---
sourceDocument: Australia Employee Service Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/employee-service-management

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Employee Service Management

ft:clusterId :

    - emplsm

bundleId :

    - emplsm

workflow :

    - Employee


---

# Work with topic template

# Assign a custom topic page template {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated July 27, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read  
Assign a custom layout template to a topic page and optionally apply the template to child topics.

## Before you begin

Clone the default topic template widget and customize your sub-widget layout.

Role required: admin or aix_widget_admin

## About this task

A topic page template controls the layout of widgets on a topic page, such as the topic header, subtopics, quick links, and support resource content. Employee Slate includes a default template that renders on every topic page. You can assign a custom template to an individual topic when that topic requires a different layout.

* App checks for templates in this order: a custom template assigned to the topic and experience, the default topic template set on the experience record, or the default template.
* You can apply a custom template to a single topic or extend it to all child topics for consistent layout across a subtree.
* You can use template extension to maintain consistent layouts for related topics, such as all topics under a department-owned parent topic.
* By default, you get an out-of-the-box Topic template directory template that displays subtopic cards. Assign this template to topics that have subtopics but no content of their own.
* Cards display a banner image when configured. When no banner image is set, cards display the topic icon instead. When a topic has no subtopics, the template shows an empty state.

## Procedure

1. In the topic record, open the Experience Topic Template Mapping related list.  
   Figure 1. Topic template mapping form
2. Complete the fields.  
   {#eslate-configure-topic-page-template__entry__2}

   | Field | Description |
   |-|-|
   | Template | The default topic template widget to render for this topic. |
   | Topic | Topic to which this custom template applies. |
   | Experience | Experience to which this custom template applies. |
   | Apply to children | When selected, extends the custom template to all child topics under the selected topic. |
   | Application | This field is automatically set to Employee experience taxonomy. |
   | Active | When selected, activates the custom template. |
   [Table 1. Topic template mapping fields]

3. Select Save.
4. **Optional:** To change the default template for every topic in an experience, set the Default topic template property on the experience record.  
   The default topic template is applied to any topic that has no custom template assigned.

## Result

The topic page for the selected topic renders using the assigned template. When Apply to children is selected, child topics also render using the assigned template.