Columns need clearfix applied automatically

Hi robot,

This is a great idea that I will consider adding to the next version. In the meantime you can use the the columns container utility shortcode and then add the clearfix class to it. So it would generate something like this:

<div class="gca-utility columns-container clearfix">
   <div class="gca-column one-fifth first">Content</div>
   <div class="gca-column one-fifth">Content</div>
   <div class="gca-column one-fifth">Content</div>
   <div class="gca-column one-fifth">Content</div>
   <div class="gca-column one-fifth">Content</div>
</div>

Nick

Thanks. The issue is really simplicity for non-developers… the people who’s job it is to manage content.

When they have issues with content formatting, I’ll tell them to add a [clearfix] after their column set. Adding container divs is way outside their abilities ??

Basically, I cannot see a reason to make the content writer set up her/his columns in two separate steps.

Every column need that I can imagine would benefit from being cleared as a group, so it would make sense to make it automatic when the columns are output.

Thanks so much for listening ??

Hello again robotor,

I think there are a couple possible solutions to make this simpler for end users. I have a few other projects that are going to soak up most of this week, but I will work on getting the next version out next week.

Best,
Nick

Hi Nick,
Do you have an update on this issue re a possible update on the plug in re containers? I have nearly 1000 posts with several columns in many of them, and don’t want to manually go through every post editing as your suggestion at the start of this thread.

Thanks in advance

Hi lovefoodies,

I will have an update out by the end of the week. That said, can you provide me a link to the pages that are experiencing formatting issues? The situation that robotor is referring to has always existed in this plugin, it is not new, rather how the plugin was designed. Based on your note, it sounds like this is a new formatting issue that just started occurring, but correct me if I am wrong. If this just started happening, it could be because of the v2.0 update of this plugin, for which I already have an explanation/fix for you.

Let me know!

Nick

Hi robotor,

I am just now getting into this, and while I was testing, I realized that the plugin already loads some default CSS that should push each column block down (completely forgot haha). The following is applied to the first column of each bock:

.first {
	clear: both;
	margin-left: 0;
}

Are you able to provide a live preview link of the issue you are seeing? While I can definitely provide a filter that would allow you as an admin to automatically output a clearfix after each column block, I am curious to see if there is another issue at large.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Nick

Hi Nick, I’ve just updated the plug in and so far I can’t see any problems with the columns on the posts I’ve looked at. If I come across any I will let you know, but fingers crossed it is all good now!
Thanks very much for doing this. Much appreciated.

My pleasure, if you spot anything else, please just submit a new support ticket and I will take a look!

Nick

Nick, I’ll check on this today. Thank you!

I’m getting the same problem, the columns should be placed in a column group container automatically.

Here’s example code that breaks the flow for me:

[one-fifth-first]This is a column [/one-fifth-first]
[one-fifth]Another Column[/one-fifth]
[one-fifth]Here's the third column[/one-fifth]
[one-fifth]Here's the 4th[/one-fifth]
[one-fifth]This is the fifth column[/one-fifth]
<h2>Heading 2</h2>

Hi robotor,

Automatically placing the columns in a container div will not be possible. It substantially changes the markup of the column output and given the number of people using this plugin in it’s current form, I feel it would be too much of a departure and will possibly cause a large number of formatting issues.

A couple things I am working on:

1. A filter so that when someone adds a column layout, it automatically adds the clearfix utility shortcode after the column block
2. A filter so that when someone adds a column layout, it automatically wraps the column block in the columns-container utility shortcode.

Given the restriction of not automatically changing the markup of the plugin, if you have any other ideas, please let me know. The above two filters will be added to v2.1 which will be out next week. All you will need to do is add them to your functions.php folder for them to take effect.

Nick

Thanks. The bottom line for me is that a user with minimal skills should be able to use it without having to worry about clearing and technical things. If it can break like it does, under normal use, then It’s unusable.

I think if the clearfix were added automatically, that would be a step in the right direction, but a normal person won’t know what that is and might remove it. It would be better to call it [column-end] or something, so it’s obvious.