Missing proper "INFO BOX" module with extensive customization options

General Discussions
1

Hi, I am considering BB in comparison to other WP page builders and I watched some of the intro videos about the different modules and also played around a little in the demo version.

The main reason I am looking for a page builder is because I am looking for an intuitive way of creating front/home page layouts for my site/s (while using my theme’s header and/or footer).

Of particular interest to me is the creation of INFO BOXES, which I believe you call CALL OUTS, perhaps avoiding the term ‘box’ on purpose. What I found is that it seems there is no way to actually create info boxes, other than doing so in a very tedious way.

Let me explain:

Beaver Builder does not have modules for creating info boxes, so when I create say a row with 3 columns, I can add a “call out” module into the first column and there I can add say a lead picture (module 1), a text (module 2) and a button (module3). This in itself is already quite a process, but if I want to link out from them all, I have to repeat entering target destination and where link opens (same window or new window etc) three times. I then realize that there is no way to customize the background color of the row that these elements are sitting in to give that “info box feel”, nor can I add a border around this thing.
So I check out the un-edited column next to it and see the wrench there, and I can make some adjustments there…background color, hover color, border around the ‘box’. I can then move the three modules from the first column to this one that I have just been able to edit.
This is a VERY tedious and non-sophisticated process of getting to a rather simple looking info box.

I made a screenshot with some notes to make it more visual, since I am a visual kind of guy (which makes me look for a good front-end builder in the first place):

http://i.imgur.com/iU3b12Z.png

Can you tell me if you have short-term plans of adding proper info box modules with some sophisticated customization effects to the arsenal of BeaverBuilder?

I do like the fact that this is not a one-man shop, as happens with so many themes and plugins where you invest time and money (more so time!!) to get sites up and running…only to realize the developer jumps ship to the next opportunity.

Yet I seem to be missing some essential things from your page builder, like above.

I look forward to your response.

2

Hey Roland,

Welcome to the BB Forums! Instead of using 3 separate modules for your info box you can just use the Callout Module but maybe you wanted more flexibility. Anyway, you can still edit the column settings by hitting this icon(see screenshot).
http://imgur.com/HHhwMDP

Regarding info box modules and/or future plans for BB, I’ll get the other members of the team in on this so they can assist you.

Ben

3

Hi Ben. Thanks for your reply, much appreciated. I also played around with the actual callout module, and I am still not convinced that it provides anywhere near the customization options and features that it should.
As for the column settings, yes they are visible when you use the actual callout module, which was not the case the way I did before (see first screenshot), however as you can see in below screenshot, when I duplicate the first callout module, then the column with its edited settings do not get copied over, so there is no way to create “info boxes” using these callout modules, other than in a very tedious, most basic way and this for each ‘box’ individually, since the corresponding columns settings cannot be duplicated. Very limiting it seems. I have now spent quite a few hours studying the Beaverbuilder plugin, but I am surprised that the modules and their customization options are very limited in what they can achieve.

I have come across way too many products that are really good from the outset, but really were at the very early start of what they can eventually turn out to be. But I need a solid solution now, not in a year’s time. So perhaps I need to continue looking.
I am still interested in following the BB developments, so I keep subscribed to the forum.
Thanks again.

http://i.imgur.com/VCyO41H.png

4

Hi Roland,

Thanks for the feedback and for considering BB, appreciate that! One thing to note with BB is that we like to keep things simple and lightweight. You’ll find all of our modules offer basic, but powerful customization options. We don’t have plans of further dev on the callout module at the moment, but you are always welcome to add your feedback and requests to our User Voice forum and we’ll take a look. Thanks again!

Best,
Billy

5

Roland, I’m still new to BB but thought I’d throw a couple thoughts out.

Editing Columns
I too thought I couldn’t edit columns. But, in Pagebuilder mode, hover over your Photo element and you’ll see the icon Ben pointed out in his screenshot.

Duping Column Settings
It is a little odd you can’t duplicate a column with its settings. Because of all the other streamlined/easy-to-use functionality, I am OK with overlooking some things and willing to do a little extra work. However, my opinion may change as I dig deeper.

I haven’t tried, but maybe creating a class or ID that handles your column settings could be a work-around. Then you just need to type/paste in the class/ID into each column’s settings. I’ve just started creating classes for managing product line colors and such. I’m sure I’ll end up expanding that beyond colors at some point. Again, I’m just getting started and don’t do this for a living.

Adding New Features, Improving Existing
They seem to be pretty active in developing BB. I could be wrong, but the plugin and theme are really their main focus. Probably more so on the plugin.

I came from Pagelines DMS2. I looked at BB’s other major competitors before landing here. There was something about the simplicity of the BB demo that hooked me. Well, that and the generally positive and even niche-leading reviews/comments/articles/etc that I read. Their competitors may have some things that are more sophisticated. I suppose that is for you to weigh.

Good luck!

6

Thanks Derrick, I appreciate your reply. I am still considering BB, once some of these basics have been developed a bit further (i.e. duplicating columns with all content and style changes, with one click; and some more styling options). I was also looking at the demo of Live Composer, which I quite like for their simplicity and range of styling options. What I do not like about it is that you actually lose your content if you uninstall the pluging, whereas BB seems to maintain it, just stripped off of its CSS styling.