Flexible Page Components

Flexible Page Components

Components are the building blocks of a page. You will add components, stacked one after another, to create your Flexible Page. This guide describes all of the Components that are available in the Main Region of your pages, which is where the vast majority of your content will be located.
This page is primarily intended to explain how to add each component to your site, as well as format the various styling options. To see how these Components look on a page, visit our  Colorful Theme  and  Traditional Theme  Reference Pages. There you will be able to match your site's color palette and preview every style and format option for each component on your site.

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Text Area

A Text Area is the most commonly used Component. There are a variety of ways that your text can be formatted within this Component, and you can even wrap text around images and videos. This is the editor view of a Text Area. For more information about the various ways you can style your text, see our guide on  Using the Text Area Editor .

Accordion

Accordions are expandable text areas commonly used for FAQs or other long sections of information where some of it can be "hidden."

Formatting and Styling an Accordion

Once you add an Accordion to your page, you'll see a range of options.

"Add Expand/Collapse All" Toggle

First, you have the option to provide an "expand/collapse all" link to your page. This gives users the ability to click one button to either expand or to collapse all of the Accordions on the page. Simply toggle the "Add Expand/Collapse All" slider to add the link to your page.

Style

The next option allows you to choose the color of your accordion. The "default" style option is what you are accustomed to seeing: a dark background with white text. The background color is determined by your site's theme and color palette. A "Secondary" style option inverts the colors: a white background with text in a color determined by your site's theme and color palette. The "Light" style option renders as a gray accordion with a colorful line along the left side.

Summary

This is where the title of your Accordion should be entered. The text here will always be displayed, regardless of whether the accordion is expanded or collapsed.

Summary Heading Level

Here you will decide if the title of your accordion should be formatted as a heading. You can choose between: Default - which means no heading is provided, Heading 2, or Heading 3. Generally, accordions will need a heading level. For example, if you have a Heading 2 on your page that reads "Frequently Asked Questions," the accordions that follow should each be labeled as Heading 3s.  More information about headings and why they matter. 

Body

This is where you can add additional information. When expanded, the content shown here will be shown. When collapsed, anything typed in the body of your accordion will not be shown on the page, however, it will be searchable.

Examples of when to use an Accordion

  • FAQ. This is the best usage of this type of component. Users will be able to view and also search for questions, while the answer portion will be tucked away. Be sure to include headings if relevant, so that screen reader users can jump to the desired question.
  • Long lists or groups of items.
  • Resources, especially when the resources include lists of links.
  • Lists of award winners.
  • Any other instance where saving space is a priority.

Banner Image: Multiple Component Types

Each of these options allows you to place an image on your page, and depending on the type of Banner chosen, there will be additional formatting and styling options from which to choose. View them in action on our sample websites:  Colorful  and  Traditional .
Banner Images are one of the few Components that can also be added to the full-width region at the top of a web page.

Banner Image

This is the most simple type of image option. It is simply a large image without any text. Only one image or video can be used in this style, and links cannot be included. Banner Images have the same appearance on all sites, regardless of theme or color palette. You can format Banner Images as "tall" or "short" depending on the size and proportions of the image.  Learn how to style a Banner Image .

Banner Image with Full Overlay and Text

This type of Component includes a single image with a transparent overlay covering its entirety. If desired, text and/or a link can be added. Learn how to  style a Banner Image with Full Overlay and Text .
On  Colorful  sites, the text will be aligned left; on  Traditional  sites it will be centered.

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Banner Image(s) with Partial Overlay and Text

The Partial Overlay Banner style displays one or more media items with optional text and/or a link. It has a gradient overly that fades from black to transparent across the image, providing enough contrast for the text to be legible while allowing a large portion of the image to also remain visible. The gradient can begin from the left or the right. This Component can include a single or multiple images. Learn how to  style a Banner Image(s) with Partial Overlay and Text .
The link appearance differs slightly between the Colorful and Traditional themes. Check out all of the various styling options for this Component on our  Colorful  or  Traditional  theme reference sites.

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Banner Image(s) with Text Box

This type of Banner Component includes one or more media items that the user can scroll between. There is a partially transparent text box covering a portion of the image. If desired, a link can be added. Learn how to  style a Banner Image(s) with Text Box .
There are considerable differences in the appearance between the Colorful and Traditional themes. Check out all of the various styling options for this Component on our  Colorful  or  Traditional  theme reference sites.

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Callout Box

A Callout Box is a small block of content that is placed in its own area to the side of other text. It is a great way to break up long sections of text, as well as highlight important information. Multiple callout boxes and text areas can be stacked.
When formatting a flexible page, a Callout Box MUST be followed by a Text Area, or else it will not work.

Formatting and Styling a Callout Box

Body

The body of a callout box has the same toolbar as a standard  Text Area , and includes options such as styled text, block quote, splash or lead font, images, and more.

Alignment

Choose whether the box should appear on the right or left side of the screen. Text in the following Text Area will wrap around this box.

Background Color

You can choose whether or not to have a background color, which renders as gray.

Collection

A Collection is a container for components that allows them to be displayed side by side. It is especially useful for displaying Postcards as a grid or allowing your page to be broken into two (or more) columns.

Formatting and Styling a Collection

More information about setting up a collection can be found in our detailed  Collection Guide  and examples of Collections can be found on our  Colorful  and  Traditional  Reference Pages.

Title Settings

This field pertains to accessibility.  Learn about Collection Title Settings .

Title

Depending on your selection for Timeline Settings, the Title field may or may not appear. If it does, this field is required and should describe the collection.

Items Per Row

Choose how many items should be shown horizontally across the page. This can be set to 1, 2, 3, or 4.
Except in limited cases, we generally recommend against using 4 across because of how narrow each component will be displayed.

Background Color

Choose whether or not your collection should have a background color, and if one is desired, you can choose between default, gray, or vibrant.
The exact color of "default" and "vibrant" are determined by your website's theme and palette. Play with them on our  Colorful  and  Traditional  Reference Sites.

Toggle: Raised Cards

Select this option if you desire a raised look for your components.

Toggle: Uniform Height

Depending on the length of your content, the items in each row of your collection might be different heights. Choosing this option extends the bottom of each component to match the length of the longest component in that row.

Add Component

Click this button to add additional items into your collection.

Color Band

Color Bands are section heading text (heading 2) with a color background. They can contain up to 3 elements: a title is always required, and additional text and/or a link can also be included.

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Formatting and Styling a Color Band

Title

This will be rendered as a Heading 2 and can contain up to 105 characters including spaces.
Since this is a heading, it cannot be left blank for accessibility reasons.

Additional Text

This optional field allows you to add another line of text below the title. It is limited to 180 characters which will display as normal text.

Link

Links can be included and will be styled according to your website's theme. Be sure to include descriptive link text. This field is limited to 80 characters.

Background Color

You may select from one of 4 color choices: Cardinal Red, Dark Gray, Light, and a Default color which is determined by the theme and color palette of your site.

Width

If there is no navigation menu on the side of the page, Color Bands can span the entire width of the page (full-width), or they can just span the typical section of the page (limited-width). If there is a navigation menu on the page, all color bands will be displayed with limited-width.

Curriculum Map

Many academic units like to include an example of how students can plan their courses and requirements. Curriculum Maps allow web editors to create these visual maps directly on the site. Additional information, including examples, can be found in the  Curriculum Maps  guide.

Photo Album

Photo Albums are great for event photos. They can include a headline and description, and can contain up to 60 images. An optional link can be included at the bottom of the Album. When Photo Albums are used for event photos, it is useful to include a link to the album from your Events page.

Photo Album - Grid option

A Photo Grid displays all of the album's images on the page, in a grid format.

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Photo Album - Slider option

A Slideshow displays one image at a time and users can click to advance to the next.

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Formatting and Styling a Photo Album

Text

This is where you enter the title that will be displayed at the top of the album.

Body

Using the typical text editing toolbar, style any additional text as you wish.

Images

Here, you can add media to your album. Up to 60 media items can be added.

Link

An optional link can be added. If the photo album is related to an event, it can be helpful to link to that event page. As always, be sure to use descriptive link text.

Style

There are two layout options for Photo Albums: grid and slider. Grid shows all of the images on one page, while slider shows one image as a time, and users can scroll through them.

Postcard

Postcards are a flexible way to highlight information on your page. You can customize them by adding up to four elements: one media item, a title, body text, and a link. Postcards can be added to your page individually, or they can be added as part of a Collection. Additional information can be found in our  Collection Guide .

Formatting and Styling a Postcard

Card styling will change based on the theme and color pairing. To see all the ways you can format and style your Postcards using your site's color palette, check out the  Colorful Theme reference site  or  Traditional Theme reference site .

Image

One media item can be added, if desired.

Title

Enter a heading for your postcard, if desired.

Body

Add additional text. Unlike the Spotlight(s) component, there are no restrictions on character count.

Link

Add a link if relevant, and be sure to use descriptive link text.

Style

This is the only field that is required, and there are four options from which you can choose: Vertical; Horizontal; Vertical Linked; Vertical Button. The  examples in the image above  are just one of many ways each of these styles can be formatted.

Spotlight(s)

The Spotlight(s) Banner style includes text and an image or images in a colored box. Spotlights can be tall or short and their image(s) can be right or left aligned and framed or expanded. They can also include a link, which appears as a secondary button. The background will either be the default color determined by your site's theme and color palette, or gray. This style of Banner Image can have a single or multiple images.
Spotlights are one of the few Components that can also be added to the full-width region at the top of a web page.

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Formatting and Styling a Spotlight(s)

Once you add a Spotlight(s), you'll see a variety of options.

Background Color Width

You can choose if the background color of your spotlight spans the entire width of the page, or just a limited portion.
Note: When a page is included in a menu, the full-width option will not display.

Spotlight Title

Enter the heading text here.

Background Color

Choose between Default and Gray. The "default" color is determined by your website's theme and color palette. To see an example, visit our reference sites -  Colorful  or  Traditional  - and select your website's palette.

Media

Media is optional in a Spotlight. If you wish to include media, you can select an image or video. Additional media items can be added by clicking the " Add Spotlight " button at the very bottom of this component, at which time you will make new selections for each of these fields.

Media Alignment

You can choose for your media item to render on the right or left side of the Spotlight. The text, if any is added, will appear on the opposite side.

Image Style

Choose between Framed and Expanded. Framed media is positioned within the Spotlight such that it doesn't touch the edges of the background. Expanded images will more completely fill the spotlight component from top to bottom.

Image Height

Choose Tall or Short. The height choice affects how much text can be included beside it. Tall Spotlights allow approximately 625 characters, while short allows approximately 300. Any text included beyond those limits will be cut off.

Body

This optional field allows you to include a short amount of text. Tall Spotlights can include up to 625 characters, while short can only accommodate 300 characters. This text will be included in a smaller font size below the Spotlight Title, and to the side of the media item, if included.

Link

Links can also be included if desired. Be descriptive but concise, and don't use "click here" or "more info." When multiple Spotlights are used, it is critical that the link text of each be unique. For example, if you are highlighting two upcoming talks, you would not want them to both read, "RSVP here." Instead, use more descriptive language, such as "RSVP to the Distinguished Lecture" and "RSVP to the Department Seminar."

Add Spotlight: An option to create a carousel of Spotlights

If you'd like to add additional images or information to your Spotlight component, click the button to "Add Spotlight." This will create another section where you can add information. If multiple Spotlights are created, they will be stacked in a carousel so users scroll between them.

Testimonial

This is a fancy quote style with areas to include the quoted person's name and position. Additional information, including a media item and link can be added if desired. Users can select if the quote should be aligned above or below the speaker information.

Formatting and Styling a Testimonial

Quote

Enter the quote in this field. Quotation marks should be omitted, since they are included in the styling of this component. There is no character limit.

Quote Alignment

Choose whether the quote should appear on top of or below the speaker name and position.

Image

Testimonials can include one media item if desired.

Name

Here, you can enter the name of the speaker.

Position

This field is flexible to allow you to enter additional information about the speaker. It could include a title, such as faculty or lecturer, or if the speaker is a student, you might include their graduation year, e.g. Class of 2026."

Link

If relevant, one link can be added. Be sure to include descriptive link text.

Vertical Timeline

This Component presents information in a step-by-step list format. It is a great visual aid for laying out multi-step processes. Each step or item will have a title, plus an optional subtitle and body content.

Formatting and Styling a Vertical Timeline

Timeline Title

If your Vertical Timeline should have a title that displays as a Heading 2, fill in the Timeline Title at the top of the box. If a Heading 2 should not be added, this field is not required.

Timeline Item: Complete the following information for each item in your timeline

Item Title

Enter a short summary of the step, process, or checklist item. This information will render on the timeline in an accent color that is determined by your website's theme and color palette. While there is no character limit, we recommend ensuring this is a brief summary or overview. This information is always visible regardless of whether the timeline is collapsed or expanded. Item Title is the only required field for each Timeline Item.

Subheading

If additional title information should be included, it can be entered here. Text in the subheading renders in italics, and is always visible regardless of whether the timeline is collapsed or expanded.

Body

Enter any additional relevant information. For instance, if you are creating a timeline to lay out the steps to apply for your program, and the timeline item describes a personal statement, you might add information about the required length and what to include in the statement.

Add Timeline Item

Click the Add Timeline Item button to add another item to your timeline, then repeat the steps above. You may add as many Timeline Items as needed.

Collapse by Default

Vertical Timelines can be displayed in their expanded or collapsed state. A timeline will default to the expanded view unless the toggle is selected to Collapse by Default. When this option is selected, only the Timeline Title and each Item Title and Subheading will be shown. The body will be hidden and users will view it by clicking the triangle button to the side.

Developers' Catalog

This is a Component that the web team will place for you. Examples of Developer's Catalogues include your People, Events, News, and Courses blocks.

Video Tutorial


https://youtu.be/vlapRoM5thU?si=KwhX_S2nIxirjZLr