Pending List | Custom | Auto Layout

#experienceBuilder #layouts

#custom

#pendinglist

I totally see why this gets confusing, and you're asking the right questions. Let’s break it down to clarify the workflow and why (or when) you might want to use **Custom Mode** versus relying on **Copy and Pending List**.

### The Role of **Auto Mode**, **Custom Mode**, and the **Pending List**

1. **Auto Mode**:

   - This mode tries to do the heavy lifting for you by automatically adjusting layouts across different screen sizes. It’s good for when you want a quick, responsive layout that works "well enough" across devices without too much manual tweaking.

   - You’re limited in terms of fine-tuning. Things like widget size, positioning, and visibility for each device type (desktop, tablet, mobile) are handled automatically, and any advanced layout control needs to be done in Custom Mode.

2. **Custom Mode**:

   - In **Custom Mode**, you gain manual control over the layout for each screen size. You can adjust specific elements for desktop, tablet, and mobile views. This is useful when you need different layouts for different devices. The trade-off is that you can accidentally lose these settings if you toggle back to **Auto Mode**.

   - You would use **Custom Mode** when you need to make fine-tuned adjustments that **Auto Mode** can't handle, like resizing widgets, repositioning elements, or hiding/showing specific widgets based on the device.

3. **Pending List & Copying Layouts**:

   - When you’re in **Auto Mode** and try to make changes that can’t be applied, Experience Builder puts those changes in the **Pending List**. The **Pending List** reminds you that you need to switch to **Custom Mode** to apply those changes manually.

   - If you're in **Custom Mode**, you can **copy the layout** from one device type (e.g., desktop) and apply it to another device type (e.g., mobile) to avoid redoing the layout from scratch. This creates a **second generation** layout that you can adjust as needed.

   - **Copying** saves you time by giving you a base layout to start from, which can then be **further customized** for the new device. However, it won't work for all situations since sometimes the copied layout still requires fine-tuning for things like widget sizes, spacing, and visibility.

### When to Use Custom Mode vs. Copying from Pending List:

- **Use Custom Mode** if:

   - You need granular control over the layout, and you want each device view (desktop, tablet, mobile) to have its own specific design.

   - You’re making changes that **Auto Mode** can’t handle, like advanced positioning, fine-tuning widget sizes, or hiding widgets on specific screen sizes.

   - You’re building out layouts that need to look perfect for every screen size, and automatic adjustments just won’t cut it.

- **Use the Copy/Pending List** if:

   - You’re mostly satisfied with the layout from one device type and want to reuse it on another device with only minor tweaks.

   - You want a faster workflow and don’t want to build each layout from scratch.

   - You’re okay with making a few adjustments after copying, but you still need control over certain custom elements.

### How Much Can You Change in Copy/Pending?

- When you copy a layout to another device view, you’re creating a **starting point**. From there, you can:

   - Resize widgets

   - Adjust positioning (move things around)

   - Hide/show specific elements based on the device

   - Align or space widgets differently to fit the screen size

   - Adjust text sizes, margins, and paddings

However, some device-specific changes might still need **manual intervention**, and that's where **Custom Mode** shines. For example, a mobile layout might require more drastic changes like simplifying the UI (hiding complex elements or stacking content vertically instead of horizontally).

### Why Use Custom at All?

If you only use **Copy/Pending**, you’re still dependent on Auto Mode’s initial decisions, and sometimes it doesn’t handle responsive layouts perfectly. **Custom Mode** allows you to **fine-tune** these decisions, especially when Auto Mode gets things wrong or doesn’t fit your design requirements.

In short:

- **Copy/Pending** is great for speeding things up, but it’s not as flexible for deep customizations.

- **Custom Mode** is for when you need full control over layouts on each device and want to avoid the limitations of Auto Mode.

Does that help clear things up a bit more?