Smart 404 page

The Smart 404 Page allows users to set up a customized 404 page for a specific directory. This is very useful for users who recently remove/move pages and want to redirect site visitors to the new location.

Configure 404 page

Step 1: Set up a 404 page

  1. Navigate to the directory that you want to setup a 404 page.
  2. Create a new page with any templates.
  3. Set it up as a 404 page. Make sure the content is relevant and easy to understand with links to pages that can help visitors find the content. If you need an example of how a 404 page is set up, you can check out the Arts and Science default 404 page, or the AEM Training/FAQ 404 page.

Step 2: Set up the directory page to call the 404 page

  1. Open/edit the page that you want to use the customized 404 page.
  2. Click on Page Information > Open Properties and open the Page Properties config panel.
  3. Under Advanced tab, look for the 404 Error Page field, use the Path Finder to select the 404 page that you created in step 1.
  4. Click Done to save your progress.
  5. Publish the page.

Troubleshooting

Do I need to setup the 404 page call (step 2 above) on every child pages?
No, the 404-page call inherits from the parent page. As long as you have a 404-page call set up on the parent page, all the child pages will be able to use that 404 page.

The 404 page is not showing up.
First, make sure you have published both the 404 page, and the page that calls the 404 page. Second, the 404 page only works on the child directory. For example, in the following sample directory:

  • Home (set up to use Site-Wide 404 page)
    • People
    • Course
    • Event
    • Program (set up to use Program 404 page)
      • Program 1
      • Program 2
      • Program 404 page
    • Contact Us
    • Site-wide 404 Page

The Program 404 page ONLY works within the Program directory, while the Site-wide 404 page will work on the rest of the pages/directory.

Please also note that due to the system limitation, http://as.nyu.edu/department-name-spell-wrong will NOT use the http://as.nyu.edu/department-name/404-page, instead, it will use the Arts and Science default 404 page.