[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #37974: Add multi-panel feature to pages through add_theme_support

[WordPress Trac]

#37974: Add multi-panel feature to pages through add_theme_support
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 Reporter:  karmatosed    |      Owner:
     Type:  defect (bug)  |     Status:  new
 Priority:  normal        |  Milestone:  Awaiting Review
Component:  Themes        |    Version:
 Severity:  normal        |   Keywords:
  Focuses:                |
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 Making a multi-panel page and giving users the ability to chose what
 content is in those sections this is something people really want. There
 are a lot of methods to do this, from plugins to within themes. As a
 result, there's a lot of confusion for users.

 At Automattic, we've now done this in several themes through a 'Theme
 Options' section. In this ticket, I am suggesting a way that this comes
 back to core.

 Before I dive into this suggestion, I will say that I think there are
 absolutely other ways. In the long run I would also love to see content
 blocks make this feature obselete. But, this option is user tested. This
 is the best, proven method for users to get this. It also should be a lot
 less difficult and more time efficient to achieve. I'd love to see this be
 part of this release.

 How would this happen? Lets look at a flow suggestion.

 [[Image(https://cldup.com/KGmJFgTiG5.png)]]

 1. There is a new section under the Customizer called 'Multi Panel' - we
 totally should come up with a better name.
 2. You can click in and see each panel here.
 3. You then from those panels can click in and add content to the panels.

 Stepping through that this in code would appear something like this:

 1. add_theme_support(multipanel-page, 4);
 // 4 being number of panels and unlimited being the default.

 For simplicty I am just suggesting it's a simple add_theme_support. We
 have past precidence for this. Then you'd get the new section in
 Customizer appear. I also suggest this gets made as a feature plugin
 porting pretty much all of the existing code. At least this makes sense as
 a first step.

 Template wise, we probably want a consistent naming for this or to have
 people able to declare a template page. It could then have that page used
 as a static page, or just be used. You could either use one wrapping
 content for all or call each panel (if set numbers) and style each
 differently. This opens up to some flexibility with layout.

 This type of multi-panel page can be seen already live in themes like
 Pique: https://en-gb.wordpress.org/themes/pique/. There's good evidence
 from user testing that currently this is the best option too.

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Ticket URL: <https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/37974>
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