Alias: Umbraco.BlockGrid
Returns: BlockGridModel
The Block Grid property editor enables editors to layout their content in the Umbraco backoffice. The content is made of Blocks that can contain different types of data.
This article is a work in progress and may undergo further revisions, updates, or amendments. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
When testing out the property editor, you can use a set of predefined Blocks. The option will only be possible when there are no other Data Types using the Block Grid property editor.
Create a new Data Type.
Select the Block Grid as the Property editor.
Install the "Sample Configuration".
4 Blocks will be added to the property, ready for testing.
The Block Grid property editor is configured via the Data Types backoffice interface.
To set up the Block Grid property editor, follow these steps:
Navigate to the Settings section in the Umbraco backoffice.
Click ... next to the Data Types folder.
Select Create -> New Data Type.
Select Block Grid from the list of available property editors.
You will see the configuration options for a Block Grid property editor as shown below:
The Data Type editor allows you to configure the following properties:
Blocks - Defines the Block Types available for use in the property. For more information, see Setup Block Types.
Amount - Sets the minimum and/or the maximum number of Blocks that should be allowed at the root of the layout.
Live editing mode - Enabling this option will allow you to see the changes as you are editing them.
Editor width - Overwrites the width of the property editor. This field takes any valid CSS value for "max-width". For example: 100% or 800px.
Grid Columns - Define the number of columns in your Block Grid. The default is 12 columns.
Layout Stylesheet - Replaces the built-in Layout Stylesheet. Additionally, you can retrieve the default layout stylesheet to use as a base for your own inspiration or for writing your own stylesheet.
Create Button Label - Overwrites the label on the Create button.
Block Types are based on Element Types. These can be created beforehand or while setting up your Block Types.
Once you have added an Element Type as a Block Type on your Block Grid Data Type you have the option to configure it.
Examples and more details about configuring the Label property
Blocks can also be grouped. This is visible in the Block Catalogue and can also be used to allow a group of Blocks in an Area.
Each Block has a set of properties that are optional to configure. These are described below.
Customize the user experience for your content editors when they work with the Blocks in the Content section.
Label - Defines a label for the appearance of the Block in the editor. The label can use AngularJS template-string-syntax to display values of properties.
Label example: "My Block {{myPropertyAlias}}" will be shown as: "My Block FooBar".
You can also use more advanced expression using AngularJS filters, like {{myPropertyAlias | limitTo:100}} or for a property using Richtext editor {{myPropertyAlias | ncRichText | truncate:true:100}}. It is also possible to use properties from the Settings model by using {{$settings.propertyAlias}}.
Get more tips on how to use AngularJS filters in Umbraco CMS from this community-made Umbraco AngularJS filter cheat sheet.
Content model - Presents the Element Type used as model for the Content section of this Block. This cannot be changed but you can open the Element Type to perform edits or view the properties available. Useful when writing your Label.
Settings model - Adds a Settings section to your Block based on a given Element Type. When selected you can open the Element Type or choose to remove the Settings section again.
Customize the Blocks size in the Grid. If you define multiple options, the Block becomes scalable.
By default, a Block takes up the available width.
A Block can be resized in two ways:
When a Block is placed in an Area, it will fit to the Areas width. Learn more about Areas.
A Block can have one or more Column Span options defined.
A Column Span option is used to define the width of a Block. With multiple Column Span options defined, the Content Editor can scale the Block to fit specific needs.
Additionally, Blocks can be configured to span rows, this enables one Block to be placed next to a few rows containing other Blocks.
Available column spans - Defines one or more columns, the Block spans across. For example: in a 12 columns grid, 6 columns is equivalent to half width. By enabling 6 columns and 12 columns, the Block can be scaled to either half width or full width.
Available row spans - Defines the amount of rows the Block spans across.
See the scaling blocks section of this article for an example of how scaling works.
These properties refer to how the Block is presented in the Block catalogue when editors choose which Blocks to use for their content.
Background color - Defines a background color to be displayed beneath the icon or thumbnail. Example: #424242.
Icon color - Changes the color of the Element Type icon. Example: #242424.
Thumbnail - Pick an image or Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file to replace the icon of the Block in the catalogue.
The thumbnails for the catalogue are presented in the format of 16:10. We recommend a resolution of 400px width and 250px height.
Allow in root - Determines whether the Block can be created at the root of your layout. Turn this off if you only want a Block to appear within Block Areas.
Allow in areas - Determines whether the Block can be created inside Areas of other Blocks. If this is turned off it can still be allowed in Block Areas by defining specific allowed Blocks.