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A rack is basically an enclosure for mounting multiple modules. In Magnolia 5, a rack is a container for a basically arbitrary (but usually small) number of units. Each unit collects a number of UI elements logically and semantically belonging together, such as a language selector or an element representing the translation status of the current page.
The goals of the racks and units conceptsconcept are:
- to offer a great overview of various aspects of an a content element while keeping the interface simple
- to provide a scalable UI solution for adding functionality to pages, paragraphs, areasareas and paragraphs contributed by modules or future extensions
A unit may either use a single-state or a two-state interface. If a unit can provide a short overview of its core settings, but needs more space to show all values, it is dubbed an expanding unit and uses the two-state interface offering both a collapsed and an expanded view. In the expanded view, the unit takes over most of the space available in the rack and thus has plenty of space available to show its data. In the collapsed view, only the brief overview fits in. If a unit only needs one interface to show its settings, it is called a uniform unit and uses a single-state interface using offering only the collapsed view only..
Actions and Options rack
Uniform and expanding units
More space in a rack
The toolbar unit
The toolbar is a special unit hosting two global functions, namely the clipboard and global undo/redo. In particular undo/redo needs to be available at any time and independent of the currently selected content element. The toolbar thus is available at all times and at the exact same location. It even remains visible if a unit is switched to show its expanded view.
Appearance and functionality of the toolbar rack will be as close to the toolbar of AdminCentral as possible.
Working with a paragraph or the page
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Note that while this concept may sound complicated, its day-to-day use actually isn't. If you select a paragraph on the page, the target selector is automatically switched to "paragraph". The same holds if you select an area. If you deselect any element, the target selector switches to "page". The only time you have to manually switch it is when you've selected a paragraph, but would like to switch back to work on the page level to e.g. activate the page.
Actions and Options rack
Uniform and expanding units
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