhat is CMS 13?
Optimizely CMS 13 is the next-generation PaaS CMS built on .NET 10. It introduces a unified editing experience powered by Visual Builder, deep Optimizely Graph integration, AI-assisted workflows via Opal, and headless-first content delivery — while retaining full support for traditional ASP.NET MVC rendering.
CMS Dashboard
Your central hub for content overview. Requires CMS Edit privileges. Displays content status, recent activity, and quick navigation to key areas of the platform.
View docs →Editor Interface
The unified editing experience includes a top menu, toolbar, and adjustable side panes. Visual Builder is the default editing view, replacing On-Page Editing (OPE) from CMS 12.
View docs →Approval Sequences
Configure multi-step review workflows per page or asset folder. Editors mark content as "Ready for Review"; appointed reviewers must approve before publication.
View docs →Approving Content
Reviewers approve or decline content items in the approval sequence. Administrators define reviewers and steps; any number of steps and reviewers per step are supported.
View docs →Subscribe to CMS 13 Release Notes
Stay up to date with the latest CMS 13 packages, fixes, and features. Follow the release notes page to receive email notifications when new updates are published. Release Notes →
CMS 13 Overview — Part 2
Content CreationCreating Pages
Create pages from the Content Manager, content tree, or Create Content menu. Supports blueprint selection for consistent layouts. Pages have a unique URL and are displayed via a rendering template.
View docs →What is Visual Builder?
Visual Builder is the default CMS 13 editing experience. It provides a drag-and-drop canvas with real-time preview, autosave, direct property editing, and blueprint support. Fully independent of Optimizely Graph and supports in-process ASP.NET applications.
Get Started with Visual Builder
Begin with Visual Builder — the default authoring experience in CMS 13. Use the drag-and-drop canvas to compose pages from sections, rows, columns, and elements with real-time preview.
View docs →Creating from Scratch
Start with a blank canvas. Add sections, blocks, and media via drag-and-drop from the Assets panel or CMP Library picker. Autosave keeps your work safe.
View docs →Creating from Blueprint
Blueprints are predefined layouts with preset property values. Select one when creating a page to ensure consistency and speed up time to first publish.
View docs →Previewing Visual Builder Content
Real-time preview syncs the outline and preview panel instantly. The preview URL carries everything the frontend needs to render the correct content variation.
View docs →Visual Builder Styles
Apply developer-defined style configurations to sections and elements. Editors select from a consistent design system without needing to write code.
View docs →Managing Blueprints
Administrators and editors create, edit, and manage blueprints within the CMS 13 UI to standardise page layouts and reduce time-to-publish for new content.
View docs →All Properties Editing View
A structured form view exposing all content properties — ideal for metadata, access rights, SEO fields, and advanced settings not visible in Visual Builder.
View docs →On-Page Editing
Edit content directly on the rendered page in context. Click an area to edit; properties shown on mouse-over. Changes auto-save and create a draft version.
View docs →Publishing Content
All content starts as a draft. Publish directly when no approval sequence is defined, or submit as "Ready for Review" when approval is required. Scheduled publishing is available.
View docs →CMS 13 Overview — Part 3
Content ManagementManaging Versions
Access the version list via the Versions gadget. Backtrack to older versions or manage multiple language versions. Supports Content Variations with delta-based storage and independent lifecycles.
View docs →Working with Shared Content
"Blocks" are renamed "Shared Blocks" in CMS 13. Manage reusable blocks from the Assets panel — organise, edit, and drag-and-drop content across pages from a central location.
View docs →Deleting Content
Remove pages, blocks, and media via the context menu. Deleted content moves to Trash from where it can be restored or permanently deleted by authorised users.
View docs →Expire Content
Set expiry dates on content to automatically unpublish pages when no longer relevant. The scheduled expiry date is visible in the Version gadget alongside the publish date.
View docs →Managing Assets
The integrated DAM provides metadata handling, filtering, search, version control, and renditions. Editors select DAM assets directly in the CMS interface. Requires Opti ID to be active.
View docs →Translate Content
Machine translation preserves page hierarchies, content areas, and blocks. Translate drafts without prior publication. Export in JSON for external translation providers.
View docs →Projects
Group related content changes into a single project for coordinated publishing across multiple pages, blocks, and assets simultaneously. Navigate via Manage Projects.
View docs →Working with Audiences
Define audience criteria to personalise digital experiences. Combined with Content Variations, audiences enable A/B testing and personalisation without developer involvement.
View docs →CMS 13 Admin Overview
AdministrationSettings Landing Page
The CMS 13 admin settings area provides control over applications, languages, approval sequences, access rights, search configuration, scheduled jobs, and DAM integration. Access via Settings in the left navigation bar.
View docs →CMS 13 + Opal
AI‑PoweredOpal in CMS 13
Optimizely Opal is deeply integrated into CMS 13. It provides system tools for content creation, translation, workflow automation, and editorial assistance — all directly within the CMS editing experience.
Opal in CMS 13
Opal Chat is available within CMS 13 via the "Ask Opal" button in the global navigation bar. Use it for AI-assisted content creation, translation, editing, and editorial review directly within the CMS.
View docs →Available Tools
CMS 13 includes a dedicated set of Opal system tools for content management tasks — creating, querying, translating, and managing CMS content using natural language via Opal Chat.
View docs →Common Workflows
Learn the most impactful Opal workflows for CMS 13: creating pages with AI assistance, translating content, optimising for GEO, and creating and testing content variations.
View docs →Opal Platform
AI PlatformOpal Landing Page
Access the full Opal platform — Optimizely's native AI assistant and agent platform, embedded across all Optimizely products including CMS 13.
View docs →Get Started
The Getting Started guide covers the Opal app interface, Chat, Canvas, file uploads, code execution, and web browsing — all available from day one.
View docs →Release Notes
Subscribe to the Opal release notes to receive email notifications when new features, tools, and agent capabilities are published. Highly recommended for all users.
Subscribe →Using Opal
Opal's chat interface connects to CMS 13, CMP, Experimentation, Analytics, and ODP. Create content, manage campaigns, and analyse results — all via natural language.
View docs →Skills (Context)
Skills are custom instructions that shape Opal's behaviour. Organisation skills enforce org-wide brand standards; personal skills define individual preferences. Access via Context > Skills.
View docs →Agents
Build and deploy specialised AI agents via Agent Builder. Browse the Agent Directory for pre-built agents covering content generation, experimentation, commerce, SEO, and more.
View docs →Quick Reference Links
Resources| Topic | Resource | Type |
|---|---|---|
| CMS Dashboard | CMS Dashboard — Developer Docs | Core |
| Editor Interface | CMS 13 Editor Interface | Core |
| Approval Sequences | Approve Sequences | Core |
| Approving Content | Approve Content | Core |
| Release Notes | CMS 13 Release Notes 2026 (subscribe recommended) | New |
| Topic | Resource | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Creating Pages | Create Pages and Shared Blocks | Core |
| Get Started with Visual Builder | Get Started with Visual Builder | New |
| Creating from Scratch | Create Visual Builder Content from Scratch | New |
| Creating from Blueprint | Create Visual Builder Content from Blueprint | New |
| Previewing Visual Builder Content | Preview Visual Builder Content | New |
| Visual Builder Styles | Select Visual Builder Styles | New |
| Managing Blueprints | Manage Blueprints | New |
| All Properties Editing View | All Properties Editing View | Core |
| On-Page Editing | On-Page Editing View | Core |
| Publishing Content | Publish Content | Core |
| Topic | Resource | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Managing Versions | Manage Versions of Content | Core |
| Working with Shared Content | Work with Shared Content | Core |
| Deleting Content | Delete and Restore Content | Core |
| Expire Content | Expire Content | Core |
| Managing Assets | Manage Assets | Core |
| Translate Content | Translate Content | New |
| Projects | Work with Projects | Core |
| Working with Audiences | Audiences | New |
| Topic | Resource | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Settings Landing Page | Settings | Core |
| Opal in CMS 13 | Optimizely Opal in CMS 13 | AI |
| Available Tools | Available Tools | AI |
| Common Workflows | Common Workflows — CMS Tools | AI |
| Topic | Resource | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Opal Landing Page | Opal Documentation Hub | AI |
| Get Started | Get Started with Opal | Core |
| Release Notes | 2026 Opal Release Notes (subscribe recommended) | New |
| Using Opal | Use Opal | AI |
| Skills (Context) | Skills | AI |
| Agents | Agents | AI |