Creating a Group

This article shows you how to use the Group tool. This tool has two time-saving features.

First, you create a Section and fill it with design elements, content, and structure. This section is saved as a unit called Group. You can quickly reproduce the same unit (e.g. design elements, content, and structure) by dragging an instance of the Group to a new page.

Second, you can quickly make global changes to each instance of the Group. Changes to the Group's master copy are automatically made on every page with a copy of the Group.

The Group tool can be used any time you want to reuse the same bundle of design elements, content, or structure on multiple pages. 

See also,

• Adding Sections
• Adding Images
• Adding Text
• Working with Components

1  Creating a section

The first step is to create a Group master copy. This is the main group that will be copied and placed on other pages. 

Click PUBLISH on the top menu bar. A popup window displays. Click Website Content > Manage.

The Website Content page displays.

1. Hover your mouse pointer on a page that will contain the master copy.
2. Click the Edit button. The Edit Content area opens.

Click the Components button in the top left corner of the page. The list of Components displays on the left side menu. Drag the Section component to the page.

Hover the mouse pointer on the Section. The green toolbar displays.

2  Creating a Group master copy

Open the toolbar to change the Section into a Group.

1. Click the Settings button in the toolbar. The Section settings panel displays.
2. Scroll down the panel and click the Advanced tab. The Advanced panel displays.
3. Scroll down the panel and check the Save as Group box. The Group Name box displays.
4. Type the name of the Group in the box.
5. Click OK.

3  Locating unique features of a Group

After clicking OK in Step 2 above, the screen returns to the Edit Content area of the page. There are three differences.

1. The Component tool header switches from Components to Groups.
2. A master copy of the Group is placed in the Groups folder. The master copy has the name you created in Step 2 above.
3. The colour of the toolbar is blue (Section toolbars are green). Plus, the Settings icon in the top left corner is now a globe. 

4  Customising the master copy

You can change the appearance and behaviour of the master copy of a Group. These changes might include the width of a section, background colours, or borders.

Hover the mouse pointer on the Group. The blue Edit buttons displays.

Click the Edit button. A popup displays. To make the changes global, click EDIT, GLOBALLY. The Edit panel displays. To make changes that apply only to this group, click EDIT, LOCALLY.

Click the Settings globe in the top left corner of the blue toolbar. The Settings panel displays. Make changes and then click OK. Then click Save.

5  Placing a Group master copy on a page

You can add content to the master copy of a Group. The first step is to place the Group master copy on a page.

1. Open a new page and go to the Edit Content area.
2. In the top left corner of the page, click the Groups button. A list of Groups displays. 
3. Click and drag a Group to the page.

6  Adding content to a Group master copy

You can add content to a Group. The changes you make to the master copy appear on every instance of the Group. The process of adding text, images, and columns is just like working with a regular Section.

In the example below, we have a master copy of a Group (yellow background) on a page. Now, we add text and an image.

1. Go to the top left corner of the page and then click Components. The list of Components displays.
2. Drag the Text Component to the Group. The Text Component displays with a blue toolbar.
3. Add text.
4. Drag the Image Component to the Group. The Image Component displays with a blue toolbar.
5. Insert an image.
6. Click Save at the bottom of the Group box. The Edit panel closes.
7. Click Save at the top of the page.

7  Changing a single instance of a Group

You can make changes to an instance of a Group and not affect the master copy. This is called changing a local copy. In this case, local means a unique instance of the Group that does not sync with the master copy. This a useful feature if you want to copy the design but change the content.

1. Open a new page and go to the Edit Content area. (You can place a local copy on the same page as the master copy.)
2. In the top left corner of the page, click the Groups button. A list of Groups displays. 
3. Drag a Group to the page.
4. Hover the mouse pointer on the Group. The blue Edit buttons displays.
5. Click the Edit button. A popup displays.

Click EDIT, LOCALLY. The Edit panel displays with a regular Section and a green toolbar.

1. Change the Section design and content as required.
2. Scroll up to the top of the page and click Save.

To demonstrate the concept of local copies, look at the image below.

• On the top, we placed an instance of the Group master copy and saved it as a local copy. We changed the text, image (cherry), and background colour. Then, we saved the file.
• On the bottom, we placed an instance of the Group master copy. The original master copy (with an orange) remains unchanged.