Links

If you'd like to insert a link that will take users to another website, follow these steps:

1. Add the URL website address that you'd like to link to in the 'Link' field. There is placeholder text that says 'URL' 
2. In the 'Link title' field, enter the words that you'd like to appear on the page that users will select for the link. If you don't add text to this field, it will default to display the full website URL address on the page. This can cause accessibility issues
3. Select the 'Target' checkbox so that the link will open in a new window
4. Select the 'Submit' button to add the link

Please note

As a best practice, anytime you are linking to an external website, you should select the link 'Target' checkbox so the link opens in a new window.

If you'd like to add a link to another page on your website, please follow these steps:

1. Enter the name of the page you'd like to link to in the 'Link to page' search field. A list of pages will appear in a dropdown menu. Select the page you want to link to from the available options.
2. This will automatically populate the 'Link title' field with the name of the page you're linking to
3. Select the 'Submit' button to complete the process

Please note

As a best practice, when you are linking to an internal page on your website, you should not select the 'Target' checkbox. Instead, you want the page to open in the same window.

If you'd like to link to a PDF document that you've saved in the 'Media' tab, follow these steps:

1. In the 'Link title' field, enter the words you'd like to appear on the page for the link text
2. Select the 'Target' checkbox so the document will open in a new window
3. Scroll down to 'Link to media' section and choose the 'Select media' button
4. This will open the 'Media' tab. Find the document you'd like to link to and then choose the 'Select' button 
5. Select the 'Submit' button to complete the process

Please note

As a best practice, anytime you are linking to a document (such as a PDF), you should make sure the link opens in a new window.

You can set up an anchor link that will take users to a specific content component on a page. To add an anchor link to a specific page component, follow these instructions:

1. In the 'Anchor / querystring' field, enter the unique anchor link ID text that you added in the specific component settings
2. If you're linking to an anchor ID on another page than the one you are adding the anchor link to, you'll need to include the last part of the web page URL along with the unique anchor ID (e.g., /my-page/#my_anchor)
3. In the 'Link title' field add the text that you'd like to display on the page that will link to the specific page component
4. Select the 'Submit' button to complete the process

In the 'Items per row' field, select how many links you'd like to display in a row. You can choose to one of the following options:

• 4 per row
• 3 per row
• 2 per row
• 1 per row

The option you choose will depend on how many links you're including as part of the Links component. You may want to preview and test a few different options, and select the one you like most. 

Select the 'Include link detail' toggle if you'd like to add some additional details about each link you're displaying. If you select this setting, you'll need to make sure that you've added text in the 'Optional additional text' box located in the 'Link' slide-out menu. 

These settings will be available only if the component is contained within a split component.

Using the 'Column Width' sliders you can set the width of the component in split components. The slider allows for column widths from 1 to 12. A minimum width of 2 is recommended.

The total width settings for 'Split Section 1' and 'Split Section 2' should equal 12. If the sum of 'Split Section 1' and 'Split Section 2' is greater than 12, your split content will appear on two rows.

Separate options are available for desktop and tablet size screens. On mobile screens split components switch to a single column.

You can customize the content colours of the component using the colours that are part of your website design. Depending on your website design, you can add a coloured background behind the component to create a hot spot on the page. 

Colour options

The colour options are based on the design of your website. You may be able to change the design colours depending on your Govstack plan. To get access to the website design features, speak with your GHD Digital Account Executive.

If you'd like, you can add an image to the background of your component. To do this, you need to:

1. Select the "+" icon next to the "Background image" field
2. This will open the 'Media' folder
3. From here, choose the folder that contains the image you'd like to add
4. Select the image you'd like to insert
5. Press the "Select" button 

Please note

Background images ignore the focal point and cropping information added to your image in the media tab. Instead they use the settings provided under "Background image options".

Adding an image behind text can cause colour contrast issues for users with low vision or colour blindness. You should only add an image behind text if it meets the colour contrast ratio requirements associated with accessibility legislation in your region.

Background images do not use alternative text and are not called out for those using screen readers. Make sure that background images do not contain information critical to understanding the meaning or context of your content.

You can also set a few options for a background image, including the placement of the image, size of the image and whether or not the image repeats. 

Image Size

These settings replace the cropping and sizing settings added in the media section image editor.

Cover - The image will stretch to fill the available space. This is the most popular option for a single image background.

Full-Width - The image stretches to fill the full width of the available space. Depending on the characteristics of the image this may result in gaps at the top and bottom of the component.

Auto - The image displays at it's actual size. This may leave gaps around the edges of your component.

Repeat - The background image with tile vertically and horizontally. Use a smaller image or a tiling image for best results.

Repeat Horizontal - As repeat but the background image tiles in a single row.

Repeat Vertical - As repeat but the background image tiles in a single column.

Image Placement

This setting replaces the focal point setting added in the media section image editor.

Select the origin point of your background image. The image will fill the space behind your component starting from the selected point. You may need to experiment to find the best contrast and focal point position for each image.

This setting only applies if you are using a page with a 'Full' page layout. Typically, full page layouts are reserved for the home page of your website or any landing pages you've created.

You can add animation to the component by selecting the 'Animate' toggle. Once the 'Animate' toggle is selected, you'll have the option to customize the:

• Animation style
• Animation delay (seconds)
• Animation duration (seconds)

From the 'Animation style' dropdown menu, select the type of animation you'd like to add to the accordion. There are a variety of different animation options in the following categories:

• Attention Seekers
• Bouncing Entrances
• Fading Entrances
• Flippers
• Light Speed
• Rotating Entrances
• Sliding Entrances
• Zoom Entrances
• Specials

We recommend testing out a variety of animation styles to select the one you like the most. 

Please note

Animation styles can cause accessibility issues for some users visiting your website. For example, some users may experience motion sickness when viewing animated elements on your website.

Using the 'Animation delay' slider select the time in seconds that you'd like to delay the animation. 

Please note

Animation delay can cause accessibility issues for some users visiting your website. Certain animation styles and delays can combine to make your animated component invisible to screen readers. Please test your animations to make sure they are accessible.

You can select how long you'd like the animation to last on the component by using the 'Animation duration' slider. Select the number of seconds you'd like the animation to continue on the public website. 

In the 'Name' field you can give a unique name to the component. This will make it easier to differentiate between components, both on your page as well as in your clipboard.

You can create an anchor link that will link a user directly to the top of this component. 

When linking to this page add the anchor to the "Anchor / querystring" field in the "Select link" dialogue box. The link will then jump to the top of the target component rather than to the top of the page.

Note that anchor names are case sensitive. For best results use lowercase characters, numbers, and dashes only. Avoid spaces and special characters.

In the 'Custom classes' field, you can add any custom CSS classes you may have. Custom CSS classes can be found in the Design node under the 'CSS' tab in the backend of Govstack. 

If you'd like to add more than one custom class, you'll need to leave a space between each class. 

Please note

Depending on your Govstack plan, you may not be able to access the Design node in the backend. If you'd like to be able to add custom CSS and get access to the website design, contact your GHD Digital Account Executive.

We cannot guarantee that future updates to Govstack will not break or negatively impact custom CSS.

You can select additional styles to the component, including:

• Spacing
• Visibility
• Design

Spacing

You can remove the spacing around the component by selecting one of the following options:

• Remove spacing
• Remove spacing top only
• Remove spacing bottom only

Visibility

You can customize the visibility of the component. Select one of the following options:

• Hide on all screens
• Hide on extra small screens
• Hide on small screens
• Hide on medium screens
• Hide on large screens
• Hide on extra large screens

Design

Select one of the following options if you'd like to customize the design of the component:

• Show shadows - this will add a shadow effect to the component. Note that by default most Govstack websites do not have shadows. You can add these in the Design node
• Sticky - the component will stay on the screen even as users scroll down the page

Turn on the 'Hide from website' toggle if you'd like to hide this component from the web page.

In the 'Name' field you can give a unique name to the link item. This will make it easier to differentiate between links if you add multiple links to the Links components. 

When working in the back office you'll see a list of all components on a page and the names will help differentiate between similar components.

In the 'Custom classes' field, you can add any custom CSS classes you may have. Custom CSS classes can be found in the Design node under the 'CSS' tab in the Govstack back office. 

If you'd like to add more than one custom class, you'll need to leave a space between each class. 

Please note

Depending on your Govstack plan, you may not be able to access the Design node in the back office. If you'd like to be able to add custom CSS and get access to the website design, contact your GHD Digital Account Executive. 

Turn on the 'Hide from website' toggle if you'd like to hide this component from the web page.