Here are just a few sneaky features that I use that help editing and updating pages go a little bit more smoothly.
Resizing the Layout Builder sidebar
You can resize the Layout Builder sidebar to give yourself some more breathing room working with all the settings. I’ve circled in red where you can click and drag the sidebar to make it larger.
The layout preview will adjust as you resize the sidebar and you can make it as large as you’d like.
This is available if you are working with a section or a block in Layout Builder. However, with a block, you have even more options if working with large amounts of text.
Maximize button in the CKEditor
It can be challenging to work with larger amounts of text in the CKEditor–using the maximize button does wonders.
This makes the CKEditor (or body field) full screen.
However, do not use the “find” shortcut (ctl (or cmd) +f) as it will break the interface and you will lose all changes. Don’t ask me how I figured that out :'(
Moving blocks via an outline
Clicking and dragging blocks around on a long page in Layout Builder can make your wrist cry. If you have a long page, use the Move option in the contextual menu for the block.
- Hover on the block you want to move.
- Click on the Pencil icon.
- Click on Move.
This will bring a sidebar that allows you to first choose your region (section) and then arrange it around existing blocks if needed.
The block you are moving always has (current) next to it.
“Moving” or “re-ordering” sections
Currently, Layout Builder doesn’t support re-ordering sections. However, there is a quick way to shuffle sections around.
You can add a section to the Layout Builder library:
Scroll up or down on the page to where you want it to go, and then Import from library the section you just saved.
Remove it from the unwanted location in the page by clicking the X next to the section name.
And then be sure to delete it from the library if you don’t need it again. (You can manage your Layout Builder Library from the Content admin bar item. (Click on Content and then in the sub-menu near the top of the page, click on Layout Builder Library.)
You want to keep a tidy library full of layouts that you’re sure you want to re-use!
Search the admin toolbar
Can’t remember where something is located in the admin menu? Or just hate hovering?
You can search the entire admin toolbar from the top of the page.
Just start typing what you’re looking for.
For this example, I could remember where all the redirects were located. I typed redirect and gives me several options. The one I am looking for is the second one called Configuration > Search and metadata > URL redirects. This the path in the menu if you want to go find it or you can click on the option and be taken straight to it.
Using “Add Child” to build out menus
Building out larger menus can get time consuming. The workflow for it needs some improvement, but I have found a niche setting that speeds things up considerably.
If you go to Structure > Menus and then either create a menu or edit an existing menu.
You should see the list of all the links:
In this example I am working with the Main navigation of my site, but this works for any regular menu (sadly, not group menus!).
If you click on the down arrow next to edit of the menu link you want to add a child item to, you get an Add child option.
This takes you to the form to fill out to add an additional link. It will also nest it under that item you selected.
And it takes you back to the edit menu screen.
If you edit the menu from other routes (like hovering on it from your homepage and clicking the Edit menu option) it will take you back to the homepage of your site after you’ve added the link.
If you’re building out a larger menu or a menu from scratch, this can be a lot of extra clicking, but by using the Add child option, you can save yourself a few clicks.
