Is there a way to reuse fields between content types?

[itsjavi]

I have 2 content types that have a very similar structure: "Page" and "Article", and I'd like to combine the fields that these 2 content types have in common, to avoid repeating the configuration. Kind of an "inheritance" / merge.

Is there a way to achieve that?

Here is my current config:

// ./frontmatter.json
{
  "$schema": "https://frontmatter.codes/frontmatter.schema.json",
  "frontMatter.extends": ["[[workspace]]/packages/website/config/frontmatter.json"]
}

// ./packages/website/config/frontmatter.json
{
  "frontMatter.framework.id": "next",
  "frontMatter.telemetry.disable": true,
  "frontMatter.content.publicFolder": "/apps/website/public",
  "frontMatter.taxonomy.tags": [],
  "frontMatter.taxonomy.categories": [],
  "frontMatter.dashboard.openOnStart": true,
  "frontMatter.framework.startCommand": "pnpm dev",
  "frontMatter.preview.host": "http://localhost:3000",
  "frontMatter.content.autoUpdateDate": true,
  "frontMatter.content.pageFolders": [
    {
      "title": "Articles",
      "path": "[[workspace]]/apps/website/cms/articles",
      "contentTypes": ["article"]
    },
    {
      "title": "Pages",
      "path": "[[workspace]]/apps/website/cms/pages",
      "contentTypes": ["page"]
    }
  ],
  "frontMatter.taxonomy.seoTitleField": "metaTitle",
  "frontMatter.taxonomy.seoDescriptionField": "metaDescription",
  "frontMatter.content.draftField": {
    "name": "isDraft",
    "type": "boolean"
  },
  "frontMatter.taxonomy.alignFilename": true,
  "frontMatter.content.fmHighlight": true,
  "frontMatter.content.hideFm": false,
  "frontMatter.taxonomy.contentTypes": [
    {
      "name": "page",
      "pageBundle": false,
      "previewPath": null,
      "fields": [
        {
          "title": "Title",
          "name": "title",
          "type": "string"
        },
        {
          "title": "Slug",
          "name": "slug",
          "type": "slug"
        },
        {
          "title": "Meta Title",
          "name": "metaTitle",
          "type": "string"
        },
        {
          "title": "Meta Description",
          "name": "metaDescription",
          "type": "string"
        },
        {
          "title": "Summary Excerpt",
          "name": "summary",
          "type": "string",
          "wysiwyg": true
        },
        {
          "title": "Creation date",
          "name": "createdAt",
          "type": "datetime",
          "default": "{{now}}",
          "isPublishDate": true
        },
        {
          "title": "Last modified date",
          "name": "updatedAt",
          "type": "datetime",
          "default": "{{now}}",
          "isModifiedDate": true
        },
        {
          "title": "Is in draft",
          "name": "isDraft",
          "type": "boolean",
          "default": false
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "article",
      "pageBundle": false,
      "previewPath": null,
      "fields": [
        {
          "title": "Title",
          "name": "title",
          "type": "string"
        },
        {
          "title": "Slug",
          "name": "slug",
          "type": "slug"
        },
        {
          "title": "Meta Title",
          "name": "metaTitle",
          "type": "string"
        },
        {
          "title": "Meta Description",
          "name": "metaDescription",
          "type": "string"
        },
        {
          "title": "Summary Excerpt",
          "name": "summary",
          "type": "string",
          "wysiwyg": true
        },
        {
          "title": "Creation date",
          "name": "createdAt",
          "type": "datetime",
          "default": "{{now}}",
          "isPublishDate": true
        },
        {
          "title": "Last modified date",
          "name": "updatedAt",
          "type": "datetime",
          "default": "{{now}}",
          "isModifiedDate": true
        },
        {
          "title": "Is in draft",
          "name": "isDraft",
          "type": "boolean",
          "default": false
        },
        {
          "title": "Banner Image",
          "name": "bannerImageUrl",
          "type": "image",
          "isPreviewImage": true
        },
        {
          "title": "Video URL",
          "name": "videoUrl",
          "type": "string",
          "isPreviewImage": true
        },
        {
          "title": "Tags",
          "name": "tags",
          "type": "tags"
        },
        {
          "title": "Categories",
          "name": "category",
          "type": "categories",
          "taxonomyLimit": 1,
          "multiple": false,
          "single": true
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

[davidsneighbour]

There is the concept of "fieldgroups" that lets you create reusable field groups. I use it mainly to collect data like authors (name, website, description) so I can say authors instead of re-adding three fields each time. But those groups will be graphically in a box where ever you use them.

I thought I remembered a way where you "extend" the field configuration of content types, but I couldn't find that in the documentation. Might have been just a wishful dream :)

[itsjavi]

Thank you, the thing with "fieldGroups" is that it's meant for "block" fields, which are blocks of repeatable content.

In my case, I would like to reuse different field definitions while keeping the flat metadata structure, kind of an "inheritance" let's say.

I would like to have a base reusable type that is called "SEO" for example, and on my content types be able to add all fields that are defined in "SEO".

[estruyf]

Thank you, @davidsneighbour for stepping in.

At this moment, we don't support it "yet", but might be interesting to take a look at it and get it supported for a future release.

[estruyf]

I created the following issue for it: #563

[itsjavi]

This has been added in v9.3.0 #682
Thanks to @estruyf

how to use it: #563 (comment)