Blocks

Blocks

Description

Blocks are content items that can be added to pages in several ways depending on your use case.

Block Types and Use Cases

Block TypeUse Case
Basic BlockCreate a custom block to: 1) Add to the sidebar of specific pages; or 2) Add a section of redundant content to the content area of more than one page.
Call to ActionAdd one of six Call to Action sections below the content on multiple pages
Events and ListsAdd of three Events sections or one of three Lists sections below the content on multiple pages
Sidebar Blocks for Body 1Add one of the following to the sidebar of specific pages: Link List, Text List, Events, Events w/Images, Button

Notable Differences in Blocks in KU CMS - Sunflower

  • Sidebars are unique to specific pages (i.e., sidebars are not global)
  • Blocks must be added manually to the sidebar of each specific page using the Body 1 – General Content section
  • Blocks from other KU CMS sites cannot be included in content sections
  • Call to Action and Events and Lists blocks can be added below the content on multiple pages or globally.
  • Body content shared between multiple pages is done using the Basic Block and Body 1 - General Content > Insert Body Block

How To - Create and Place Blocks

Create a Block

  1. Go to Content > Blocks > Add content block
    View Screenshot
  2. Select one of the following block types:

Basic Block

  1. Select Basic Block
  2. Add a Block Description – Give it an easily identifiable name
  3. Add content to Body field
  4. Change Save as to Published
  5. Save
  6. You must now Place the block in the correct region:
    1. Go to Structure > Block Layout
    2. Scroll down to locate the Block Staging Area (For blocks inserted into Body 1)
      View ScreenshotLocate the Block Staging Area
    3. Select Place block button
    4. Search or scroll to locate your block
    5. Select Place block button
    6. You are then taken to the Configuration page for your block
    7. Update block Title as needed
    8. Be cognizant of the way the Title field works. The Title is an H2 by default. If the content you are adding begins with an H2 header, great. But, if your content does not require a header class or needs a different header class, be sure to uncheck Display Title on your Basic Block configuration page (see How To - Configure Block below) to hide the default H2 Title.
    9. Check/Uncheck Display title to hide the block title
    10. To restrict the block to specific pages, select the Pages tab in the lower left
      View ScreenshotRestrict the block to certain pages
    11. Select either Show for the listed pages or Hide for the listed pages
      View ScreenshotShow/Hide for the listed pages
    12. In the Pages field, enter specific pages using their paths (e.g., about, research, financial-aid)
      View ScreenshotEnter specific paths
    13. Save block
    14. Your block is now findable and available for use via Body 1 - General Content > Add Section > Insert Body Block and Body 1 - General Content > Add Sidebar Item > Insert Block
    15. See How To - Edit Blocks below for instructions to edit blocks

Call to Action

*Required fields

  1. Select Call to Action
  2. Add a Block Description – Give it an easily identifiable name
  3. Select Add Paragraph button
  4. Select one of six CTA options:
    View ScreenshotSelect one of six CTA options
    1. CTA 1 – 1 Button
    2. CTA 2 – 1 to 3 Buttons
    3. CTA 3 – 1 to 3 Card Carousel
    4. CTA 4 – Overlay Image w/Button
    5. CTA 5 – 1-2 Buttons w/Link List
    6. CTA 6 – Social Media
  5. Complete the fields and select any available Style Options
  6. Change Save as dropdown menu to Published
  7. Save
  8. You must now Place the block in the correct region:
    1. Go to Structure > Block Layout
    2. Scroll down to locate the Below Content region
    3. Select Place block button
    4. Search or scroll to locate your block
    5. Select Place block button
    6. You are then taken to the Configuration page for your block
    7. Update block Title as needed
    8. Check/Uncheck Display title to hide the block title
    9. To restrict the block to specific pages, select the Pages tab in the lower left
      View ScreenshotRestrict the block to specific pages
    10. Select either Show for the listed pages or Hide for the listed pages
      View ScreenshotShow/Hide for the listed pages
    11. In the Pages field, enter specific pages using their paths (e.g., about, research, financial-aid)
      View ScreenshotEnter specific paths
    12. Save block
    13. Your block should now be visible at the bottom of any/all pages you specified in Step 11.
    14. See How To - Edit Blocks below for instructions to edit blocks

Events and Lists

  1. Select Sidebar Blocks for Body 1
  2. Add a Block Description – Give it an easily identifiable name
  3. In List Type, select the down-arrow to the right of Add Events 1 – Three-Columns
    View ScreenshotSelect down-arrow to right of Events 1 - Three Columns
    and select one of the following section options from the dropdown menu:
    View ScreenshotSelect section option
    1. Events 1 - Three-Column
    2. Events 2 - Three-Column w/Images
    3. Events 3 - Two-Column
    4. List 1 - Link List
    5. List 2 - Two-Column List
    6. List 3 - Associated Link List
  4. Complete the fields
  5. Change the Save as state to Published
  6. Save
  7. You must now Place the block in the correct region:
    1. Go to Structure > Block Layout
    2. Scroll down to locate the Below Content region
      View ScreenshotLocate Below Content region
    3. Select Place block button
    4. Search or scroll to locate your block
    5. Select Place block button
    6. You are then taken to the Configuration page for your block
    7. Update block Title as needed
    8. Check/Uncheck Display title to hide the block title
    9. To restrict the block to specific pages, select the Pages tab in the lower left
      View ScreenshotRestrict block to specific pages
    10. Select either Show for the listed pages or Hide for the listed pages
      View ScreenshotShow/Hide for listed pages
    11. In the Pages field, enter specific pages using their paths (e.g., about, research, financial-aid)
      View ScreenshotEnter specific paths
    12. Save block
    13. Your block should now be visible at the bottom of any/all pages you specified in Step 11.
    14. See How To - Edit Blocks below for instructions to edit blocks

Sidebar Blocks for Body 1

*Required fields

  1. Select Sidebar Blocks for Body 1
  2. Add a Block Description – Give it an easily identifiable name
  3. In Sidebar Item* select the down-arrow to the right of Add Sidebar Link List for Body 1
    View ScreenshotSelect down-arrow to right of Add Sidebar Link List for Body 1
    and select one of the following section options from the dropdown menu:
    View ScreenshotSelect section options
    1. Add Sidebar Link List for Body 1
    2. Add Sidebar Text List for Body 1
    3. Add Sidebar Events for Body 1
    4. Add Sidebar Events w/Images for Body 1
    5. Add Sidebar Button
  4. Complete the fields and select any available Style Options
  5. Change the Save as state to Published
  6. Save
  7. You must now Place the block in the correct region:
    1. Go to Structure > Block Layout
    2. Scroll down to locate the Block Staging Area (For blocks inserted into Body 1)
    3. Select Place block button
    4. Search or scroll to locate your block
    5. Select Place block button
    6. You are then taken to the Configuration page for your block
    7. Update block Title as needed
    8. Check/Uncheck Display title to hide the block title
    9. To restrict the block to specific pages, select the Pages tab in the lower left
      View ScreenshotRestrict blocks to specific pages
    10. Select either Show for the listed pages or Hide for the listed pages
      View ScreenshotShow/Hide for listed pages
    11. In the Pages field, enter specific pages using their paths (e.g., about, research, financial-aid)
      View ScreenshotEnter specific paths
    12. Save block
    13. Your block is now findable and available for use via Body 1 - General Content > Add Sidebar Item > Insert Block
      View ScreenshotSelect appropriate option
      1. Go to Body 1 - General Content > Add Sidebar Item > Insert Block, then enter the name of your block and Save.
    14. See How To - Edit Blocks below for instructions to edit blocks

How To - Edit Blocks

Option 1

  1. While logged in, locate the block in use on a page
  2. Hover over the block content to activate the Edit Icon and dotted border
    View ScreenshotHover to see Edit Icon and border
  3. Select Edit Icon
    View ScreenshotSelect Edit Icon
  4. Select Edit
    View ScreenshotSelect Edit
  5. Make changes to Title and/or Content
  6. Save

Option 2

  1. Go to Structure > Block Layout > Custom block library
    View ScreenshotLocate Custom Block Library tab
  2. To open in edit mode:
    1. Locate the specific block title in the Block Description column
      View ScreenshotLocate the specific block
    2. Select Edit from the Operations column on the right
      View ScreenshotSelect Edit from the Operations column
  3. Make changes to Title and/or Content
  4. Save

How To - Configure Blocks

Option 1

  1. While logged in, locate the block in use on a page
  2. Hover over the block content to activate the Edit Icon and dotted border
     View ScreenshotHover to see the Edit Icon and border
  3. Select Edit Icon
     View ScreenshotSelect the Edit Icon
  4. Select Configure block
     View ScreenshotSelect Configure block
  5. Update the Title as needed
  6. Check/Uncheck Display title to hide the block title
  7. To restrict the block to specific pages, select the Pages tab in the lower left
     View ScreenshotRestrict the block to specific pages
  8. Select either Show for the listed pages or Hide for the listed pages
     View ScreenshotShow/hide for listed pages
  9. Enter specific pages using their paths (e.g., about, research, financial-aid)
     View ScreenshotEnter specific paths
  10. Save

Option 2

  1. Go to Structure > Block Layout
  2. Scroll down to locate your block in the correct region
     View ScreenshotLocate the specific block
  3. Select the Configure button from the Operations column on the right
     View ScreenshotSelect Configure button
  4. Update the Title as needed
  5. Check/Uncheck Display title to hide the block title
  6. To restrict the block to specific pages, select the Pages tab in the lower left
     View ScreenshotRestrict the block to specific pages
  7. Select either Show for the listed pages or Hide for the listed pages
     View ScreenshotShow/hide for listed pages
  8. Enter specific pages using their paths (e.g., about, research, financial-aid)
     View ScreenshotEnter specific paths
  9. Save

Including Blocks in Content Section

Note: This process is significantly different from the one used in the previous KU CMS.

  1. Create a Basic Block (see instructions above)
  2. Be cognizant of the way the Title field works. The Title is an H2 by default. If the content you are adding begins with an H2 header, great. But, if your content does not require a header class or needs a different header class, be sure to uncheck Display Title on your Basic Block configuration page to hide the default H2 Title.
  3. Create/Edit a Body 1 - General Content section
  4. Select Add Section > Insert Body Block
  5. Type the name of your block
  6. Update Save as state to Draft or Published as needed
  7. Save

Including Blocks from Another Site

Although this feature was available in the previous KU CMS, it is not available in KU CMS – Sunflower.

Accessibility

All content on KU CMS sites must meet accessibility standards. See Accessibility for information, including guidelines and best practices.