Transition In Progress
Our team is actively working on transitioning the blocks on our platform for sites that use our CALS v4.0 Gutenberg theme. This does not apply to those using our CALS 2015 theme. No action is required on your end to complete this update. This change only affects a small handful of blocks–you can find additional information below.
Action Steps
During your site’s transition
We’ll notify you if we need anything from you. Once we get to your site, our team will go page-by-page and transform any pages with old blocks on them. The transition process could take anywhere between 15 minutes and a couple of days, depending on the number of pages on your site.
If you see both versions of blocks in your site editor (this will happen during your site’s transition period since we need to leave both plugins active to complete the transforms), you should use the new blocks (with the UW Red outline color).
“This block is outdated and no longer supported…”
If you see this message in the block editor, it means we are currently transitioning your site. If you are creating a new block and see this message, please select the new version of that block (with the UW Red outline color).
Our team will complete all of these transforms for you, so you don’t have to worry about it. If you see this message for longer than a few days, please contact us.
After your site’s transition
Enjoy your new blocks! We’ve included help articles for each of the CALS custom blocks, which you can find here. If you need any assistance or run into issues, please do not hesitate to contact us.
“Your site doesn’t include support for the [block name] block.”
If you see this error message in the editor, please reach out immediately and do not click any of the options or you may lose some of your content. It is likely because this page contains an old block that was removed when we deactivated the old plugin. We’ll be able to quickly reactivate the old block, recover your content, and transform it to one of our new blocks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are you making a new version of blocks?
The updated blocks use more modern coding standards and have significant performance, accessibility, and user experience improvements. We felt an overhaul of our custom blocks system was necessary in order to ensure our platform remains maintainable and easy to use.
Why do you have to manually transition all of the blocks?
Because the new blocks have been significantly improved, a direct automated conversion could lead to unexpected layout shifts or styling issues. By manually transitioning each block, we’re taking the extra step to ensure your site’s appearance remains consistent and professional.
Is my site using the new or old blocks?
In your admin dashboard, you will see a widget that displays the current status of your site’s transition. The message will indicated whether your site is still using the old blocks, it’s in progress (meaning we are actively on the site and updating your blocks), or the update is complete.
In the site editor, you can tell the difference between the old and new blocks based on the outline color of the block’s icon in the editor. If it is UW red, it is using our new blocks. If it is black, your site is still using the old version of the blocks.
New Blocks: UW Red
Old Blocks: Black
When will you transition the blocks on my site?
We anticipate starting the bulk of our transitions in June and aim to complete this transition by the beginning of fall. If you are starting a new site or about to make a significant update, please contact us so we can prioritize your site’s transition and get you using the newer blocks as soon as possible.
What’s the difference between CALS blocks and WordPress blocks?
By default, WordPress comes with a core set of blocks that allow you to create layouts and display a variety of content on your pages, including paragraph, columns, headings, and many more. CALS Web Services has also developed several blocks in-house to build upon this functionality and offer a few more advanced features and layouts. For example, the accordion block allows you to display collapsable content, and the modal offers a way to show a pop-up on your page. Only CALS custom blocks are being impacted by this transition.