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Re: Freehand Blocks Questions
First attempt at making a simple site using nothing but blocks.
Sorry to report, there's no site to show. Now, the following is going to sound like a rant with finger pointing and accusations aplenty. However, I'm still running on the theory that it's me that's missing something.
I started with the premade 1280 responsive template that includes a mobile variant. I deleted the logo, buttons and header bar on both variants to gain a clean, blank page.
During the making of the header, Xara threw 2 Access Violations and had to be restarted. One was me trying to change the font in the buttons and the second trying to add a screenshot to a Freehand block. Both were successfully done after the restarts.
Dropped in a graphic, a rectangle and a button that I copied 2 more times. I later deleted the graphic and buttons and replaced them. It took less than a minute to see that I couldn't adjust the height of the block, although I'm sure I could when I was testing images yesterday. That was the stopping point really, but I had a look at the Mobile variant and didn't bother trying to move anything, I just turned Xara off.
The last pic is how the header should have looked. (I've managed to add an extra attachment somehow. Ignore it.)
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Re: Freehand Blocks Questions
@Chris, following your detail I created a blank Modular Template page with a single Variant (I doubt Xara has yet covered multiple Variant designs).
I added a Blank > Freehand (Transparent) WB.
On Main I created three new Xara buttons on MouseOff.
I set them Repeating across Variants and then added them into the WB.
I did it on the Variant and the Main WB spaced out the button evenly (as part of the v23.6 WB change, I presume).
I then selected each WB in turn and the Block Background and used the middle controls to set it up for v-position, width and height. No buttons resized.
I finally moved the buttons to where I wanted them.
I added an image and dragged and release over the WB.
The image was added to the Variant but way off the page.
I resized and repositioned.
This skewed the WB position so I reselected the WB > BlockBackground to adjust it to my need.
I suppose the lessons are work in the Variant to avoid big jumps & never just drag the WB bottom green line.
At least Michal Jarmoluk (XaraTemplates.com) has a good handle on things: https://xaratemplates.com/blocks2.html.
I believe Michal is now employed by Xara.
The entire site is a Xara-design and well worth viewing for tips.
If you have Plus, you can find the design under Elements > First Look > Search: (Block).
The latest Templates under What's New are WB-driven.
Acorn
Re: Freehand Blocks Questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Acorn
At least Michal Jarmoluk (XaraTemplates.com) has a good handle on things:
https://xaratemplates.com/blocks2.html.
I believe Michal is now employed by Xara.
The entire site is a Xara-design and well worth viewing for tips.
Acorn
I clicked the link, I downloaded the .xar file at the bottom of the page.
I opened a new 'Modular Website 1280px (responsive)' project and copied a flexible block and a freehand block from Michal's project.
At the moment, my focus is on the freehand blocks, as I can see more potential for them in the way I work. I am also looking for someone to say "just do this you dopey wombat".
Annnnd, I might have had a huzzah moment...I'll be back shortly with shiny pearls of pure wisdom.
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Re: Freehand Blocks Questions
I've just called myself a dopey wombat.
My biggest issue was the resizing of a freehand block. I was using the first one I came to, based on the theory that they're all the same with a different colour. The first one is No.4 Freehand (Transparent)...remember 'transparent'.
On Michal's freehand block, I clicked away from the image, and it selected something...the block's background. Using the normal, everyday handles, I could resize the background and the block followed it without enlarging/cropping the images.
So, to recap on the first problem I had:
To resize a Flexible Block, you select the block (green bar) and then alter the purple border.
To resize a Freehand Block, you select the background and the block automatically follows.
Moving on to see what I'm doing wrong with the variant being scattered like a smoothie in a lidless blender.
Block Test.xar >>> Attachment 134466 <<<
Re: Freehand Blocks Questions
Problem 2 solved.
The variant problem of having the objects do a Jackson Pollack on the page only happens when an object slips out of the block. When you pop it back in, it only goes back in the variant you are working with.
I made a standard 1280px page, added a Freehand block and populated it, then created a variant. It looked and behaved the same as a blockless page. For my work style, this is how I would do it.
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Re: Freehand Blocks Questions
>>> Attachment 134467
A couple of things I noticed that would be nice if they were easily addressed.
I can marquee select everything, but not selective groups.
If an object is behind another, moving the back object pops it to the front until it's released. Grab the sun in the sunset, or one of the teal or orange rectangles behind the two heads.
I'm now looking at my son's site. He has definite sections, including a couple of tables. He would also be less likely to blow his top if it all went pear shaped...and I would have a backup of his existing site...hmmm.
Re: Freehand Blocks Questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chris M
>>>
Attachment 134467
A couple of things I noticed that would be nice if they were easily addressed.
I can marquee select everything, but not selective groups.
If an object is behind another, moving the back object pops it to the front until it's released. Grab the sun in the sunset, or one of the teal or orange rectangles behind the two heads.
I'm now looking at my son's site. He has definite sections, including a couple of tables. He would also be less likely to blow his top if it all went pear shaped...and I would have a backup of his existing site...hmmm.
Chris, I think we are both now on the same page.
The niggle with shapes erupting forward is addressed by opening the WB.
Acorn
Re: Freehand Blocks Questions
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chris M
>>>
Attachment 134467
A couple of things I noticed that would be nice if they were easily addressed.
I can marquee select everything, but not selective groups.
If an object is behind another, moving the back object pops it to the front until it's released. Grab the sun in the sunset, or one of the teal or orange rectangles behind the two heads.
I'm now looking at my son's site. He has definite sections, including a couple of tables. He would also be less likely to blow his top if it all went pear shaped...and I would have a backup of his existing site...hmmm.
Chris, have you been able to change the width of a block once the block is selected? (Some blocks have to width match the current design)
And 2. Have you been able to place a block into a Freeform design? I haven’t been able to move a block into a Freeform design and move it around.
-Bill
Re: Freehand Blocks Questions
Bill, the point of a WB is it covers the width of the page. You can extend it out but not reduce it in.
For your second, you can. The Copy has to be at the level of the WB so you need to select it in the Page & Layer gallery.
Acorn
Re: Freehand Blocks Questions
I am concentrating on the Freehand style, not the Flexible ones.
Yes, as Acorn says, the width is whatever your page width is, or beyond. However, you can place objects on top of the block without it being IN the block. So you can move all the objects in the block to, say, the left half and use the right half as if it wasn't there.
I'd like Acorn to give more details as to how he can make a block rise from the bottom. That sucker is superglued to the bottom no matter what I do.