Web Blocks - Wrapper Hell

WBs do not seem to rescale on page width changes.
A mention of using right-click Open Web Block must help. Your:

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To select the Web Block itself, click on the Web Block bar. A green outline around the whole Block shows that it is selected, and the Web Block bar is brighter.

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says nothing.

WBs do not seem to Repeat on all pages at all.
This must be because they are LiveShare.
Again, explain a little.

I feel we require a blank Web block Wrapper and a blank Layout wrapper.
And the detail to combine and adjust.
I can see great potential for WBs but you've gone default in locking us out.

You seem to be creating a special Hell of wrappers, hiding everything Xara is good at.
Create you own Placeholder. Add detail in both Head and Body.
Then try right-click Edit widget.
All you get is access to the Body code. The Advanced button just dies.
I know how to get to the Head code. Will others? Do include a Body/Head toggle.
You also have to run off to another dialog window to stop the Placeholder image regenerating.

The Embed a Website widget is dead. As is Google Maps, Nabble & Bing.
I'm off to power down and back up again...
Before I go, the QR Code widget has still not been updated.

Also amazed your Blank website delivers MOver/MOff buttons that you have eschewed from the the Online Content Catalogue.
You still need to replace the NavBar approach.

Acorn

Hmm?

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Originally Posted by gwpriester

Hmm?

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Acorn is telling the Xara devs that he's displeased with how they implemented the new Web Blocks feature. ;))

OK Gary (and Xara).

Kate's assertion was somewhat hubristic.
https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...-13-March-2023

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We are proud to introduce Web Blocks to Designer Pro+ and Web Designer+, a completely new way of creating websites.

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This ignores WordPress and countless other web generators.

Xara has reworked the available Templates.
We have File > New > Modular website 1280px (Responsive) and (a plus) User-defined templates in a bottom section.
Xara also added a 'free-flow' 1280px, as before, the largest web template was 960px.
For some reason, the A4 double page spread has lost its Text Areas.

So this is where it get tricky.
Xara has decided for you that the Variant is 480px wide, Main being 1280px.
The good thing is you can open this and change either of these widths and the Web Blocks (WB) scale to the new sizes.
You must do this before you start adding WBs.
Fail to do so and you then change the width or your Client wants a wider presentation, you have to jump through hoops to rework all the WBs.
Potentially, not a disaster.

For the moment, initially set your design to 1440+720px.
Add the WB, Grid > 3. Grid (4c), an image and three text blocks.
Every element scales to the new width and, unfortunately, all overlap.
Right you say. I'll just change my page back to 1280px. The WB does not rescale.
Back to 1440px then.
I'll just reset each element by hand.
When you select one element, there are no controls.
What you have to do is click on the Green Bar and pick QuickShape Tool and then you can rescale.

Say your text areas still overlap or you want the left one to be double width or the picture swapped with one of the text blocks.
Next attempt, right-click Open WebBlock.
You now find the elements are in a Layout Group.
Try resizing or moving any one of them.
Any normal Xara operation becomes a nightmare.

Add more text to a block and the Layout and WebBlock grows.
So does the image. How do you resize it?
Why go to the Fill tool and mess with that.
Delete a text block? No chance.

Gosh:

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JavaScript error: "TypeError: Cannot set properties of undefined (setting '0')"SmartLayout.js (1): define(["./Path","./Shared","./SimpleSmartShape","./Matrix","./Rect","./Point","./Camelot","./ComplexSmartShape","./PhotoLib"],function(t,e,r,i,n,o,a,s,l){var h=s.ComplexSmartShape,p=o.Point,u=n.Rect,c=r.Simpl eRectangle,d=e.HandleID,g=e.FillType,f=(e.printfDe v,e.getResString),y=e.isNearly1;function v(t,e){return void 0===t?"undefined":("0000000"+t.toString(16)).subst r(e?-e:-8)}function m(t){if(Array.from)return Array.from(t);for(var e=new Array(t.length),r=0;r<t.length;r++)e[r]=t[r];return e}function x(){

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All over one WebBlock.

Oh, and the usual lack of Snap to Objects when resizing a Layout.

Acorn

Modular Websites and working with blocks!!!! Is this a joke? Completely unusable. What a mess!!!!!
Been working all morning just to build one block to look the way i wanted. I give up. This can't be good.

I don't build websites, but I do have a wordpress site; I don't call it 'built' because it is modular, that is what wordpress is at the entry point for most users, unless they delve into CSS and the like

if xara can be as successful as wordpress in providing a webcreation facility that does not involve [technical] thought I think they will be happy

HI. Thank you for your feedback.

The issue with widgets which open in an internal browser window such as embed a website is known and likely to be patched in the coming days. Templates are also being modified to target the scaling issue when resizing pages. It is unclear whether an image will stretch or remain the same size when adding text to blocks so this will also be fed back to the team. Please could you forward the xar file containing the block where you are encountering the JavaScript error ? Apologies if im mistaken, I dont think we altered the A4 double page spread template in this release. I checked earlier versions and no text area is present.

Hi Andre7, sounds like you are trying to create your own block / ungroup an existing block and modify it / add new items to the block? Please can I request you submit a support request with your file and we can try and help you?

Many thanks

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Originally Posted by bb2

HI. Thank you for your feedback.

The issue with widgets which open in an internal browser window such as embed a website is known and likely to be patched in the coming days. Templates are also being modified to target the scaling issue when resizing pages. It is unclear whether an image will stretch or remain the same size when adding text to blocks so this will also be fed back to the team. Please could you forward the xar file containing the block where you are encountering the JavaScript error ? Apologies if im mistaken, I dont think we altered the A4 double page spread template in this release. I checked earlier versions and no text area is present.

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Bhavesh, thank you for ythe update.
Clearly, you have been busy bunnies.

I must have altered the A4 double spread quite a time back. I failed to realise that any update from you would overwrite any local changes. I will resave under a different filename.

To get the JavaScript error I selected inside the Layout of one of the Text Areas and in the Page & Layer gallery, I picked Move to current layer.
If you then delete it or amend any other text, the error occurs: Attachment 133492

Acorn

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Originally Posted by bb2

Hi Andre7, sounds like you are trying to create your own block / ungroup an existing block and modify it / add new items to the block? Please can I request you submit a support request with your file and we can try and help you?

Many thanks

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I don't try to create my own block. Just try to modify an existing one. But that seems impossible. Can't resize images or anything else. Resize handles are not there. If I resize the page nothing fits . I have to stick with 1280 and 480 mobile. Of course I can do all these manually by ungrouping etc.. but what is the point of that? The implementation of the feature I feel it hasn't be thought thoroughly. Good idea but needs more work . For now I just stick with the good old xara.

acorn, who is good at these things, has some points here:

https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...s-Wrapper-Hell

me I thought the whole idea of modular blocks was that you didn't need to change them fundamentaly, it was more like top level widgets [cf wordpress]

but maybe I'm wrong, perhaps it is just the same old stuff in a new wrapper....

Hi Acorn, thanks for the info. I can reproduce the issue. its related to smart layouts and has been logged. Many thanks

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Originally Posted by handrawn

acorn, who is good at these things, has some points here:

https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...s-Wrapper-Hell

me I thought the whole idea of modular blocks was that you didn't need to change them fundamentaly, it was more like top level widgets [cf wordpress]

but maybe I'm wrong, perhaps it is just the same old stuff in a new wrapper....

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That's what I thought too 'handrawn' but obviously I was wrong

I have merged Andre's later Thread with this one as the topics are identical.

Acorn

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Originally Posted by Andre7

I don't try to create my own block. Just try to modify an existing one. But that seems impossible. Can't resize images or anything else. Resize handles are not there. If I resize the page nothing fits . I have to stick with 1280 and 480 mobile. Of course I can do all these manually by ungrouping etc.. but what is the point of that? The implementation of the feature I feel it hasn't be thought thoroughly. Good idea but needs more work . For now I just stick with the good old xara.

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Andre, at present a Layout Group seems to be used solely by Xara to preserve a SmartShape design. This is well and good if you are delivering a Chart but seems to fail us if there are several objects that you would naturally re-arrange in your own design.

I view the Xara Layout Group to equate to a custom Soft Group; one that is immutable.
This is wrong hatted and needs to have a mechanism for adjustment.
A Layout ought to respond to a page width change.

The WebBlock (WB) can be seen as a smart wrapper.
For Modular Websites > Web blocks > Dividers & Spacers > 1.2.3. Spacers do not have any Layout (i.e. content) but this can be added and the height is adjusted for all to fit.
This is great for pushing down lower content and great for moving amongst other WBs.
What does not happen is the content to be copied into the corresponding Variant WebBlock.

The other approach seems to be to create content, share with variants then select and use Arrange > Create Web block.
You then have to create it in the variant.

For adjustment, you can use Arrange > Ungroup Web block, make changes and Create web block as above all over again.

Unfortunately, with 7. Contact (mailerlite) and other WBs with embedded objects, you cannot use Open Web Block you have to use Ungroup Web Block.
Actually, using Ungroup is the exact same mechanism.

I would never use a 480px Variant.
Luckily, you can use you own page size and drop the Blank website template onto the page.
I use 1440px.
The you can create a Variant. I use 720px.
The corresponding WBs are created.
You still have to move blobs around as covered above.

Acorn

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Originally Posted by Acorn

I have merged Andre's later Thread with this one as the topics are identical.

Acorn

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Thank you Acorn for notice my thread and all your useful comments to xara devs. Much better than I try to explain. Benefit all of us. Thanks again

Got an email last week to watch for special announcment on Monday, but then no email announcement on Monday. So guess this is it? Web Blocks? Is this the Xbuilder from https://xaratemplates.com/x-builder/ that Xara has included and implmented? I used Xbuilder when I was still doing websites with Xara. It was/is a nice product.

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Originally Posted by onlye

Got an email last week to watch for special announcment on Monday, but then no email announcement on Monday. So guess this is it? Web Blocks? Is this the Xbuilder from https://xaratemplates.com/x-builder/ that Xara has included and implmented? I used Xbuilder when I was still doing websites with Xara. It was/is a nice product.

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No it's not really XBuilder as the WebBlocks remain as a unit and when you move them in one Variant, this is reflected. When you alter one...

Acorn

Was curious earlier how to get the new web blocks. I have the update service. No update. The link just wants me to now buy more even though I have Xara Designer Pro X and update service? I don't have the new sizes? It sounds like I maybe don't want it from all the comments.
This has been confusing to me with the teaser email to say there is a new update coming.
Is the free trial version how everyone is experimenting with it?
Thanks

Webdeb,

It sounds like you have Designer Pro X 19 desk top version. This web blocks is in Xara Designer Pro + subscription package and has not made it to the desk top version. My guess it will probably be a year before this makes it into the desk top version.

Ray

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Originally Posted by WebDeb

Was curious earlier how to get the new web blocks. I have the update service. No update. The link just wants me to now buy more even though I have Xara Designer Pro X and update service? I don't have the new sizes? It sounds like I maybe don't want it from all the comments.
This has been confusing to me with the teaser email to say there is a new update coming.
Is the free trial version how everyone is experimenting with it?
Thanks

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If you don't have any Xara Plus product then this new set of components is not for you, yet.
You can download a trial of Xara Pro+, which has this update.
If you perhaps have a free Xara Cloud account, you may have got the email.

Acorn

I’m looking forward to seeing what this means for variants. My belief over the years is that phone viewing is never the same as tablet and laptop viewing and I’ve designed separate phone pages from some of the elements on the larger ones.
This has become rather tedious now I’ve taken on some new accounts.
I’m hoping that a web block in one variant will be responsive in another variant. This has been possible in the past, but we all know that the amount of text in a larger variant, is edited for phone variant.
I’m hoping that a web block can be edited and paired down for mobile viewing.

Well I got the email announcment today. At the bottom it says has a statment that implies WebBlocks will be an extra charge. Am I interputing this correcctly? If so, how much? (i don't use xara for websites anymore, so don't guess it really matters)
"

This includes an exclusive 20% lifetime discount until we publicly launch on March 27th."

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Originally Posted by onlye

Well I got the email announcment today. At the bottom it says has a statment that implies WebBlocks will be an extra charge. Am I interputing this correcctly? If so, how much? (i don't use xara for websites anymore, so don't guess it really matters) "Exclusive 20% lifetime discount until we publicly launch on March 27th"

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Xara is talking about its Plus products. You were probably targeted as you do not have them. It is not an extra charge, it is a shift to Xara's subscription for the Plus range. Magix have not updated v19 for an aeon so you might be fortunate that the Update Service will then have Web Block after 27 March coming.

Don't hold your breath.

Acorn

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Originally Posted by Acorn

Xara is talking about its Plus products. You were probably targeted as you do not have them. It is not an extra charge, it is a shift to Xara's subscription for the Plus range. Magix have not updated v19 for an aeon so you might be fortunate that the Update Service will then have Web Block after 27 March coming.

Don't hold your breath.

Acorn

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Thanks I do use the Plus version since just over a year ago. Guess since I have a standard license (without subscription) I am still on the email list. Thanks for the clarification.
WebBlocks - Good Idea, hope that get it worked out.

Late to the party. Is this Block thing same as X Builder? Also does it have contact form and e-commerce solution?

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Originally Posted by behzad

Late to the party. Is this Block thing same as X Builder? Also does it have contact form and e-commerce solution?

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behzad, no, it is not XBuilder-like. Think discrete units of text/images/widgets that can be dropped onto the page and moved up or down and the Variant version follows suit.
You have to knife and fork into the Web Block to perform what I would call basic Xara functions other than text or image changes.

If the specific wrapper, Layout, was accessible to end-users then I would be far happier.
You have a collection of objects that may or may not be put into a Layout group (by Xara) and in turn put into a WebBlock Group by Xara on the end-user.
Mostly fine for naïve users who may only need a 480px Variant.
I usually work 640/720 so so the Layout, while it fits, is skewed to the side.

Xara still only generates statis HTML sites so if you want anything with state or server-side, you are still looking at third-party widgets.

Acorn

Thank you for the explanation. So from my assumption it seems xbuilder is better and far ahead of Blocks.

I’m finding it quite useful for headers and footers. It does hero images well. It’s a good edition to the Pro+ tool box.

So. Web Blocks. Selected the entire block. Ungrouped. And … no resize handles. I realize you don’t use them this way, but one should be able to resize them no?

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Originally Posted by bwood

So. Web Blocks. Selected the entire block. Ungrouped. And … no resize handles. I realize you don’t use them this way, but one should be able to resize them no?

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Bill, may I suggest that you read the whole Thread? I tapped this in post 4. This is all about Layout groups which Xara can create but we aren't allowed 'for the greater good.'

Acorn

Got it. It’s the quick shape tool I have to mess with. The manual indicates all we have to do is ungroup and “size as usual”. Not so. They didn’t mention the quick shape tool.

Thanks @acorn.
W

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Originally Posted by Acorn

I feel we require a blank Web block Wrapper and a blank Layout wrapper.
And the detail to combine and adjust.
I can see great potential for WBs but you've gone default in locking us out.

Acorn

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We definitely need a blank web block, and blank layout wrapper. I’m finding that I must customize a block, and often need simply a blank web block. Thanks Acorn.

- Bill