Working in the Editor

Summary: Learn the Antimanual Builder editor workflow, including canvas modes, hierarchy tools, styling, code view, recovery, and practical editing recommendations for efficient page building.

The antimanual builder user documentation, antimanual builder pro documentation, how to use antimanual builder, antimanual builder installation and activation, building pages with antimanual builder workflow in the editor centers on a full-screen canvas, fast structural controls, and reliable recovery. This section explains the toolbar, canvas states, hierarchy tools, page settings, styling, code view, and history so you can edit confidently and publish with control.

If you are comparing editing options, this guide also clarifies where free and Pro behavior differs inside the editor. For background on page editing standards, see WordPress Pages documentation and MDN HTML reference. For accessibility guidance while editing content, review W3C WAI resources.

Editor layout and toolbar

The editor uses a purpose-built toolbar arranged around the canvas. On the left, you can return to the dashboard, create a new page, open recent items, and access saved blocks. In component workflows, you may also see Push update and an Updates badge when a page contains stale components. The center area controls preview width and switches between Visual and Code. On the right, you will find page status, settings, view controls, keyboard shortcuts, and the main save button.

The Blocks menu is intentionally lean. It includes a shortcode block, a search block, and your custom blocks. There is no built-in section library, so efficient use of saved blocks and AI-generated content is part of the recommended antimanual builder user documentation, antimanual builder pro documentation, how to use antimanual builder, antimanual builder installation and activation, building pages with antimanual builder process.

Canvas modes, text editing, and section controls

The canvas supports two states: Edit mode and View mode. Edit mode allows direct changes to elements. View mode is preview-only, which is useful when testing links, reading flows, and spacing as a visitor would see them. If you try to edit in View mode, the interface prompts you to switch back first.

Text editing is inline. When you select text, a floating toolbar appears with formatting, alignment, heading level changes, links, and a shortcut to ask AI about the selected text. Images open the WordPress media library for replacement. Section-level controls appear on hover, including add, duplicate, move, remove, and reuse actions. Right-click is especially efficient because it exposes structural commands such as copy, paste, convert, inspect, and save as custom block.

• Use Edit mode for modifications and View mode for live-style review.
• Right-click elements for duplicate, move, convert, inspect, and save options.
• Use the dashed Add Section zone to create new sections quickly.

The hierarchy panel and page settings

The hierarchy panel provides a tree view of every element on the page. It supports search, expand and collapse actions, child counts, and drag-and-drop reordering. You can switch between friendly labels and developer tags, which helps when working on deeper layouts or debugging nested content. The right-click menu in this panel includes actions for duplication, wrapping, showing or hiding elements, and deleting them.

Page Settings contains the document-level controls that affect how the page behaves. Here you can edit the page title, slug, status, excerpt, and permalink. You can also review page statistics such as words, elements, sections, read time, images, and links. Template selection is important: Canvas mode gives the builder full control, while Theme Default lets the active WordPress theme supply the header and footer. For deeper structure control, use How to Customize the 404 Page Text and Images in WordPress and How to Resolve Theme Preloader Issues and Integrate a Dark Mode Switcher in Elementor Headers when linking related documentation.

When working in the antimanual builder user documentation, antimanual builder pro documentation, how to use antimanual builder, antimanual builder installation and activation, building pages with antimanual builder workflow, remember that permissions matter. Editors can build and update pages, but Administrator access is required for Design System and Settings screens. Publishing without sufficient permission silently saves the page as a draft.

Styling, code view, and custom scripts

The style inspector lets you modify content at either the class level or the individual element level. This distinction is useful when you want a consistent design system across multiple sections or when you only need a one-off adjustment. Layout, typography, spacing, colors, and borders are all available in the inspector, and changes apply as you type.

Code view expands the editor into four tabs: HTML, CSS, JS, and CDN. This is where advanced users can format code, attach external libraries, and manage custom behavior. JavaScript is saved in the editor, but it runs on the live site only when the last saver has the appropriate WordPress capability. Inline script tags are stripped for security, so use the dedicated JS or CDN tabs instead. For reference, review the WordPress security model in the Plugin JavaScript guidance.

• Class styling changes every matching element.
• This element styling changes only the selected item.
• CDN is the correct place for external CSS and JavaScript libraries.

History, recovery, and keyboard shortcuts

The editor includes undo and redo support, version history, and browser-based crash recovery. Undo and redo can step through recent changes, while version history preserves saved states for later review and restoration. Only the latest five versions remain available per page, so it is best to save intentionally during major revisions. If a tab closes unexpectedly, unsaved changes can return when you reopen the editor.

Keyboard shortcuts are available throughout the editor and are suppressed while you type in text fields. Common actions include saving, undo, redo, opening hierarchy search, and sending chat messages. These shortcuts reduce friction during layout work and make the editor faster for repeat editing sessions. You can treat them as a core part of the antimanual builder user documentation, antimanual builder pro documentation, how to use antimanual builder, antimanual builder installation and activation, building pages with antimanual builder workflow.

• Use Ctrl/Cmd + S to save regularly.
• Use Ctrl/Cmd + Z and redo shortcuts for rapid correction.
• Use version history before making high-risk layout changes.

Practical editing recommendations

For the best results, start by opening the page in Edit mode, confirm the intended template, and check the hierarchy before making broad design changes. Use View mode to validate spacing and link behavior, then return to Edit mode for refinements. When you need reusable structure, save sections as custom blocks instead of rebuilding them manually. When the page requires advanced logic, use the AI tools or code view carefully, and keep an eye on save status before leaving the screen.

This approach keeps the antimanual builder user documentation, antimanual builder pro documentation, how to use antimanual builder, antimanual builder installation and activation, building pages with antimanual builder workflow stable, efficient, and easier to maintain across future revisions. If you want to continue, the next related topics are How to Keep All FAQ Tabs Closed on Page Load in the Docy Theme (Elementor), How to Install the Docy Core Plugin for the Docy WordPress Theme, and How to Display User-Specific Profiles in the AMA Theme.