Online Store 2.0 - JSON template limits

[ak-avesta]

Hi, I am trying to create about 78 'page' JSON templates, but there seems to be a limit set around 50 pages. And if I try to add more than 50, I get this:

And this is when I do it manually. But I get the same error when I try to do this with GitHub integration:

I assume, I should be able to create any number amount of templates, since nowhere in the shopify.dev documentation is it noted that there is a template amount limit.

I've already contacted Shopify Plus support but got nothing so far, that's why I'm also reporting it here.

[ak-avesta]

Just an update, I just received email from Shopify Support, and they're basically confirming that there is in fact a hard limit on JSON templates per type? (in this case, pages), which is 50 templates. Sadly, this doesn't solve our issue and also kinda makes JSON templates basically useless in the sense that they were advertised, as being a modular alternative to liquid templates.

Thank you for your patience on this, I've chatted in with our technical team and confirmed that the number of pages in Theme Editor dropdown = 50.
The platform is functioning as expected in this case, it’s just a hard limit we enforce. it’s not something in our scope of support.
Since this is important to you and your workflow, I can certainly submit this feedback regarding this to our developers to consider adding this in our developer documentations in a future update. While I cannot guarantee that this will be added in on future versions of Shopify in any timeline, we do always appreciate the feedback of our merchants to help strengthen the Shopify platform.
Please let us know if you have any further questions or concerns.
Nikoo | Plus Support Specialist

Hopefully this will change in the future..

Also, it would be nice if this was documented somewhere on the documentation 😕

[ReidW27]

I just stumbled upon the same issue. Shocked there is a set limit to this. Have you come up with a resolution or workaround? 

[ak-avesta]

Sadly, nothing I would call a perfect solution. We recently switched to Shopify, so we are also learning as we go, so I'm no expert.

But here are few options to choose from that we found out:

1. Metafields

You can think of metafields as variables, Shopify allows you to create Metafields everywhere. And you can use them in pages and collections too. This only make sense if you want to use the exact same template but with different content. You could change out the sections in the template too with metafields, it's a very versatile option.

Unfortunately as of now they don't have a proper UI on the admin side, so I recommend a Metafields app like Metafields Guru for editing the metafields.

2. Section/block Hack (Works up to 16 Pages per template/section)

I found this hack out on this blog, personally I don't recommend the alternative method mentioned at the end of the blog, but the first one is unable until you hit the limit. Again, it's a very hacky solution.

3. Creating a liquid section and template per page

This would be a standard way of doing things. Creating a liquid section and template for each page, even if that would mean duplicated code. I recommend this for custom pages.

4. Using JSON Templates until you hit the limit (50 Pages)

The new JSON Templates, they are very cool, but the page limit is a complete turn off for me, personally.


At the moment, we mainly use Metafields for pages that are exactly the same but with different content and liquid template/section for more custom pages.

If you got more questions, I'm happy to help. 

[Philsky_in_Aus]

I too have had the same issue.  After several attempts with Shopify support requesting feedback on the limitation error, only to realise that the support have no real understanding of the issue, did I receive the direction that it was a theme error from the paid third party developers.  The Dev guys pointed me to this thread to understand my issue.

Come on Shopify, lift your game on this 50-page limitation to fall in line with other eCommerce platforms.

[PaulNewton]

Shopify is firstmost an ecommerce backend, theme systems are secondary.

Keep in mind a new CMS approach is also supposedly in the works so don't expect anything soon.

If you need expansive design choices and deep Information Architecture then embed Shopify into another platform using buy buttons, or the storefront api.

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@Philsky_in_Aus wrote:

Come on Shopify, lift your game on this 50-page limitation to fall in line with other eCommerce platforms.

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Come on Philsky,  caution is the game. It's a new feature with rational limits before letting over a million stores go limitless.

@ak-avesta wrote:

Hi, I am trying to create about 78 'page' JSON templates,

@ReidW27 wrote:

I just stumbled upon the same issue. Shocked there is a set limit to this. Have you come up with a resolution or workaround? 

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Currently as long as the limit exists this is a design process problem. Use JSON templates for layouts that are in no way similar to others, modularize the similar templates to have reduced layouts with HIGHER configurability of components to reduce your overall count of templates you have to make, maintain, document, and configure.

Or use static .liquid templates.

Or hack and make templates for other resources(products) you coopt for other resources(pages), or make additional themes to go way past the 50 JSON template limit using the preview_theme_id parameter(and maybe the sections api).

You could also make a utility theme who's only purpose is to act as page designer that you export html from into pages that don't really need it's own custom JSON template using up quota. 

@ak-avesta wrote:

 JSON templates basically useless in the sense that they were advertised, as being a modular alternative to liquid templates.

JSON templates ARE modular , there were never advertised as an unlimited resource. 

Also, it would be nice if this was documented somewhere on the documentation

Omitted facts in the docs is very annoying.

You can submit feedback directly on shopify.dev pages at the bottom of the page, If your in the partner slack find and join the OS2 channel and be loud about it.

https://shopify.dev/themes/architecture/templates

https://shopify.dev/themes/architecture/templates/json-templates 

[Charles_Marsh]

All you need to do is use Metafields for dynamic content! Simple.

[Krishna12]

Got any solution for that ?

[PaulNewton]

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@Krishna12 wrote:

Got any solution for that ?

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Can you be more specific than just "that"?

What is the problem or goal being attempted not explained so far?

[Krishna12]

 I am trying to create about more than 50 articles but there seems to be a limit set around 50 articles. And if I try to add more than 50, I get this:

Error : Too many templates for 'article' template type.

Is there any alternate solution to add more articles ? 

[PaulNewton]

With these things it's critical to avoid ambiguity between terms are you talking about writing articles, or creating unique JSON-templates for each article. 

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@Krishna12 wrote:

 I am trying to create about more than 50 articles but there seems to be a limit set around 50 articles

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There is no limit to the number of blog articles, aka blog posts you can create in the blogs admin. You do not use theme templates to create new articles. Templates are for creating custom layouts.

If the businesses main feature is blogging with each article having a unique theme design then I'd recommend using a dedicated blogging software. That would give you unlimited ability for per-article theme customization at the cost of you managing that entire system yourself.

Is there any alternate solution to add more articles ?

https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/blogs/writing-blogs 

As for creating too many JSON templates for a resource (i.e. article-templates) I've already covered in this thread the strategies to rearchitect a theme design to avoid hitting JSON template limits. If you have a question about tactics be specific.

[PaulNewton]

@ak-avesta , @ReidW27 , @Philsky_in_Aus  , @Krishna12 

Shopify's rolled out an increase, the JSON template limit has been raised to 1,000

Remember this is a limit, not a goal , architect theme layouts properly to avoid increasing maintenance burdens.

https://shopify.dev/changelog/json-templates-now-have-limit-of-1000-per-theme 

[ak-avesta]

Hey @PaulNewton, thanks for the update. That's great news, I was just wondering is that 1000 templates overall or per type of template, be it Pages, Article and so on…