{"id":135,"date":"2026-01-20T18:16:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T18:16:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/help.ministrycentral-europe.org\/?post_type=epkb_post_type_1&p=135"},"modified":"2026-01-20T18:16:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T18:16:15","slug":"elementor-do-dont-guide","status":"publish","type":"epkb_post_type_1","link":"https:\/\/help.ministrycentral-europe.org\/?epkb_post_type_1=elementor-do-dont-guide","title":{"rendered":"Elementor Do \/ Don\u2019t Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

MinistryCentral Europe<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

1. Purpose of This Guide<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This guide defines how Elementor may and may not be used<\/strong> within MinistryCentral Europe.<\/p>\n

It exists to:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Protect layout consistency<\/li>\n
  • Prevent fragile page designs<\/li>\n
  • Enable safe content editing<\/li>\n
  • Avoid CSS sprawl and visual drift<\/li>\n
  • Preserve long-term maintainability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    This is a rules document<\/strong>, not a tutorial.<\/p>\n

    \n

    2. Who This Guide Applies To<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    This guide applies to:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Web Platform Lead<\/li>\n
    • Designated advanced editors (explicitly authorized)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      It does not<\/strong> apply to:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • General Content Editors<\/li>\n
      • Course Coordinators<\/li>\n
      • Instructors<\/li>\n
      • Contributors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Most users should never open Elementor at all.<\/p>\n

        \n

        3. Core Principle<\/strong><\/h2>\n

        Elementor is a layout system, not a playground.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

        Freedom exists only inside approved templates and components<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

        \n

        4. What Elementor IS Allowed For (DO)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

        \u2705 Use Elementor to:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
          \n
        • Create and maintain global templates<\/strong><\/li>\n
        • Manage:\n
            \n
          • Headers<\/li>\n
          • Footers<\/li>\n
          • Page templates<\/li>\n
          • Section templates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Adjust layout using:\n
              \n
            • Approved widgets<\/li>\n
            • Preset styles<\/li>\n
            • Global settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
            • Ensure responsive behavior across devices<\/li>\n
            • Implement approved design changes<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              All work should reinforce consistency.<\/p>\n

              \n

              5. What Elementor Is NOT Allowed For (DON\u2019T)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

              \u274c Do NOT use Elementor to:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
                \n
              • Create ad-hoc layouts from scratch<\/li>\n
              • Override global styles per page<\/li>\n
              • Insert inline CSS for convenience<\/li>\n
              • Apply !important chains<\/li>\n
              • Adjust z-index or positioning casually<\/li>\n
              • Bypass templates to \u201cfix something quickly\u201d<\/li>\n
              • Experiment in production<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                If something feels like a workaround, it probably is.<\/p>\n

                \n

                6. Template-First Rule (Critical)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                All pages must be built from:<\/p>\n

                  \n
                • Approved page templates<\/li>\n
                • Approved section templates<\/li>\n
                • Approved widgets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Starting from a blank canvas is not permitted<\/strong> unless explicitly authorized.<\/p>\n

                  Templates are:<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • Easier to maintain<\/li>\n
                  • Safer to update<\/li>\n
                  • Faster to scale<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                    \n

                    7. Widget Usage Rules<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                    Allowed Widgets (Typical)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
                      \n
                    • Text Editor<\/li>\n
                    • Image<\/li>\n
                    • Button (from presets)<\/li>\n
                    • Icon List<\/li>\n
                    • Accordion \/ Tabs (preconfigured)<\/li>\n
                    • Video Embed (approved sources only)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      Restricted Widgets<\/strong><\/h3>\n
                        \n
                      • HTML<\/li>\n
                      • Custom CSS<\/li>\n
                      • Global Widgets<\/li>\n
                      • Third-party widgets<\/li>\n
                      • Experimental widgets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        Restricted widgets require explicit approval<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

                        \n

                        8. Responsive & Device Settings<\/strong><\/h2>\n
                          \n
                        • Responsive behavior is handled at the template level<\/li>\n
                        • No page-specific breakpoints<\/li>\n
                        • No hiding critical content per device without review<\/li>\n
                        • Mobile fixes are escalated, not improvised<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          Responsive issues must be solved structurally.<\/p>\n

                          \n

                          9. CSS Governance (Reminder)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
                            \n
                          • Global CSS lives in one approved location<\/li>\n
                          • Elementor Custom CSS is used sparingly<\/li>\n
                          • No inline CSS in widgets<\/li>\n
                          • No per-page CSS hacks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            CSS is a last resort<\/strong>, not a convenience tool.<\/p>\n

                            \n

                            10. Change Discipline<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                            Before making Elementor changes, ask:<\/p>\n

                              \n
                            • Is this change reusable?<\/li>\n
                            • Does this affect other pages?<\/li>\n
                            • Is there a template solution?<\/li>\n
                            • Has this been approved?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              If unsure \u2192 pause and escalate<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

                              \n

                              11. Common Anti-Patterns (Avoid at All Costs)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
                                \n
                              • \u274c \u201cJust fixing spacing\u201d<\/li>\n
                              • \u274c Duplicating sections with small variations<\/li>\n
                              • \u274c Over-nesting sections and columns<\/li>\n
                              • \u274c Page-by-page styling<\/li>\n
                              • \u274c Elementor used as a design sandbox<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                These lead to silent technical debt.<\/p>\n

                                \n

                                12. Escalation Path<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                                Escalate when:<\/p>\n

                                  \n
                                • A design limitation is encountered<\/li>\n
                                • A template does not support a legitimate use case<\/li>\n
                                • A layout change affects many pages<\/li>\n
                                • Performance or accessibility is impacted<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                  Elementor issues should never be solved alone.<\/p>\n

                                  \n

                                  13. Relationship to Other Documents<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                                  This guide works with:<\/p>\n

                                    \n
                                  • Platform & Technical Governance Guide<\/strong><\/li>\n
                                  • Template & Structure Strategy<\/strong><\/li>\n
                                  • Formatting & Style Guidelines<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                    It does not define editorial standards or content authority.<\/p>\n

                                    \n

                                    14. Summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n
                                      \n
                                    • Elementor is powerful \u2014 and therefore constrained<\/li>\n
                                    • Templates over improvisation<\/li>\n
                                    • Global over local fixes<\/li>\n
                                    • Escalation over experimentation<\/li>\n
                                    • Consistency over creativity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                      This discipline keeps the platform healthy.<\/p>\n

                                      <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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