ShortPoint Basics: How to Insert a ShortPoint Design Element

One of the first things you will learn when building an intranet page with ShortPoint is how to insert a Design Element to display your content. This article walks you through how to do it, whether you are starting a new page or adding to a page that already has ShortPoint content.


Insert an Element window listing Basics Design Elements such as Icon Boxes, Steps, and FAQs


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Prerequisites

  • You have the latest ShortPoint SPFx version installed.
  • You are designing a Modern page in SharePoint. Live Mode is not available for Classic pages.
  • You are a ShortPoint Designer with an active license.

Interactive Tutorial


Click Get Started to learn how to insert a Design Element:


Step-by-step Tutorial


Choose the option that suits your needs:


Option 1: Insert a Design Element on a new page


Use this option when your page doesn't have a ShortPoint web part yet.


Step 1: Add a ShortPoint Web Part

  • Go to the SharePoint page you want to use and click Edit.


Clicking Edit on a SharePoint page before you insert a Design Element


  • The SharePoint Toolbox opens on the right side of the page. Click the X icon to close it.


Closing the SharePoint Toolbox with the X icon to make room for a new section


  • Click the blue plus icon to add a new SharePoint section.


Blue plus button for adding a new SharePoint section to hold the Design Element


  • Choose Full-width section.


Selecting the Full-width section layout from the SharePoint section options menu


  • From the options in the new section, select ShortPoint. This opens ShortPoint Page Builder.


Choosing the ShortPoint web part from the options shown in the full-width column


NOTE: For more ways to add the ShortPoint web part, check out How to Add a ShortPoint Web Part.

Step 2: Choose a layout

  • Click the Choose Layout icon.


Choose Layout icon in the empty Page Builder web part, between the other start options


  • From the drop-down, select the Row layout you'd like to use.


Row layout drop-down listing column options for placing a new Design Element


Step 3: Insert a Design Element


  • Click the pink plus icon inside the column to open the Insert an Element window.


Pink plus icon inside an empty row used to insert a Design Element


  • Use the search bar to look for the Design Element you want to use, then select it. There are over 80 Design Elements to choose from. In this example, we added Person Cards.


Searching for a Design Element in the Insert an Element window search bar


Step 4: Add your content and customize the design


  • The Design Element settings panel opens on the right. Customize the content and design to your liking.


Person Cards settings panel open beside the page after inserting the Design Element


NOTEThe tabs and options you see depend on the Design Element you added. Check the dedicated support article for each Design Element to learn more about its settings. We've also listed in Design Element Features the tabs you'll commonly find for Design Elements.

Step 5: Apply changes and save


  • Once you're happy with it, click the green checkmark to apply your changes.


Applying Design Element changes with the green checkmark at the bottom of the settings panel


That's it! Your Design Element is now on the page. Repeat steps 3-4 to add more.


Person Cards Design Element inserted into a new SharePoint page in Live Mode


Option 2: Insert a Design Element on a page with existing ShortPoint content


Use this option when your page already has a ShortPoint web part with content in it.


Step 1: Edit the ShortPoint web part


  • Go to your SharePoint page and click Edit.


Edit button on a SharePoint page that already contains ShortPoint content


  • Then, click the X icon to close the Toolbox.


X icon that closes the SharePoint Toolbox on a page with an existing design


  • Click the Edit web part icon on the ShortPoint toolbar.


Edit web part icon on the ShortPoint toolbar for an existing page design



Step 2: Add a new Row


  • Design Elements live inside Rows. Select any Row tag.


Selecting a Row tag in Page Builder to choose where the new element goes


  • Click the plus icon to add a new Row.


Adding a new Row below the selected one with the pink plus icon


Step 3: Insert a Design Element

  • Inside your new Row, click the pink plus icon (Add Design Element).


Add Design Element tooltip over the plus icon inside a newly created Row


  • Use the search bar to find the Design Element you want and select it. In this example, we used Person Cards.


Looking up Person Cards in the Insert an Element search on an existing page


Step 4: Add your content and customize the design


  • Edit the content and design to your liking using the tabs and item icons in the settings panel. The options available depend on the Design Element you added.


Settings panel for customizing content after adding Person Cards to an existing page


NOTEThe tabs and options you see depend on the Design Element you added. Check the dedicated support article for each Design Element to learn more about its settings. We've also listed in Design Element Features the tabs you'll commonly find for Design Elements.

Step 5: Apply changes


  • Click the green checkmark to apply your changes.


Applying a dark color mode to Person Cards with the green checkmark button


That's it! Your new Design Element now appears on the page alongside your existing content. You can add more depending on the needs of your page.


Finished Person Cards element inserted below existing content on a ShortPoint page


Design Element Features


Each ShortPoint Design Element has different tabs inside its settings window. We've listed the most common ones to help you learn their functions:

NOTEThe options found inside each tab will vary depending on the Design Element you're using.


A. Items tab


The Items tab is typically found in Design Elements that display multiple items (Person Cards, File List, Icon Boxes, etc.). It allows you to edit the content of each item.


Items tab listing each person card with edit, duplicate, and delete icons



B. Content Tab


The Content tab has the same function as the Items tab. It allows you to edit the content of the selected Design Element. The main difference is that it's commonly found on Design Elements that highlight only one main content (Text, Panel, Note, etc.).


Content tab with a rich text editor for formatting a Text Design Element



C. Design Tab


The Design Tab allows you to customize the style and look of the Design Element.


Design tab options for text color, alignment, shadows, and line settings


D. Spacing Tab


The Spacing tab allows you to adjust the padding and margins around the selected Design Element.


Spacing tab fields for setting custom padding around the selected element


E. Background Tab


The Background Tab is typically found on Design Elements that allow you to add background images, colors, or videos.


Background tab for adding an image or video behind a CTA Card element



F. Toolbar Tab


The Toolbar tab allows you to add Search & Filter widgets to the Design Element. With it, you can add a search bar, filter and sort content, and so much more. For more information, check out Getting Started: The Basics of the Search & Filter Toolbar.


Toolbar tab for adding search, filter, sort, and pagination widgets to an element



G. Metadata Tab


The Metadata tab goes hand in hand with the Toolbar tab. It allows you to add detailed labels or tags that provide additional context to your content. For more information, go to How to Add SharePoint Metadata Tags to Organize Content.


Metadata tab for adding labels that help users filter and search content



H. Connect Tab


Connect tab allows you to integrate the selected Design Element to an internal (SharePoint List, Document Library, etc.) or external source (RSS Feeds, REST API, etc.). To learn more, go to How to Establish Seamless Connection.


Connect tab with a Configure button for linking an element to live data sources


I. Visibility Tab


The Visibility tab allows you to modify who gets to see the Design Element and from which devices. Check out Visibility Experience for more details.


Visibility tab settings for choosing which people, groups, and devices see the element


J. Advanced Tab


The Advanced tab contains settings that allow you to further modify how the Design Element looks.


Advanced tab controls for container width and custom properties of a Design Element


K. Custom CSS


The Custom CSS tab allows you to add Custom CSS to the Design Element, giving way to advanced customizations. Check out Custom CSS for Design Elements to learn more.


Custom CSS tab with fields for code, ID, and class on a Design Element


Ready to Add Design Elements?


You now know the basics of adding Design Elements to your SharePoint pages. If you're ready to start using them, we've prepared a comprehensive guide on all the Design Elements ShortPoint offers. You'll also find practical ways to use them.


Frequently Asked Questions


What is a ShortPoint Design Element?


A Design Element is a ready-made building block you add to your SharePoint page to display content, such as text, images, people profiles, or links. ShortPoint has over 80 Design Elements to choose from, and you can find them all in the Insert an Element window.


Where can I place a Design Element on my page?


Design Elements are placed inside Rows. On a new page, choose a layout first to create a Row. On a page that already has ShortPoint content, select any Row tag and click the plus icon to add a new Row (see Option 2).


How do I add more than one Design Element?


Repeat the steps for inserting a Design Element. Click the pink plus icon in an empty column or a new Row, then search for and select the next Design Element you want to add.


Why do I see different tabs for different Design Elements?


Each Design Element has its own settings, so the tabs and options change depending on the element you choose. For example, Person Cards has an Items tab, while Text has a Content tab. See Design Element Features for the most common tabs.


Can I edit a Design Element after inserting it?


Yes. You can change its content and design at any time. To learn how, check out ShortPoint Basics: How to Edit a Design Element in Live Mode.


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