Edit Site: Spinning up a variation on any given template

[mtias]

Once you are in a specific context within edit-site (or a context has been loaded) there should be a way to create a variation for that specific context (if it's singular, a singular-{post-id}), if it's a monthly view of archive a date template and so on. This flow is decidedly more advanced, so it should be handled carefully and be easy to disable, but it should be possible.

These templates would be saved in the CPT for the site's wp_templates directly.

[MichaelArestad]

This is a tough one because I believe there will be more opportunities for this flow as we build out more features around templates (like a mosaic view and template part library, etc).

Proposal i1

My first proposal uses the block toolbar to duplicate a Template. There are some caveats as I have made some assumptions by moving both the template selector and the page selector part of the template block toolbar (instead of the top toolbar). However, I believe the core of this flow could be the same regardless of where those selectors end up.

Try the prototype

Screenshots

Benefits:

• Could be an identical flow to duplicating a template partial.
• Doesn't rely on a modal
• Pretty fast

Source figma file & frame

[johnstonphilip]

This is a good approach so far!

One thing that stands out to me in general is the issue of template hierarchy, and that it's not something average users should need to understand in order to use full-site-editing effectively and easily.

With that in mind, I wonder if the "Save Template As" option could be a set of possible options (based on the custom post types that are currently registered).

For example, instead of allowing people to call the templates anything they want, maybe a list like this should be available to them:

• Home (front-page)
• Single posts (single)
• List of posts (archive)
• Single Products in WooCommerce (single-product)
• List of Products from WooCommerce (archive-product)

Ideally I think this should be some kind of engaging UI that clearly indicates which templates fall under which Custom Post Types. I don't think a simple dropdown menu will be enough.

[MichaelArestad]

With that in mind, I wonder if the "Save Template As" option could be a set of possible options (based on the custom post types that are currently registered).

@johnstonphilip I see what you're saying. We may need the user to specify what type of page it is. That's interesting. I wonder if that is necessary or if any template could be used for any page. @mtias, could you please shed some light on this?

[MichaelArestad]

After some back and forth iteration on this with @shaunandrews, here's where I landed at the end of today.

Proposal i2

This is primarily an iteration on the Template menu. It shows the current template and useful actions one could take with that template including "Duplicate," "Rename," and "Browse templates."

It does not include template parts. There is already two methods for selecting template parts via the Navigator and by directly selecting them. It's still possible to include them, but to me, feels unnecessary and distracts from the focus of the menu.

I also tried a variant with the added ability to change what page the user is on. I'm not entirely sold on it and it comes with its own set of issues for another... issue.

[jasmussen]

Thanks for keeping with the high fidelity mockups! I've said it before but it deserves repeating, it makes for SUCH better conversation when you have something clear to look at.

In this case I think the duplicate/rename actions are really interesting, and would be nice to explore keeping in a section of that dropdown.

But I do find myself missing some of the pieces of #20470, including the template parts. Specifically, when the dropdown says "Home", to me it suggests that not only should "Home" also appear in the dropdown, but it should appear next to other menu items of the same DNA, i.e. other template parts. The idea being when you pick another template part, that's what becomes the label in the dropdown — after a reload of course. The additional actions can still be there if necessary, but they need to be cordoned off.

By the way the bold indicator for active item is a step up from what I have, but is there any way we can make it even more clear that it's active, without showing a checkmark like in the preview dropdown?

Specifically, here's what I have currently, and it's bad :soblol: