WMS: Layout builder


OVERVIEW

Target audience: Site Administrators, Site Managers

Layout builder is a new feature in the upgraded WMS. These Layout Blocks can only be configured for that page’s context, unlike Global Blocks that can be configured across multiple pages.

In this article:

For more information on the difference between Layout Blocks and Global Blocks See WMS: Global vs Layout blocks.

announcement

NOTE: this article refers to a process to be used on sites that have already migrated to the New WMS.

If your site has not yet migrated see the Index of documentation for the McGill Web Management System.

Access Layout builder in the WMS

  1. Navigate to your page or article.
  2. Click the Layout tab to see your page content in layout builder.

A layout is built by placing blocks of content in sections.

Content you have entered in the body field of the page will appear in the default 'Section 1' as non-editable content, you can add a block to this existing section or create a new section.

Add a section

  1. Choose the location for your new section and click Add section.
  2. Choose a layout for the section from the options that appear. Note that the layout options sometimes have duplicate titles (Two column, for example). Use the graphic to select your section layout.
  3. Enter an administrative name for the section (this is not visible to end-users).
  4. Click Add Section.

Add a Layout Block in the layout section

Once a section has been configured, add blocks of content to the section. 

Custom layout blocks are the most common block type for Layout builder. Other block types include body (which contains the body content of your page), legal attribution (license) block, and social media links block.

This article will describe the process for creating a custom layout block.

  1. Click Add Block.
  2. Click Create custom block (other block types are available including body).
  3. Select block type from the list provided. Standard blocks are ideal for text and image content. 
  4. In the title field enter a title for your block. (check the checkbox if you would like the title to display).
  5. In the body field enter the content for the block.
  6. Click Add Block.

Add Tabs

To create tabs, you will create a new section, and then in that section create blocks that will become the tabs.

The title of the block will show the tab title, and the content of the block will show the tab content.

  1. Click Layout.
  2. Locate the section where you want your tabs to appear, click Add section.
  3. From the list of available sections, select Tabs.
  4. Enter an administrative name for the section (this is not visible to end-users.) e.g., Horizontal Tabs.
  5. Click Add section.

You should now see a new section, but no tabs. In the section there is a blue box that says Add Block.

  1. Click Add Block.
  2. Click Create custom block.
  3. Click Standard block for a blank page for your tab.
  4. In the title field enter the title that will appear on the tab. 
  5. In the body field enter the body content for the tab.
  6. Click Add block.

This has created the first tab. Repeat this procedure for each additional tab.

Click Save Layout to ensure your changes are captured.

Translate Layout blocks

When applied to a translated page, layout blocks must be individually translated. If blocks are not translated, the original language will appear on the translated page.

To translate your layout blocks: 

Prerequisite conditions: The page must be translated. If there is not currently a layout, apply a layout in the original language and save the layout

  1. Navigate to the translated page.
  2. Click Affichage (FR) or Layout (EN) if French was the original language. Each of the layout blocks should show content in the original language.
  3. Hover over the top right of the block and click, Translate block. The translation window will open.
  4. Overwrite the original language content with the translated content and save.
  5. Click Save Layout.
references

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: