This article was last updated on the October 12, 2017.
The Widget Area element is available across all three builders. The Content Builder, the Header Builder and the Footer Builder. The purpose of the element is to output your selected widget. All widgets that are registered on your WordPress install are available for selection within the Widget Area element. This includes Widgets registered by Third Party plugins.
Presets
First of all you'll see the Apply Preset option, but just what is a preset? A preset is a pre-configured option pack of sorts. When you apply the preset all the controls are automatically changed to the specified value in the presets. Right now the presets represent each different stack. Providing quick starting points for getting your elements styled perfectly to match your stack. Apply a preset and then tinker to your hearts content.
Controls
All elements come with a range of different controls and the social element is no different. While many of the controls are self explanatory in what they effect, we'll cover the basics and any major points you need to be aware about in each article. Every article will also cover the basics such as Flexbox, Interactions and more!
Flexbox
Just what is Flexbox and what makes it so flexible? Flexbox is a layout mode intended to accomodate multiple elements on a page in different configuration layouts for a variety of screen sizes. It's generally easy to work with once you get to grips with it and provides an array of configuration elements for start positions, end position and everything in between.
While Flexbox may seem daunting at first. Don't worry! There are a range of multiple tutorials online and in all our builders we have multiple configuration options that means you never have to touch a line of code! So you properly understand Flex options, we'd recommend having a ready up over here: https://css-tricks.com/snippets/css/a-guide-to-flexbox/ on how exactly Flexbox works. While you don't need to worry about the code side. It's important to have a basic grasp of how Flexbox works to make the most of the builders. Or of course there's always the trial and error approach.
Interactions
Throughout the elements you'll see options for interactions, but just what are interactions? Interactions generally means when an element is being interacted with. Such as on hover. For example on a Background Color option you'll have the Base option which is the main background color of the element. Then you'll have the Interaction option, setting this to a different color from base will display a different color on hover.
You'll also see interactions for icons where you can swap out icons on hover. Allowing you to configure different options for on hover. Making for some great effects with swapping out icons on hover.
Margins and paddings. EMs, REMs, Pixels and more!
With all the margins, paddings and other height and width based options, along with some sizing options. You'll see the option to change the actual unit value. This means you might set one control to be 2.5 EMs such as the width. But then on your margin you might set it to be 50px. The available unit options are:
Linking Sides
One thing you'll see in common across multiple controls is the ability to link sides. This means that if you link sides on the padding controls, all the padding controls will be the same value. However if you unlink the padding controls, you can then control each side independently allowing for greater control.
If you have link sides on for the respective set of controls you will not see the individual options.
Particles
Many of the elements use what's known as the "Particles Partials". But just what are Particles and how can use them? Check out our great mini video series over on this KB article.
Available Controls
Like other Elements, controls are split up into multiple sections for the Widget Area element those sections are:
Clicking on a specific link will take you to those controls. First of all you'll be on the Widget Area section. The controls available within the Widget Area section are:
Widget Area Setup
The controls within the Widget Area Setup consist of:
- Sidebar - Pick which sidebar you'd like to use for the widget area. Outputs all widgets within that sidebar.
- Base Font Size - The font size which will be used for the widgets.
- Background - The background color to be used for the widget area.
Widget Area Margin
The Widget Area Margin layout controls consist of:
- Link Sides - Link sides allows you to link up every option within the margin controls so when you change one value all values change. Or you can unlink sides and set each margin option individually.
- Top - Sets the top margin.
- Right - Sets the right hand side margin.
- Bttm - Sets the bottom margin
- Left - Sets the left hand side margin.
Widget Area Padding
The Widget Area Padding controls consist of:
- Link Sides - Link sides allows you to link up every option within the padding controls so when you change one value all values change. Or you can unlink sides and set each padding option individually.
- Top - Sets the top margin.
- Right - Sets the right margin.
- Bttm - Sets the bottom margin.
- Left - Sets the Left margin.
Widget Area Border
The Widget Area Border controls consist of:
- Link Sides - Allows you to link up the border control for all sides or unlink sides to control each border side individually.
- Style - Sets the style of the border such as dashed, dotted etc.
- Width - Sets the width of the border in pixels by default. Or click on PX to change the value to the units you'd like to use (EM, REM)
- Color - Sets the color of the border.
Widget Area Border Radius
The Widget Area Border Radius controls consist of:
- Link Sides - Link all sides of the border to control all border radius options at the same time, rather than configuring each value individually. If you unlink sides. You can set the border radius controls individually.
- Top Left - Set the top left radius of the border.
- Top Right - Set the top right radius of the border.
- Bttm Right - Set the bottom right radius of the border.
- Bttm Left - Set the bottom left radius of the border.
Do note that you won't see any effect by changing the Border Radius values unless you have already set your Border controls.
Widget Area Box Shadow
The Widget Area Box Shadow controls consist of:
- X-Offset - Set the offset of the border shadow for the X axis.
- Y-Offset - Set the offset of the border shadow for the Y axis.
- Blur - Set the blur of the box shadow.
- Spread & Position - Set the spread and position of the box shadow.
- Color - Sets the color of the box shadow.
Lastly are the available controls within the Customize section. If you click on Customize You should see the available controls like this:
The available controls within the Customize section are:
Setup
The Setup controls consist of:
- ID - A custom ID you want to assign for use with custom CSS.
- Class - A custom class you want to assign for use with custom CSS.
- Hide During Breakpoints - Select different screen sizes you want to disable the output of the specific element on. Perfect for creating custom responsive headers.
