Block Help: Message Block

Message blocks are great for quickly adding messages and/or images to a page.

Please click on "Next" below to see the steps to create a message block. 

Message Block

The message block has quite a few uses ranging from just a title and a body of text to an image slider. You will see the fields available when you open the dashboard. Text has formatting options and the ability to add links. You can also add a combination of text and images. You will see a check box for "Display Underneath Image" at the bottom of the dashboard which will cause the title and text body to split the image. Title on the top, text below. If that is not selected, the text will display right on top of thew image.

Tips and Common uses:

• Buttons and banners. Just be sure to add Alt text or your image will not display. Alt text is what a site reader will read to a user as they hover over the block.
• Message blocks can use combinations of text, images, and links, or simply display one type of content based on the data entered.
• Message blocks can contain multiple messages. Look for the "Add Additional Message" button at the bottom of the dashboard. The block will scroll through each message on a 5-second timer. Pause button is in place for accessibility.
• Using the Title, Message, and Image fields, you can overlay the text on the image (default) or create a header and footer via the check box that says "Display message underneath the image" 

Adding a Message Block

• Once you are logged in, you will see 4 icons on the left hand side of the page. Click on the "+" button on the bottom left side of the page to expand the menu, scroll over the "Message" option and select the button. 

This will bring up a preview window with options to title, add content as well as add a URL or photo to your new message block. 

• If you are adding a picture, save the picture to your computer and select the "Upload Image" option. Find the picture and select open. 
• When adding a picture, make sure to add "Alt Text" to make the picture ADA Compliant. Just a basic description of the picture, so visitors who are visually impaired and use screen readers can understand the picture at hand. If you do not add "Alt Text," you will get an error message on the block. 
• Finally, click the "Add Block" button, and your new message block will be displayed on the page. 
• You can also add additional messages and pictures, so that the same block can display multiple messages in a slideshow. (This feature is helpful when adding multiple pictures to the site.) Keep in mind there is an automatic 5-second timer used to rotate images when this feature is in place. You may need to adjust text to be above the transparent bar at the bottom of the block with the little dots in it.
• If you wish to add a URL to the Message Block, the user can click on the block itself and be redirected to the URL provided. Make sure the user can click on the block and know it will redirect them to a different page. This can be accomplished by adding text or by adding an image with information on it. See screenshot below for an example of a message block with an image attached to create a clickable "button."