# Contentbox Cfml Multi Site

> Use this skill when implementing or maintaining ContentBox multi-site setups, including domain/site resolution, site-specific content and themes, settings isolation, menu behavior, and operational best practices.

- Skill: `coldbox/contentbox-cfml-multi-site` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add coldbox/contentbox-cfml-multi-site`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/coldbox/contentbox-cfml-multi-site/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: ColdBox (https://skillmd.com/u/coldbox)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/coldbox/contentbox-cfml-multi-site

---


# ContentBox Multi-Site Management (CFML)

Build and manage multi-site installations in ContentBox CMS using CFML. ContentBox supports running multiple sites from a single installation with shared or isolated content, themes, and settings.

## Multi-Site Architecture

### Site Entity

The `Site` entity (`models/system/Site.cfc`) represents a single site:

```cfml
property name="siteService" inject="siteService@contentbox";

// Site properties
site.getSiteID()
site.getSlug()              // Unique site identifier
site.getName()
site.getDescription()
site.getDomain()            // Primary domain
site.getSiteURL()           // Full site URL
site.getIsActive()
site.getCreatedDate()
site.getModifiedDate()
```

### SiteService

```cfml
property name="siteService" inject="siteService@contentbox";

// Site CRUD
siteService.getAll()                    // Get all sites
siteService.findBySlug( slug )          // Find site by slug
siteService.findByDomain( domain )      // Find site by domain
siteService.getCurrentSite()            // Get current site from request
siteService.save( site )                // Save site
siteService.delete( site )              // Delete site

// Site resolution
siteService.resolveSiteByDomain()       // Auto-resolve from request domain
siteService.setCurrentSite( site )      // Set current working site
```

## Site Resolution

ContentBox resolves the current site based on:

1. **Domain matching** — matches request domain to site's `domain` field
2. **Default site** — falls back to the default site if no match
3. **Admin context** — in admin, uses the currently selected working site

### Current Site in Handlers

```cfml
// In any handler or service
property name="cb" inject="CBHelper@contentbox";

// Get current site
var site = cb.site();
var siteId = site.getSiteID();
var siteSlug = site.getSlug();
var siteURL = site.getSiteURL();
```

### Current Site in Widgets

Widgets use `getSite()` from `BaseWidget`:

```cfml
function renderIt(){
	var site = getSite();
	var siteId = site.getSiteID();

	// Query content for this site
	var entries = entryService.findPublishedContent( siteID : siteId );
}
```

## Site-Specific Settings

Each site can have its own settings overrides:

```cfml
// In core ModuleConfig.cfc
settings = {
	"global" : {
		// Global settings applied to all sites
	},
	"sites" : {
		// Site-specific overrides by slug
		"mysite" : {
			"cb_site_title" : "My Custom Site Title",
			"cb_site_tagline" : "My Tagline"
		},
		"othersite" : {
			"cb_site_title" : "Other Site Title"
		}
	}
};
```

### SettingService for Sites

```cfml
property name="settingService" inject="settingService@contentbox";

// Get setting (resolves site-specific override)
var title = settingService.getSetting( "cb_site_title" );

// Get setting for specific site
var title = settingService.getSetting( "cb_site_title", siteId = siteId );
```

## Site-Specific Content

All content (entries, pages, categories, menus) is associated with a site:

```cfml
// Create entry for specific site
var entry = entryService.new( {
	title   : "My Entry",
	siteID  : siteId,
	// ...
} );
entryService.save( entry );

// Query entries for specific site
var entries = entryService.findPublishedContent(
	siteID    : siteId,
	max       : 10,
	sortOrder : "publishedDate DESC"
);

// Query pages for specific site
var pages = pageService.findAllWhere( { siteID : siteId } );
```

## Site-Specific Themes

Each site can have its own active theme:

```cfml
property name="themeService" inject="themeService@contentbox";

// Get active theme for current site
var theme = themeService.getActiveTheme();

// Get theme for specific site
var theme = themeService.getActiveTheme( siteId );

// Switch theme for a site
themeService.setActiveTheme( themeName, siteId );
```

## Site-Specific Menus

Menus are scoped to sites:

```cfml
property name="menuService" inject="menuService@contentbox";

// Get menus for current site
var menus = menuService.findAllWhere( { siteID : siteId } );

// Find menu by slug for specific site
var menu = menuService.findBySlug( slug = "main", siteId = siteId );

// Render menu (automatically uses current site)
#cb.menu( "main" )#
```

## Creating a New Site

### Via Admin

1. Navigate to **Sites** in the admin
2. Click **Create Site**
3. Fill in: Name, Slug, Domain, Description
4. Configure site-specific settings
5. Activate the site

### Via Code

```cfml
property name="siteService" inject="siteService@contentbox";

var site = siteService.new( {
	name        : "My New Site",
	slug        : "mynewsite",
	domain      : "mynewsite.example.com",
	description : "A new site",
	isActive    : true
} );
siteService.save( site );
```

## Multi-Site Routing

ContentBox resolves routes based on the current site:

- **Domain-based routing** — each domain maps to a site
- **Shared routes** — routes are shared across sites, content is filtered by site
- **Site-specific URLs** — URLs include site context when needed

## Best Practices

1. **Always use `siteID`** in content queries for multi-site installations
2. **Use `cb.site()`** for getting the current site context
3. **Use `getSite()`** in widgets for site-aware rendering
4. **Scope menus and themes** to specific sites
5. **Use site-specific settings** for per-site configuration
6. **Test with multiple sites** — verify content isolation
7. **Use domain resolution** — configure domains for each site
8. **Handle missing sites** — gracefully handle unresolved sites
9. **Use `provider:` injection** for siteService to avoid circular deps
10. **Document site requirements** — note which features are site-scoped

## Engine Compatibility

This skill targets **CFML engines** (Lucee 5+, Adobe ColdFusion 2018+). For BoxLang-specific syntax and features, see the BoxLang variant of this skill.