Including Archives.php problem

In the Add New Page screen there is a section in the right sidebar that reads: Attributes

You can set the parent page, the template (which apparently is what you are after) and the page order.

Assuming that you have created the template file correctly as described in the Codex, then your archives template should be available in the drop-down menu there.

O.K. I have created the following file called archives.php

<?php get_header(); ?>

<div id="mainContent" class="column">

<?php get_search_form(); ?>

<h2>Archives by Month:</h2>
	<ul>
		<?php wp_get_archives('type=monthly'); ?>
	</ul>

<h2>Archives by Subject:</h2>
	<ul>
		 <?php wp_list_categories(); ?>
	</ul>

</div>

<?php get_footer(); ?>

This file has been uploaded to my themes directory. However, when I go to add new page and click on drop down list under attributes, the only items showing are the pages that have already been created. There are no template files to select.

Am I missing a step here?

I’ve just discovered I needed to add this code to the top of my template…

<?php
/*
Template Name: Archives
*/
?>

Thanks to this blog for providing the solution – https://jeff-way.com/2009/05/12/add-an-archives-page-to-your-wordpress-theme/