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Changes to Template Building Blocks

New default Template Building Blocks are delivered with SDL Web Experience Optimization 8. The following table summarizes the changes to SmartTarget templating.

Template Building Blocks delivered with SDL Web Experience Optimization 8
The following Template Building Blocks are delivered with SDL Web Experience Optimization 8:
Template Building BlockDescription of change
Add to SmartTargetNo change. The Template Building Block sends content to Fredhopper.
Add SmartTarget QueryNew Template Building Block for creating a Fredhopper query.
Add PromotionsNew Template Building Block for defining Promotions.
Search SmartTargetNew Template Building Block for creating Search functionality.
Show SmartTarget ItemsNew Template Building Block to insert content items, for example to handle content items related to a search query.
Show SmartTarget NavigationNew Template Building Block for creating Navigation functionality.
Apply SmartTarget SettingsNew Template Building Block for outputting TCDL mark-up for SmartTarget Template Building Blocks.
Using the Template Building Blocks delivered with SDL Web Experience Optimization 8

With the exception of Add to SmartTarget, you will always use Add SmartTarget Query and Apply SmartTarget Settings in combination with other Template Building Blocks.

Single or multiple queries
In previous versions of SmartTarget, each of the default Template Building Blocks would generate a separate Fredhopper query resulting in duplication of functionality and impairing performance. In SDL Web Experience Optimization 8, the logic has been modularized into a separate Add SmartTarget Query Template Building Block.
You can add one or more Add SmartTarget Query Template Building Blocks to a Web page. Each Add SmartTarget Query TBB you add generates a separate Fredhopper query. In general, for performance reasons it is recommended to limit the number of queries generated and in many cases one query is sufficient. However, if you want to for example generate navigation links in one Page Region and Promotions in another, it makes sense to use separate queries.