Managing themes across multiple Verbolia instances can be complex, especially when maintaining consistent design across languages or countries. Master instances help to simplify this process by allowing centralized theme control and per-instance customization when needed.
What is a master instance? #
A master instance is a virtual container that allows you to manage shared themes and resources across multiple child instances. It does not generate pages itself but acts as the single source for theme design and layout. It’s tailored for managing multiple websites with the same design in different languages or countries.
What is the difference between a master and a regular instance? #
A master instance is used only to manage themes and translations shared across multiple child instances. You cannot create or publish Vpages from a master instance. A regular instance, on the other hand, is used to create and manage Vpages.
How do I activate a master theme for a child instance? #
Once a child is attached to a master, will appear in the list of available themes within the child instance. You can choose to activate either the master theme or one of the local (child-specific) themes.
If the master theme is already active on a child instance and a new version of that theme is activated in the master, the update will automatically apply to all child instances where the master theme is currently in use.

How does theme editing work in a master instance? #
Theme editing in a master instance works similarly to editing any classic theme, but it must be done directly from the master instance.
From the master instance, you can:
- Create, edit, and activate themes
- Access the full theme editor, including layouts, resources, and translations
Master themes cannot be edited from a child instance. If you’re in a child instance and try to edit a master theme, you’ll be redirected to the theme editor of the master instance where the theme is managed.
How do translations work with a master theme used across multiple child instances with different languages? #
When a master theme is used by several child instances in different languages, you can manage all translations directly from the master instance
In the translations section of the master instance, you have a table of keys (not editable) and their default values. Each key can have a translation value per instance. You can also import/export translations to update them in bulk. You can also add a new translation key.
