1. Creating a Left Border Box with Gutenberg WordPress ~ future.housing.org.uk

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, WordPress has emerged as a highly customizable platform that empowers website owners to create stunning and captivating online experiences. With the advent of Gutenberg, the WordPress editor has undergone a significant transformation, introducing a user-friendly interface and a wide range of blocks that provide unprecedented creative freedom. Among these blocks, the Left Border Box stands out as an essential tool for designers seeking to add visual appeal and organization to their content.

The Left Border Box block is a versatile element that allows users to create visually striking boxes with a colored border on the left-hand side. This border can be customized in terms of width, style, and color, enabling designers to match the aesthetic of their website. Furthermore, the block provides ample space for text, images, or other elements, making it ideal for showcasing important announcements, highlighting key information, or simply adding a touch of visual interest to any page or post.

Create a Custom Block for Your Left Border Box

To design your own custom block for a left border box, follow these comprehensive steps:

Develop the Block’s Structure and Styles:
- Create a new PHP file in the /blocks directory of your theme or plugin.
- Declare the block’s metadata, including its name, title, category, and attributes.
- Define the block’s structure using HTML and/or JSX code, making sure to include a div with a class name for styling.
- Write custom CSS styles for the block, such as border width, color, and padding, and enqueue the stylesheet in the block’s constructor.
Register the Block:
- Import the registerBlockType function from the @wordpress/blocks module.
- Use this function to register your custom block, passing in the block’s metadata and editor script.
- The editor script will handle the frontend rendering and behavior of the block.
Customize the Block’s Editor Experience:
- If desired, create a component to manage the block’s editor interface.
- This component can provide controls for modifying the border width, color, and other settings.
- Use the InspectorControls and BlockEdit components from the @wordpress/block-editor module to integrate the editor controls.

Define Border Styles and Colors

In the Border Settings tab, you can customize the style, color, and width of your border. Here’s a breakdown of each option:

Border Style

Choose from a variety of border styles, including solid, dotted, dashed, double, groove, ridge, inset, and outset. Each style creates a different visual effect, so experiment to find the one that best suits your design.

Border Width

Set the width of your border in pixels. You can choose any value between 0 and 100. A wider border will be more noticeable, while a narrower border will be more subtle.

Border Color

Color Picker	Custom Color
Use the color picker to select a pre-defined color for your border.	Enter a custom color code in the “Custom Color” field. You can use any valid CSS color code, such as #ffffff for white or #000000 for black. Also, consider using color palettes to ensure brand consistency.

Set the Border Width

Specify the width of the left border in pixels. The following values are commonly used:

Width	Effect
1px	Thin border
2px	Medium border
3px	Thick border
5px	Very thick border

You can also specify a custom border width by typing in a specific pixel value, such as “10px”.

Additional Considerations

Consider the following additional factors when setting the border width:

The border width should be consistent with the overall design of your website.
A wider border can create a more prominent visual effect, but it can also take up more space and make the text less readable.
Experiment with different border widths to find the one that best suits your needs.

Adjust Border Radius for Rounded Corners

To achieve rounded corners for the left border box, you can utilize the “border-radius” property. This property allows you to specify the curvature of the corners. The syntax for border-radius is as follows:

border-radius: [top-left] [top-right] [bottom-right] [bottom-left];

To create a rounded corner specifically for the left border, you can use the following values:

Side	Value
Top-left	Desired radius
Top-right	0
Bottom-right	0
Bottom-left	0

Implement Conditional Border Display

To display borders only when the block is selected or active, you can use the following CSS:

CSS	Result
`.has-selected-block .block-editor-inner-blocks:not([data-align="fullwidth wide"]){border: 2px solid #000 !important;}`	Displays a 2px solid black border around the inner blocks of the selected block.
`.has-selected-block .block-editor-block-list__layout{border: 2px solid #000 !important;}`	Displays a 2px solid black border around the block list layout of the selected block.

For more customization options, you can use the CSS selectors provided by Gutenberg to target specific blocks or block types. For example, the following CSS would apply a 2px solid red border to all Image blocks:

.block-editor-block-type-image{border: 2px solid #ff0000 !important;}

Create Multiple Border Variations

Gutenberg provides a range of customization options, allowing you to create various border variations for your left border box. Explore the following methods to achieve your desired aesthetic:

1. Border Width:

Adjust the width of the left border to create a more subtle or bolder effect.

2. Border Style:

Experiment with different border styles, such as solid, dashed, or dotted, to create varying textures and visual interest.

3. Border Color:

Choose a border color that complements or contrasts with your content, highlighting it or blending it into the background.

4. Border Radius:

Soften the edges of your border by adding a border radius. This can create a more rounded or curved appearance.

5. Border Shadow:

Use border shadows to add depth and dimension to your box. Adjust the shadow’s color, opacity, and spread to achieve the desired effect.

6. Multiple Borders:

Create more complex border designs by adding multiple borders with different widths, styles, and colors. This can create a layered or stacked effect.

7. Gradient Borders:

Use CSS gradients to create a smooth transition between multiple border colors. This can add a touch of vibrancy and visual appeal to your design.

8. Custom Border Images:

Create unique and eye-catching borders by incorporating custom images. This allows you to use patterns, textures, or logos to enhance the visual aesthetics of your box.

Border Property	Options	Description
Border Width	Thin, Medium, Thick	Sets the width of the border
Border Style	Solid, Dashed, Dotted	Applies different border styles
Border Color	Custom Color Picker	Chooses the color of the border
Border Radius	1px – 50px	Rounds the corners of the border
Border Shadow	Color, Opacity	Adds depth and dimension to the border
Multiple Borders	Multiple Styles/Colors	Creates layered or stacked border designs
Gradient Borders	Multiple Colors	Smoothly transitions between border colors
Custom Border Images	External or Inline	Incorporates patterns or logos into the border

Gotchas to Avoid

As with any design element, there are a few potential pitfalls to watch out for when using left border boxes. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Be consistent. Once you’ve chosen a style for your left border boxes, stick with it throughout your content. Inconsistent styling can be jarring and unprofessional.
Use sparingly. Left border boxes can be a great way to draw attention to important information, but don’t overuse them. Too many boxes can make your content look cluttered and overwhelming.
Don’t overdo it. The border of your box should be subtle enough to frame the text without overpowering it. A border that is too thick or too dark can make your text difficult to read.
Use appropriate colors. The color of your border should complement the text and the overall design of your content. Avoid using colors that are too bright or too dark, as they can be distracting or difficult to read.
Choose the right font. The font you use for your text should be easy to read and complement the style of your border box. Avoid using fonts that are too fancy or too small, as they can be difficult to read.
Use negative space effectively. The negative space around your text can help to create a sense of balance and visual interest. Don’t crowd your text too close to the border of your box, as this can make it difficult to read.
Test your design. Before you publish your content, be sure to test your design on different devices and browsers. This will help you to ensure that your left border boxes look and function as intended.

Showcase Your Left Border Box in Action

Now that you know how to create a left border box, let’s take a look at some examples of how you can use them effectively in your content.

Use Case	Example
To highlight a call to action
To frame a quote
To create a timeline
To display a list of items
To create a sidebar

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. Border does not appear on the left side of the box
– Ensure that the “Left Border” option is enabled in the block settings.
– Check if there is any custom CSS that may be overriding the border style.
– Try clearing your browser cache and reloading the page.

2. Border is too thick or thin
– Adjust the “Border Width” option in the block settings to the desired thickness.

3. Border color is not as expected
– Verify the “Border Color” option in the block settings and ensure it is set to the desired color.
– Check if there are any conflicting styles or color overrides.

4. Border style is not as desired
– Select the desired border style (“Solid”, “Dashed”, “Dotted”, etc.) from the “Border Style” option in the block settings.

5. Border is not visible on all sides
– Ensure that the “Border Style” option is set to “All Sides” or the desired sides.

6. Border appears outside the box
– Check if there is any padding or margin applied to the block, which may cause the border to extend beyond the box’s edges.

7. Border overlaps with other elements
– Adjust the “Margin” or “Padding” settings of the left border block or neighboring elements to prevent overlapping.

8. Border is missing on specific devices
– Check if there are any responsive settings applied that may be affecting the border’s visibility on certain devices.

9. Custom CSS is not working
– Ensure that the custom CSS is correctly written and targeted to the appropriate element.
– Check if there are any syntax errors or conflicts with other CSS rules.

10. Other unexpected issues
– Inspect the block’s HTML code to identify any potential errors or missing settings.
– Check the WordPress support forums or online documentation for additional solutions.
– Consider reaching out to a WordPress developer for technical assistance.

How to Create a Left Border Box with Gutenberg in WordPress

Gutenberg, the default block editor in WordPress, offers a range of flexible options for creating visually appealing content. One such option is the ability to add borders to text boxes, including left borders. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a left border box using Gutenberg in WordPress:

Open the WordPress editor and create a new post or edit an existing one.
Click on the “+” button to add a new block.
Select the “Group” block from the list of available blocks.
In the Group block settings, click on the “Border” tab.
Enable the “Show Border” option.
Choose the desired border style, color, and width.
Select the “Left” option under “Border Position”.
Add your desired content inside the Group block.
Click on the “Update” or “Publish” button to save changes.

1. Creating a Left Border Box with Gutenberg WordPress