What are Section Layouts?
Section Layouts (Premium-only feature) allow you to control the display width of individual technical sections in your offers. Each section can be displayed at either 50% width (half – creating 2 columns) or 100% width (full – single column).
This gives you flexibility to create visually balanced offers by placing short sections side-by-side while keeping detailed sections full-width.
Layout Options
| Layout Type | Width | Visual Result | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half Width | 50% | Two sections side-by-side (2 columns) | • Short bullet lists (3-5 items) • Simple specifications • Quick reference info • Balanced visual layout |
| Full Width | 100% | Section spans entire width (1 column) | • Long descriptions • Detailed specifications • Complex bullet lists (6+ items) • Important standalone sections |
Premium-Only Feature
| Feature | Basic | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Layout selector | ❌ Not visible | ✅ Dropdown per section |
| Layout control | ❌ Automatic (all full width) | ✅ Manual choice per section |
| 2-column display | ❌ Not available | ✅ Half-width sections create columns |
| Mixed layouts | ❌ All sections same width | ✅ Mix half and full in same offer |
| Responsive behavior | Basic responsive | ✅ Advanced: columns on desktop, stack on mobile |
Visual Examples
Example 1: All Full Width (Basic & Premium Default)
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Section 1 Title │
│ • Point 1 │
│ • Point 2 │
│ • Point 3 │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Section 2 Title │
│ • Point 1 │
│ • Point 2 │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Section 3 Title │
│ • Point 1 │
│ • Point 2 │
│ • Point 3 │
│ • Point 4 │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘All sections stacked vertically – clean but uses more vertical space.
Example 2: Mixed Layout (Premium)
┌─────────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ Section 1 (Half) │ │ Section 2 (Half) │
│ • Point 1 │ │ • Point 1 │
│ • Point 2 │ │ • Point 2 │
│ • Point 3 │ │ • Point 3 │
└─────────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────────┘
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Section 3 (Full) │
│ • Detailed point 1 with longer description │
│ • Detailed point 2 with technical specifications │
│ • Detailed point 3 with warranty information │
│ • Detailed point 4 with installation requirements │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
┌─────────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ Section 4 (Half) │ │ Section 5 (Half) │
│ • Point 1 │ │ • Point 1 │
│ • Point 2 │ │ • Point 2 │
└─────────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────────┘Sections 1, 2, 4, 5 = Half width (side-by-side)
Section 3 = Full width (standalone)
Example 3: All Half Width (Premium – Compact Layout)
┌─────────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ Materials │ │ Dimensions │
│ • Oak wood │ │ • Height: 2.8m │
│ • Stainless steel │ │ • Width: 1.2m │
│ • Safety glass │ │ • Depth: 15cm │
└─────────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────────┘
┌─────────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ Colors Available │ │ Installation Time │
│ • Natural oak │ │ • Preparation: 1 day │
│ • Dark walnut │ │ • Installation: 2 days │
│ • White painted │ │ • Final touches: 1 day │
└─────────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────────┘All sections at 50% width – compact, space-efficient, easy to scan.
How to Change Layout
For Premium users:
Step 1: Locate section editor
- Go to Technical Sections tab
- Find the section you want to modify
- Expand section (click checkbox or header)
Step 2: Find layout selector
- Inside expanded section, look for dropdown labeled:
- “Display width” or “Section layout”
- Dropdown is located below the section title field
Step 3: Select layout
- Click dropdown to see options:
- “50% width (2 columns)” ← Half width
- “100% width (1 column)” ← Full width
- Select desired option
Step 4: Preview updates instantly
- Right panel preview refreshes automatically
- See how sections arrange in 1 or 2 columns
- No need to save to see layout change
Step 5: Save offer
- Layout choice is saved with section data
- Each section remembers its layout independently
Section Editor Interface
Premium User – Layout Selector Visible:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ✓ Section 1 Title ▲ ↕ ↓ 🗑 │ ← Header
├─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Section title │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Materials and Finish │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ Display width ⭐ │ ← Layout selector
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ 50% width (2 columns) ▼ │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ Choose how wide this section appears │
│ │
│ Content (bullet list - one line per item) │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Oak wood construction │ │
│ │ Professional lacquer finish │ │
│ │ UV-resistant coating │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘Basic User – No Layout Selector:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ✓ Section 1 Title ▲ ↕ ↓ 🗑 │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Section title │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Materials and Finish │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │
│ [NO LAYOUT SELECTOR - all sections full width]
│ │
│ Content (bullet list - one line per item) │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ Oak wood construction │ │
│ │ Professional lacquer finish │ │
│ │ UV-resistant coating │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘Layout Behavior Rules
Column Pairing Logic
How sections pair into columns:
- Half-width sections try to pair with the next half-width section
- Full-width sections always standalone (break column flow)
- Odd half-width section displays alone (takes full row but styled at 50%)
Example Sequence:
Section 1: Half }
Section 2: Half } → These two appear side-by-side
Section 3: Full → Standalone (breaks column flow)
Section 4: Half }
Section 5: Half } → These two appear side-by-side
Section 6: Half → Alone (no pair, but still 50% width)
Section 7: Full → StandaloneResponsive Behavior
| Screen Size | Half-Width Sections | Full-Width Sections |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop (1200px+) | Two columns side-by-side (50% each) | Single column (100%) |
| Tablet (768px – 1199px) | Two columns side-by-side (slightly narrower) | Single column (100%) |
| Mobile (< 768px) | Stack vertically (100% each on mobile) | Single column (100%) |
| PDF Print | Two columns (exact 50/50 split) | Single column (100%) |
Key Point: On mobile devices, all sections stack vertically for readability, regardless of layout setting. Layout choice affects desktop/tablet and PDF only.
Best Practices
When to Use Half Width (50%)
Ideal for:
- ✅ Short sections (2-5 bullet points)
- ✅ Simple specifications (dimensions, colors, materials)
- ✅ Quick reference information
- ✅ Creating visual balance
- ✅ Space-efficient layouts
- ✅ Sections of similar length (pair them together)
Example – Good Half-Width Sections:
Materials Colors Available
- Oak wood • Natural oak
- Steel rails • Dark walnut
- Safety glass • White paintedWhen to Use Full Width (100%)
Ideal for:
- ✅ Long sections (6+ bullet points)
- ✅ Detailed descriptions with long text
- ✅ Complex specifications
- ✅ Important standalone information
- ✅ Sections that need emphasis
- ✅ Content that shouldn’t share space
Example – Good Full-Width Section:
Installation Process and Requirements
- Site preparation includes floor leveling and wall reinforcement
- Professional measurement session scheduled 2 weeks before installation
- Installation team arrives with specialized equipment
- Process takes 2-3 days depending on staircase complexity
- Final inspection and walkthrough with homeowner
- Cleanup and debris removal included in serviceLayout Strategy Examples
Strategy 1: Specifications First, Details Last
[Half] Materials [Half] Dimensions
[Half] Colors [Half] Finish Options
[Full] Installation Process (detailed)
[Full] Warranty and Maintenance (detailed)Strategy 2: Alternating Emphasis
[Full] Product Overview (important intro)
[Half] Standard Features [Half] Optional Upgrades
[Full] Technical Specifications (detailed)
[Half] Timeline [Half] Pricing TiersStrategy 3: All Compact (Quick Quote)
[Half] Materials [Half] Colors
[Half] Dimensions [Half] Installation Time
[Half] Warranty [Half] MaintenanceCommon Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why It’s Bad | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Pairing long + short | Unbalanced columns look unprofessional | Pair sections of similar length, or use full-width for long sections |
| Too many half-width | Cramped appearance, hard to read | Mix in some full-width sections for breathing room |
| All full-width | Wastes horizontal space, long scrolling | Use half-width for short sections to create compact layout |
| Single half-width section | Looks lonely, no pairing benefit | Either pair it with another half-width or make it full-width |
| Ignoring mobile view | Doesn’t matter – all stack on mobile anyway | Focus on desktop/PDF appearance, mobile handles automatically |
Layout in Preview & PDF
Preview Panel (Right Side)
Real-time layout preview:
- Changes appear instantly when you select different layout
- Sections arrange in 1 or 2 columns based on your choices
- Colors and styling from selected PDF template apply
- Exactly represents how PDF will look
Preview updates when:
- ✅ You change layout dropdown
- ✅ You edit section content
- ✅ You reorder sections (drag & drop)
- ✅ You check/uncheck section visibility
PDF Export
Layout is preserved in PDF:
- Half-width sections print side-by-side (exact 50/50 split)
- Full-width sections print spanning entire page width
@media printCSS ensures correct rendering- Margins and spacing optimized for A4/Letter paper
Print behavior:
- Columns align perfectly
- No awkward page breaks within sections
- Professional typography and spacing
- Template colors apply correctly
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Layout selector not visible | Premium not active | 1. Verify Premium license 2. Check Settings → License 3. Contact support if Premium should be active |
| Sections not side-by-side | Both sections not set to “Half width” | Check both sections are set to 50% width – both must be half to pair |
| Layout not in PDF | Print CSS not loading | 1. Try different browser 2. Check print preview first 3. Ensure template CSS loaded |
| Uneven columns | Sections have very different content lengths | Pair sections of similar length, or use full-width for longer one |
| Layout not saved | Didn’t save offer after changing layout | Always click Save after changing layouts – changes need to be saved |
| Mobile shows columns | This shouldn’t happen – mobile should stack | Clear browser cache, check responsive CSS is loading |
Template Compatibility
Layout feature works with all PDF templates:
| Template | Half-Width Support | Full-Width Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Default | ✅ Full support | ✅ Full support | Clean column separation |
| Modern Blue ⭐ | ✅ Full support | ✅ Full support | Blue dividers between columns |
| Business ⭐ | ✅ Full support | ✅ Full support | Professional column styling |
| Elegant ⭐ | ✅ Full support | ✅ Full support | Refined spacing between columns |
| Creative ⭐ | ✅ Full support | ✅ Full support | Vibrant column backgrounds |
| Minimal ⭐ | ✅ Full support | ✅ Full support | Maximum white space in columns |
| Professional ⭐ | ✅ Full support | ✅ Full support | Structured column layout |
All templates render columns correctly with proper spacing and alignment.
Migration: Basic to Premium
When upgrading from Basic to Premium:
Existing offers:
- ✅ All sections default to Full Width (100%)
- ✅ Nothing breaks – offers look identical
- ✅ Can now edit layout per section
- ✅ No data loss
What you can do:
- Open existing offer
- Layout selectors now visible
- Change sections to half-width where appropriate
- Save offer with new layouts
- PDF exports with new column layout
Recommendation:
- Review existing offers and optimize layouts
- Short sections → change to half-width
- Keep detailed sections full-width
- Creates more professional, compact appearance