Contrib.social

[META] Many UI/UX issues with custom blocks.

Open on Drupal.org →
Created on 11 August 2013, almost 12 years ago
Updated 26 February 2025, 3 months ago

Updated: Comment #0

This is a sub-issue of #1875252: [META] Make the block plugin UI shippable → . The custom block workflow has its own set of UI and UX issues on top of those that affect all block types. @Dries highlighted a number of these in his review in #1871772-111: Convert custom blocks to content entities → and there's some further exploration in #1875252: [META] Make the block plugin UI shippable → , but there are a lot of problems that are outside the scope of #2055853: [meta] Improve the place block UX; Separate interaction from the create block UX; Improve the existing blocks-by-theme layout → , which is the current task there.

Here's a walkthrough of what happens when you try to add custom blocks. I'll edit in the issues that exist to try to address each step after I'm done posting.

  1. I first went to add a custom block type.


    #2062761: Update hook_help() for custom_block modules → has been filed for the missing help text.
    #2062439: Provide listing of custom block entities → fixes the missing button text.

  2. Once I create my block type, I end up back on the same list, as expected, but there's no indication what I can do next.

  3. Spoiler alert: one has to click on the other "Blocks" link and go to admin/structure/blocks, then click "Place blocks". Neither of these things seem related to creating a new piece of block content.

  4. This confusing form is no help, but it is what I need actually.

  5. After I click "Add custom block" I get this entirely different looking page that seems like a separate place:

  6. But it looks like I'm on the right track.

  7. Until I'm thrown into yet another form.

  8. And now I'm back here, five screens later. They all looked different. Where did my block go? I want to change the text in it to something that's not text text.

  9. I forgot to set a region so I have to scroll down.

  10. Clicking "configure" takes me to a form but not the one I want.

  11. I back up and try the button I used the last time, even though I don't want to add a new one again.

  12. Same form, but with a new row for my block!

  13. ...And then I see yet another completely different looking screen. This threw me IRL. The problem is that this doesn't have the admin path entry it should and so we're thrown out of Seven and Overlay.

    #2062817: Custom block edit path is incorrect in hook_admin_paths() and the configure path is missing from the .info → should fix this.

  14. Also my block is displayed here with contextual links, which really baffled me at 12:30a last night. I realized this morning that this is a side effect of #13.

🐛 Bug report
Status

Postponed: needs info

Version

11.0 🔥

Component

block_content.module

Created by

🇺🇸United States xjm

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  • Usability

    Makes Drupal easier to use. Preferred over UX, D7UX, etc.

  • Needs issue summary update

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  • Comment 3 months ago →
    🇦🇺Australia acbramley

    There's been lots of work in this space recently, I think we need an IS update or maybe it's better to close this and create a new meta if there are another bunch of improvements to be made?

  • Comment 1 day ago →
    🇳🇿New Zealand quietone

    I support the idea of closing this and making a new meta, if needed. Dragging this out also mean that the folks here have to wait even longer for credit.

    Is there an issue for #34.2? If not one should be created.

  • Comment 1 day ago →
    🇦🇺Australia acbramley

    I can't see any help text on the block types page and searching for "custom block libraries" brings up nothing so it's hard to tell what #34.2 is referring to.

  • Comment 1 day ago →
    🇩🇪Germany rkoller Nürnberg, Germany

    @acbramley i couldnt remember at all what i was referring to that i've outlined in point 2. i did some digging and first installed drupal 10.1 (thought the discussion were around that time) but the block types page havent had any help text - same as in 11.x. i've then installed drupal 10.0.0 et voilá, mystery solved:

    So I guess most of the points in #34 are listed as fixed. the only point not labeled with fixed would be #34.5. so i guess i agree with you and @quiteone for closing this issue, and reassess the status quo soon and open up a new in case there is a need?

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