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Select Cards

Intermediate Training Module 3: Cards & Listings

Most card blocks display content automatically based on categories. Select Cards work differently. Instead of displaying all content from a category, they allow you to manually choose specific items to feature on a page.

This gives you complete control over exactly which content appears and in what order.

Select Cards are ideal when you want to highlight a curated collection of content rather than display the latest or automatically generated results.

Available Select Card blocks include:

Select Cards vs Card Blocks

Understanding the difference between these two blocks is important.

Card Blocks

Card Blocks automatically display content based on categories and filters.

Example:

Whenever a new Research news post is published, it appears automatically.

Select Cards

Select Cards allow you to manually choose content.

Example:

The selection remains unchanged until you update it yourself.

When to Use Select Cards

Select Cards work best when you want to feature specific content.

Examples include:

Featured News
Display three important news stories on your homepage.

Recommended Resources
Select important pages visitors should read first.

Key Events
Highlight a small number of featured events.

Featured Faculty
Showcase selected faculty members or staff.

Recommended Videos
Create a curated collection of video resources.

If you need complete editorial control, Select Cards are usually the better option.

Adding a Select Cards Block

To add a Select Cards block:

  1. Click the + button.
  2. Search for a Select Cards block.
  3. Choose the appropriate content type.

Available options include:

Selecting Content

After adding the block:

  1. Select one of the card placeholders.
  2. Begin typing the name of the content you want to display.
  3. Choose the item from the search results.
  4. Repeat for each card.

The selected content will automatically populate the card.

Reordering Cards

One advantage of Select Cards is complete control over card order.

Cards can typically be rearranged by:

This allows you to prioritize content exactly as you wish.

For example:

Unlike automatic card blocks, the order is entirely under your control.

Card Display Options

Once content has been selected, most display settings work the same way as standard Card Blocks.

Depending on the content type, common options may include:

Because the display options are shared, you can refer to the Card Blocks lesson for detailed descriptions of each setting.

Choosing the Right Approach

Use a Card Block when:

Use a Select Cards Block when:

Many websites use both approaches together.

For example:

Best Practices

Keep the Number of Cards Manageable
Select Cards work best when highlighting a small collection of important content.

Review Featured Content Regularly
Because Select Cards do not update automatically, they should be reviewed periodically to ensure the content remains current.

Prioritize Important Content
Place the most important card first.

Use Consistent Images
Select content with strong featured images whenever possible to create a more polished presentation.

Avoid Over-Curating
If a block requires frequent manual updates, a category-driven Card Block may be a better solution.

Try It Out

Practice working with Select Cards.

  1. Add a People Select Cards block.
  2. Select three people profiles.
  3. Rearrange the card order.
  4. Add a News Select Cards block.
  5. Select three specific news posts.
  6. Compare the experience to a category-driven Card Block.
  7. Decide which approach is most appropriate for your content.

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