Updating SuiteCommerce templates or SMT code in NetSuite can be a confusing process—especially when changes don’t reflect as expected. Whether you’re editing frontend templates or managing CMS content, understanding the correct workflow is crucial to ensuring your changes are applied and visible on your live site.
This article outlines the proper methods for updating SMT code through the NetSuite UI (or why it may not be possible), troubleshooting tips, and the best practices to follow for successful deployments.
📌 What is SMT in NetSuite?
“SMT” may refer to several things within the SuiteCommerce environment:
- SuiteCommerce Module Templates: Handlebars
.tpltemplates and related.jsfiles used in rendering frontend components. - Site Management Tools (SMT): The CMS feature that allows users to manage content like banners, landing pages, HTML blocks, and more.
- SuiteCommerce MyAccount (SCMA): A version of SuiteCommerce focused on post-purchase customer activities.
Depending on your use case, the method to update SMT content or code will differ significantly.
✅ Updating SuiteCommerce Templates (SMT Code)
Templates and scripts used in the SuiteCommerce frontend (like .tpl, .js, and .scss files) cannot be edited directly from the NetSuite UI. Instead, they must be updated via SuiteCommerce Themes or Extensions, using SuiteCloud Developer Tools.
🔨 Steps to Update SMT Code (Templates)
Option 1: Update via Theme or Extension Deployment
- Clone the current theme or extension using SuiteCloud CLI.
- Make changes to
.tpl,.js, or.scssfiles in your local development environment. - Deploy using the CLI:
npx @oracle/suitecloud-cli suitecommerce:theme:deploy
- or
npx @oracle/suitecloud-cli suitecommerce:extension:deploy
- Log into NetSuite, go to Website Setup, and activate the updated theme or extension.
- Purge CDN cache by going to Web Site Hosting Files > Domains > Purge All Static Content.
- Perform a hard refresh or clear your browser cache.
Option 2: Manual File Upload (Not Recommended for Advanced Logic)
- Navigate to: Documents > SuiteCommerce Advanced > [Your Site].
- Upload the updated files to the correct theme or extension folder.
- Purge the CDN cache.
- Activate the updated component.
✅ Updating Site Management Tools (SMT CMS Content)
If you’re updating CMS-managed content such as landing pages, HTML blocks, or banners, this can be done directly from the NetSuite UI:
Steps to Update CMS Content:
- Go to Site Management Tools > Pages or Landing Pages.
- Select and edit the content component (e.g., HTML Block).
- Click Save and Publish to apply the changes.
- Clear your browser cache or perform a hard refresh to view changes.
Note: Changes will not be visible until published. Also, ensure your user role has appropriate permissions to edit and publish content.
🧩 Why SMT Code Updates Might Not Reflect
If your changes are not appearing, consider the following common issues:
IssueCauseCDN CacheStatic content is cached. Use “Purge All Static Content” to refresh.Wrong Deployment PathFiles may have been uploaded to the wrong theme or inactive extension.Not PublishedCMS content may be saved but not published.Theme/Extension Not ActiveUpdated theme/extension must be activated for the site.Local-Only ChangesLocal changes must be deployed to reflect on the live site.
🧠 Best Practices
- Always deploy changes through the SuiteCloud Developer Tools.
- Do not edit deployed files directly via NetSuite File Cabinet unless absolutely necessary.
- Purge cache and activate your theme/extension after deployment.
- Use version control when working in collaborative development environments.
- Test in Sandbox before deploying to Production.
🔚 Conclusion
Updating SMT code in NetSuite involves more than just making edits—you need to ensure those updates are deployed correctly, cache is cleared, and the updated components are activated. Whether you’re working on templates or managing CMS content, following NetSuite’s best practices will ensure your changes are visible, stable, and scalable.
Need help building or deploying a custom SuiteCommerce extension? Reach out to your NetSuite development team—or consider leveraging NetSuite’s SuiteCloud Developer Tools for streamlined frontend development.