Page Builder 2 Changes Everything
We’ve been working on version 2 for months and planning it since last year. I’m glad to be able to give you a sneak peek at the next generation of Page Builder. This update is far more than a small iterative update. It’s a complete rewrite and redesign of almost every key component. We’re hoping to release this as a free update early next month.
We’ve made lots of changes, but here are the few we think are really going to make you smile. Sign up to the Page Builder development newsletter if you’d like to follow this release.
A New Clean Design
We completely redesigned the Page Builder interface to make it look more at home in the modern WordPress admin. With retina icons and a flatter feel, Page Builder now looks like a plugin that would come standard with WordPress.
A clean new design.
We simplified the design to show you only what’s essential. The reduced clutter brings a content-creation experience that’s clear and focused.
Performance and Reliability Enhancements
To execute on the vision we have for Page Builder 2.0 and beyond, we needed to rewrite the entire front-end interface. Thousands of lines of code later, the new version of Page Builder 2 is more developer-friendly than ever before.
Page Builder 2 is a full Backbone application. We’re working on new ways to allow plugin developers to tap into the builder application. A thriving developer ecosystem will nurture the longevity of Page Builder.
Live Editing
The Live Editor tool works in conjunction with the standard Page Builder interface to give you a live view of your content as you make changes. It’s a revolutionary way to build your content.
While in the Live Editor, you can click on a widget to bring up its edit dialogue. When you’re done editing, the preview window automatically refreshes.
View and edit in real-time.
Worry-Free Editing with the History Browser
Worry-free editing means having the freedom to experiment with layouts safely. The first thing we did was fix any past issues and conflicts that had caused content damage.
However, the biggest leap we made in version 2 is the history browser. This tool gives you the freedom to make changes, and if you’re not happy, view and undo those changes. You can go back to any point since your last save.
View and restore all your changes.
Sub-Layouts with Widget Inception
Page Builder 2 comes bundled with the Layout widget. It’s an entire Page Builder interface, within a widget. This widget gives you a way to create sub-layouts with entire row and column structures. It’s one of our more powerful features that allows you to create sophisticated column layouts.
The layout widget makes sub layouts possible.
Professional Column Layouts
For most layouts, the old row-adding dialog was adequate. Enter the number of cells you want, and you’re good to go.
With Page Builder 2, we’re introducing the row editor with automatic ratios like golden, even, thirds, and more. It takes the guesswork out of creating visually appealing layouts. We’ve also made it possible to set row widths by entering values — just in case you have a specific layout in mind.
Select a professional column ratio.
Row Editing – Add/Remove Cells
Along with the new row editor, we’re giving you the ability to edit the number of cells in an existing row. This feature is a huge time-saver, and when you use it in conjunction with the History Browser, you can quickly prototype layouts with different column counts.
Widget and Layout Grouping
Up until now, we used search to make it easier for you to find the widget you want. In version 2, we’re introducing widget groups. These keep similar widgets grouped together, making browsing a lot easier.
We’ve given a similar treatment to inserting prebuilt layouts. Page Builder groups these into prebuilt layouts defined by your theme and clones of existing layouts.
Browse widget groups.
Row Duplication
Our aim was to add row duplication, but we didn’t want to clutter the interface or hack the code. The Page Builder 2 rewrite made the adding of row duplication easy. We kept the row duplicate button tucked away in the row edit dialog so that it’s easy to find when you need it, but it won’t get in the way.
Duplicate entire rows.
Row and Widget Styling
We’re still working on this, so we don’t have anything to show at the present time. However, Page Builder now gives you full row and widget styling, enabling you to add custom classes and some default settings, like spacing and borders for rows and widgets.
Lots of Work to Do
We have a lot of work to do before the 2.0 release. Refining these new features, fixing bugs, and improving the overall experience of Page Builder will take some time. We want to make sure the 2.0 release is revolutionary.
If you’d like to come along for the last stage of the journey, we’ve set up a Page Builder development newsletter. We’re going to send to this list regularly, so only sign up if you’re interested in keeping track of what’s going on and giving your feedback on its development. Your early feedback will help make Page Builder the most powerful content creation plugin available.
Cool, hope to get it soon !
It’ll be out before you know it :)
Congrats to Greg and the SiteOrigin team. Looking forward to seeing this in action, and happy to be a beta tester if this is needed.
Thanks Ciaran! If you’ve signed up to the development newsletter, we’ll be making a call for beta testers in the coming weeks. It’d would be great if you could help out.
Fantastic!! I’m gonna love it! :-)
I’d hate to dissapoint, so I hope you enjoy it :)
This is stunning. I am so excited about what you are doing here. Particularly the ability to add custom classes. at both a row and widget level. That is really going to open up possibilities.
We’re also investigating a way to give the same treatment to cells. It’s all a matter of finding a way to do it that doesn’t clutter the interface. Thanks for the support David.
Greg & the team, you are doing fantastic job there! :)
Looking forward for v2!
Glad to hear you like what we’re doing Primož. It’s been a lot of work (with a lot more still to do), but I’m hoping it’s going to all be worth it in the end.
Congratulations Greg and team for these excellent improvements. I’ve enjoyed using PageBuilder in the Vantage theme and am really looking forward to the enhanced capabilities of PageBuilder v2. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the encouragement Paul. Really looking forward to getting version 2 out into the world.
Hi Greg & Co. Looks absolutely fantastic really looking forward to using it.
Thanks Rob! I hope it can live up to expectations :)
Congratulations Greg and staff.
The improvements are excellent. The PageBuilder has helped me a lot, and updates will open up many possibilities.
Thanks for the encouragement Marcelo. I’m looking forward to seeing how everyone takes advantage of the new functionality.
It looks very good, the current version works great so this one without doubt will be excellent, congratulations.
Thanks for the vote of confidence Fernando!
Fantastic work! I signed up for the newsletter and very much look forward to seeing more. Thanks for being such an excellent contributor to the WordPress community.
I’m looking forward to chatting to you on the newsletter Christopher. Thanks for signing up!
Looks good, making a superb plugin even better. I look forward to it being released.
Thanks Dave. I think this is just the start of a fantastic chapter in the Page Builder story.
Looks awesome sir! Big fan of the current version, looking forward to the next!
Thank you kind sir :)
this is FANTASTIC NEWS…. my other website… http://gifts4menonly.com would be the PERFECT place for me to use this.. I have been trying to get more familiar with how it works on my main site… but this NEWS has PUSHED me into learning all I can about your product… THANK YOU so much for all your hard work.. I just hope it works with the current THEME that I have..
GREAT JOB….
Thanks for all the encouragement Dixie. It’s still a huge part of our design goal to make Page Builder work well with any theme. It has a great track record so far. Hopefully, as it becomes more popular, more theme developers will build themes with Page Builder in mind.
great! Just one thing I would like to have into it: a french translation of the plugin.
thanks
At the moment, we’re planning on having Page Builder translated into the standard EFIGS plus Dutch. So that’ll be English, French, Italian, German and Spanish. We also have a lot of Dutch users, so we’d like to throw that in there too.
Exciting!
One thing I found very necessary is the possibility to add independent columns, meaning: e.g. you have two rows on the left, and you add one independent and larger column on the right, that goes “up to down” next to those rows. Does that make sense?
I’m currently using the page builder inside of a page to create the home, because I need a column that extends from the top to the bottom of the page. Would this be possible?
Thank you!
I think I’m following what you’re after. This is something that the Layout Widget we’ve built should be able to handle. I’m not sure how it’ll handle stretching to 100% height, but this is something we can investigate.
It’s these sorts of unique layouts that are a particular challenge, but Page Builder 2 should be up to the task :)
This is awesome. I have used your PageBuilder on numerous sites and love it. The changes you have shown for this update are outstanding. Can’t wait for the release. Thanking you in advance. ~ Tom
Thanks Tom. It’s great to hear that we’re moving in the right direction with these changes.
Looks fantastic and can’t wait to get my hands on it. Well done guys.
Thanks Chris! If you’ve signed up to the developer newsletter, we’ll start sending out beta versions in the next few weeks.
Sounds exciting. Cant wait for this. Only hope is that it will be compatible with any theme.
If the current Page Builder is compatible, this new version definitely will be. It’s a big part of our goal to make Page Builder compatible with any theme.
Wow! This looks amazing! I thought Pagebuilder was good before but now..! I can’t wait!
Thanks Loren. We’re making small improvements all the time :)
i am happy to use your creation, event it looks older at the old version. by the new version you will release, hope it could make everything a lot better. thanks Greg Priday.
It’s a pleasure Fabelia.
Thanks Greg and team, I’m excited for this. I’m looking at a site revamp in December or January, and the timing might match up perfectly with v2. Thanks for all your hard work! I recommend your tools and products often.
I appreciate the support Ross! Also, glad to hear that you’ll be using Page Builder for your revamp. That’s awesome.
If you want I can beta-test it. I have a lot of testing experience.
Is it possible to set the width of columns in % in addition to dragging? In the previous version it was sometimes hard to get exactly 33/33/33 or other specific parts.
Is the history browser tied to WordPress revisions? Or a totally different system? Because tying it to revisions would make many more tools that use the revision system available (editorial workflow and revision plugins).
Hi Dries
Help with beta testing would be very much appreciated. I’ll be sending out updates on the development newsletter – hope you’re signed up.
To answer your questions:
The row builder will help with auto balancing simple ratios like 33/33/33. But yes, you’ll be able to enter specific values or drag the cells like before.
Page Builder currently ties into the WordPress revisions system, but that only fires when you save a post. The history browser stores the changes in locally and only works between saves. This is similar to how something like Photoshops history works.
This is really awesome! Thank you, guys.
I currently working on one commercial theme with current page builder, but likely will wait new version. Will be glad to help with testing.
It’s a pleasure Alex :) we’re hoping to get testing builds out to the developer newsletter next week. It’d be great to have you on board as a tester.
Greg, is there eventually going to be a price tag associated with this? Or will you continue to pay the rent with only the money made from premium themes?
Our current plans are to only monetize around Page Builder and keep Page Builder itself free. Keeping it free is something we’re very committed to.
Hi Greg, We started developing a new commercial theme last night that will use the Page Builder. Same as Alex above in the comments I am going to hold off until v2 is ready. In V1 there is an option in the settings to select Page Builder to be used in CPT’s. Will this be available in V2 as well? If so, then I will start updating my plugin description that Page Builder 2 will be compatible.
My mum is leaving S.Australia in 2 weeks to go to Cape Town for 3 months, would love to send you something to sit on the desk from this side of the world.
Hi Ciaran
That’s awesome that you’re developing a theme that supports Page Builder. We’re working on a few ways to give theme developers a lot more power when it comes to integration. Keep an eye on the developer newsletter for more updates on this :)
Yeah, using CPTs will still be supported in 2.0. A lot of the existing functionality is the same (we’re making sure 2.0 is backwards compatible).
Something from that side of the world would be much-appreciated. I woke up early this morning to watch the SA vs Aus cricket game. So as long as that something isn’t a thrashing in the 3rd game ;). Is your mom a capetonian?
Hi Greg,
Yes my mum is from the Cape, and I have spent many holidays there. Mum was living in Vredehoek right under Table Mountain.
This is great that CPT will be supported as then it will support the new plugin that I am releasing this week. Am looking forward to the developers newsletter to find out more.
I have seen your address somewhere on the web, but cannot seem to find it anywhere.
As for the Cricket, 3 wickets was a good game. Lets see what happens on Wednesday ;)
Well, that series took a turn for the worse :/ – sorry I’ve taken so long to reply to this… I’ve been in mourning ;)
I just noticed that there’s an old address in the newsletter signup. That might be where you saw it. I’ll email you my current address. I have your email from your reply in the dev newsletter.
Hi Greg. Great work, thanks for providing Page Builder and keeping it free. From my perspective Page Builder is a great project as it represents a more ethical way of building commercial themes without a loss of content or functionality if the them is uninstalled.
From what I can see in the video, I really like the way you have approached v2 from a design standpoint and integrating into the WordPress look and feel. Hopefully, borrowing css styling and javascript functions from WordPress? What’s the file size of the new plugin like? A lot of the commercial page builders out there are 5-10 Mb uncompressed, but they often re-invent the wheel. Hopefully, not doing this allows savings on file size and redundant code?
My wishlist for PB2 is centred around theme integration. I would love to see controls enabling the CSS generation to be turned off programmatically and programmatic control provided over the rows and cells using hooks and filters. This would allow easy integration with existing CSS frameworks such as Bootstrap and Foundation etc.
Thanks Ray. Yes, we originally built Page Builder as a component of our own themes. We decided to split it off into its own plugin precisely so that users could migrate between themes.
Page Builder 2 isn’t much bigger than PB1 (currently 350kb). In fact, it might be a little smaller in the end because we’ve stripped out a lot of the bitmap images. Definitely won’t be anywhere near the 5 meg mark.
As for theme integration, we’re introducing more advanced visual styles in Page Builder 2. I’ve been working on this today actually. We’re passing a lot more through filters. The CSS generation, for example, now has around 5 filters that are called throughout various looks There are plenty of ways to inject your own functionality now. The hardest part will be documenting all these hooks, but we are moving towards being a more developer friendly platform.
Hi Greg,
I am building wp theme and waiting to see 2.0 version.
Did version 2 will have po file for translating it in other languages?
also, i wonder if it will support RTL (the builder itself), like widget text gonna be right to left ….
Thanks!
looking forward to this!
Hi Soso
Hopefully, we’ll have the beta out shortly so you can start developing around that until we get the final release out.
It will include a PO file and we have taken a few steps to get RTL support working, but we’ll need some beta testers to actually confirm this is working.
Awesome!!
Thanks :)
Congrats, Greg. Your plugin is well-loved.
Looking forward to checking it out.
Those Jose :) I’m looking forward to getting it out.
Great news! Does v2 change with moving sites to another server? I love your plugin, and I’ve created some sites with it, but my worst nightmare is moving the sites from test to the proper server (the database does not move the content the right way and i have to export/import with wp export). I always pray if everything is well moved..
Looking forward to hear from you about this case!
We’ll definitely take a look at this, but right now we’re recommending people use Duplicator to move from one server to another. It’s worked flawlessly in all our tests.
https://wordpress.org/plugins/duplicator/
It’s awesome. Two questions, 1)what will the license for Page Builder be? I mean, can I use it for premium themes for sale? 2) Do you have a release date? Thanks, Greg.
1) It’ll be under the same GPL license as the original Page Builder :)
2) We’re pushing to get a beta release out this week. The final release will be after we’ve had a chance to fix all the critical bugs we fund during beta testing. We’re hoping for this year.
Just what I’ve been looking for!! Can’t wait for it’s release. I hope the licence is friendly to premium theme developers!
It’ll be under exactly the same GPL license :) very developer friendly. We’re also adding a lot of hooks and filters for developers to play with.
Hey,
I just discovered page builder 1 and would like to start using it straight away for a new site.
Wondering what would happen once I upgrade to page builder 2… Would I have to rebuild the pages from scratch, or would the upgrade be painless, letting everything in place ?
Thanks, it’s looking very promissing.
Hi Christophe
Welcome to the wonderful world of SiteOrigin Page Builder :) everything is backwards compatible, so you can build your site with version 1 and it will work perfectly with version 2.
Perfect !
HI Greg Priday,
You are doing so awesome job !!! This is really interesting . I built all our themes using you builder and Builders are as good as any paid plugin.
I have also made lots of modification on plugin to support parallax images and videos. and and we built themes based on your plugins. We would love to show them. You should place a showcase or theme by 3rd party section like other plugin builder do. (wp job manager ) .
we are waiting for the version 2 .. Good luck and congrats.
Thank you
Hi Greg,
I am a WordPress developer myself and soon i am going to start a WordPress theme shop. And i am so amazed with your Page Builder v2 and eagerly waiting for this to include in all my themes.
Just want to say thank you for this wounderful and efficient page builder i have already used v1 on few sites but due to the fact it was lacking some developer options (such as custom class to a row,/column, etc) i did not used it much. But this V2 seems very very powerful from your demo video.
How soon you think the beta would be out?
Thanks,
Munir
Hi Again Greg,
Just checking in the status of v2? I may not hold myself to give it a try :)
Any chances we may get this soon?
Thanks,
Munir
Hi Munir
We released the first beta last week and will probably be releasing our next beta in the next few days. We’ve already made quite a few fixes since the first beta release, but you can check it out anyway.
https://wordpress.org/plugins/siteorigin-panels/developers/
Hi Greg,
I’m not sure if this is the right place, but I’m absolutely loving the Beta. The full width background is fantastic. Ingenious!
If this is of any interest to you the full width backgrounds works well on Genesis Child themes except Colbalt apps Dynamik Website Builder (where all get contained in the site inner).
Hey Greg,
Thank you so much for the update. I didn’t know until you mention here that the beta is up for testing, i have been following this blog & subscribed to this as well also on twitter.
I will give it a try and will be waiting for the final version as wel :)
Any expected timeline for that?
Thanks,
Munir
Hi Greg,
I am in the same boat as David Waumsley not knowing where we need to leave comments on our Beta testing. I am using this very successfully in the new plugin we are launching that makes full use of Genesis / Dynamik Child theme, and noticed the same results in that the full width in Dynamik are contained in the inner.
Hi Greg,
I have installed and tried this awesome plugin. However i have 1 very important concern if you could also incorporate it in the live final v2 please.
The thing is to make ACF compatibility with the widgets with extra custom fields created via ACF. I have search for this in the support forum at wordpress and found someone also questioned this so i am copying his comments here as i am in the same boat :)
——————–
The excellent Advanced Custom Fields plugin introduced support for adding fields to widgets in version 5. However, when combining this functionality with Page Builder, the fields built with ACF are not present in the modal window that comes up with the widget fields.
I am assuming that some sort of event listener needs to be added to render the ACF fields within the widget editor. Can someone help? Combining the flexibility of Page Builder with the power of ACF would be a formidable combination.
——————————-
Please if there is already a solution for that or if possible please make it compatible in the v2. waiting for your response.
Thanks,
Munir
I’m going to assume this update will be backwards compatible? I love the old one, looking forward to the new version. Rock!
Mike
Could this be rolled into a different CMS other than wordpress?
Backbone is nice, we use it when we’re not using Sencha frameworks.
Hello sir,
can be added woocommerce elements to page builder, such as display products with style and so on.
Thanks
Hi
Where can i donate sum $ for supporting ur so damn fresh Open-Source movements?
Thanks
A fan from Germany
Hey Hackspoiler, I was going to ask the same question. In the end I chose to support SiteOrigin by buying the Vantage theme. So, there’s always that route I guess?
I’ve had the privilege of trying Page Builder 2 today, on a customer’s site; and it absolutely rocks the world!!
The UI enhancements are extremely intuitive (to me at least).
What I liked most about the original Page Builder is how it respects the website content. No shortcode artifacts left behind. In addition it is compatible with Yoast WordPress SEO (for those that use it for on-page optimization). Those features are also in Page Builder 2 + more.
Overall Page Builder is my recommended tool for creating custom layouts and landing pages. I always default to it.
Page Builder 2 looks set to raise the bar even higher.
Awesome work, SiteOrigin!
Thanks
AWEEEEESOMEEEEHHH!!!
full width row doesn’t work doesn’t
all the free plugins got their problems
good isn’t free body
Hi Mister
Page Builder does try its best to create full width rows without knowing much about the theme is being used in. As Ray pointed out, it does work well with most themes, but there is no guarantee that this feature will work with all themes.
If you post on our support form letting us know which theme you’re using, we might be able to improve how this feature is handled so it’ll work in your situation. It might require some modifications to your theme though.
@mister all paid plugins also have their problems too. My experience with this plugin is that problems are usually fixed quickly.
Maybe you can describe your problem in a little more detail? I use the new version on a few sites and have no problem with it. Maybe you’re expecting full width of the browser instead of full width of the theme?
@mister, full width row works well with most themes in my experience. A lot of the themes I am testing with will allow full browser width rows. However, it does depend on how your theme is setup. If it’s using a grid system where ‘overflow:hidden’ is set anywhere in the CSS for that theme, then, the full width ‘overflow’ method that Page Builder is using is not going to work.
If you test with the TwentyTwelve theme you should see full-width rows working fine for example.
@dries, good point about full width. The term seems to vary from user to user, theme to theme.
Hi, Greg, and Happy New Year
from another (ex)Capetonian/cricket-lover/newbie to WordPress.
I have started working on WordPress.com (no hosting and no money to pay for hosting). I don’t seem to be able to find PageBuilder anywhere in the themes. Am I just old and blind?
Best wishes from gloomy, cold London.
The new feature look very nice !!!
Hope you will implement the Bootstrap grid (please !)
and the Foundation Grid?
wonder how one would do this across the two largest css frameworks…
I would just like to say thanks for such a great plugin, This one is now used on all of my clients websites. As most of them are not that good with IT. They have all been amazed on how visual it is to update their own content. In the near future i am going to write a blog post about this plugin.
Congrats to Greg and the SiteOrigin team,
Pls do not hesitate for donation or cloud funding for this excellent plugin..
Awesome work Guys..
Thank you for the great work being done. I need your help with a website i am developing and using the page builder. Unfortunately, after working on it for days i made i mistake and as well saved the mistake. I can not undo it in the history since i saved the work. Could you please help me? Thank you.
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I want to create a website with access to MySQL database. I will have several Tables. I want to add, chnage, delete records. I will have conditional processing of data. All these need to be part of my published website. Is this possible in Page Builder 2? If not directly, is there an indirect way of getting this done without iFrame?
Requesting an immediate reply
add bootstrap grid! without this, it’s useless
Hi
Is their any option that i can add Parallax video background, just like AirBNB.com ??? Can any body help me?
Hi, Thanks!!
Just a question. I have 4 colums and selected full width but still the 4 columns are not full with (still the same as standard). Full width stretch is working fine.
Do you know what I can do to set up my 4 columns full width?
Silvio
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i have use siteorigin and make my website easy to manage now , i can easily add and remove plus manage my post and pages. here is my site you guys can see how beautifully i have managed it https://www.supremetaxis.co.uk/services/