I don't want a brand-new format
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When we were threatened earlier with a new Editor, someone came up with a workaround then and I made sure to Bookmark that too. Bookmarking the URL still works when you’re not logged in. You’ll get the prompt to log in and after doing so will be taken straight to the Classic Editor. I just confirmed that.
Now here’s a Watch Out! Despite my having the earlier workaround Bookmarked, this morning I was taken to the NEW Editor. So, they killed my old Bookmark. They might wind up killing this one too. But in the meantime, we still have Classic.
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Thanks Val, we’re passing that along. That’s more helpful than then WordPress staff has been on this issue.
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We have tips for transitioning from the classic editor to blocks https://wordpress.com/support/switching-from-the-classic-to-the-block-editor/ and FAQs: https://wordpress.com/support/replacing-the-older-wordpress-com-editor-with-the-wordpress-block-editor/#frequently-asked-questions
And, if you really want to use something like the classic editor, we recommend sticking with the classic block: https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/blocks/classic-block/
For more details, please see https://wordpress.com/blog/2020/08/13/the-classic-editing-experience-is-moving-not-leaving/
We do recommend the new editor though, and we have some extensive documentation available at https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/
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I too am aghast to have found the classic editor option has been removed in place of this utter unworkable monstrosity WP has replaced it with. I’ve spent half an hour looking at a white screen and not having a clue where to start whereas before it took me five minutes to add a new post.
Do I have to find a new blogging platform? This is simply atrocious!
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@mikecane It’s probably not WordPress dot com that killed your bookmark, more likely to have been your browser. Have a look at its settings and put your blog address in the settings area that remembers cookies. And, oh yes, I know about logging in on a URL to something on the dashboard, but I usually log in via the link to the dashboard itself (which is by adding /wp-admin to the end of the blog address). It’s easy enough then to click on the All posts link and from there the Add New. You have to make sure, though, that you’re not clicking the ‘Add New’ from the side panel there – that’s probably the mistake I was making. It needs to be the ‘Add New’ button at the top of the All Posts page.
@ghostfire Good. Thanks. -
Hi all, Having blogged here since 2006 myself, and seen the many changes to this platform, I know and understand the frustrations being voiced here. However, let me be plain-spoken. The Classic editor at WP Admin on our WPcom sites is there because WPcom installed the Classic Editor plugin for us. According to the WP.org site, that plugin will be officially maintained until December 31, 2021. We users do not know what will happen after that time.
So, while you continue writing in WP Admin’s editor, start dabbling in the Classic block, https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/blocks/classic-block/ or the full Block Editor https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/ in a test post or page. The more you use it, the easier it will become. FWIW – it took me a few tries and adjusting some settings, like pinning the block toolbar, to make the interface less frenetic, but I only use the Block Editor now.
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Add me to those protesting. Vehemently. I jumped online late last night to put up a simple post and discovered I’d been switched irreversibly to the new block editor. Until now my shortcuts to the old classic editor (NOT the classic block), the one I’d used for years, worked. I spent an hour or two last night putting together a simple post that previously would have taken maybe 20 minutes. I don’t care what WP “recommends” I use. As an editor and publisher for some 30 years before I retired, I want a WYSIWYG format to work with. I couldn’t find a way to wrap text around a photo or to center the photo. I couldn’t find a way to size the photo or add margins and borders of my choice around it. My existing caption style was totally disregarded.
Ten years on WP and more than 3,000 posts ought to get more respect. A heads up at the very least.
/rant
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@talavernon I can’t answer whether it’ll be taken away or not as I don’t know. My guess is that eventually it’ll go, but it’s just a guess. As far as I know, the block editor (Gutenberg) was created by the parent company, not by wordpress dot com. They said originally that the Classic Editor would be with us til 2022, but they said the same about the arrival of the block editor…
Yes, it’s being ‘allowed’, otherwise none of us would have access to it. ‘Are we meant to be using it’? Yes, if we want and if we’ve access to it. The only reason they’re pushing the block editor is because it’ll be a whole lot easier for them if every site user (us) will use that instead of the old Classic Editor. This is a huge, vast site – millions of users. Another thing I discovered via the parent company’s site is that the Classic Block plugin is glitchy and people often experience bugs with it. So if the block editor is easier for them to maintain, it makes sense for them to remove the glitchy one. Not good for us, but good for them.
I think it’s probably best that we don’t turn this thread into more of a discussion. The more we post to a thread, the more it gets shoved up to the top of the queue and the more it takes the focus away from people with very pressing problems. That’s just a suggestion, by the way. Not an order! :)
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@justjennifer Thanks for the additional info. But it seems to me it’s more than the Editor that’s changed now — it’s the entire page. The right sidebar is so totally different too. And it’s unclear what the status of a work-in-progress post is. I’ve tried the WordPress app and it has posted things still being worked on. This seems just as confusing and frustrating as the app (which I won’t use except under extreme circumstances).
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Hi @leeinblack, is the interface completely white or are you seeing the options mentioned here?
https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/If it’s completely white, it’s typically a browser issue, often just bad cache that can be fixed by clearing it.
Can you confirm which browser you’re using, and its version?
And, could you try clearing your browser cache to see whether that helps? This article explains how:
If the interface is technically working for you and you just don’t like it, I understand that too — just let us know what specifically is bothering you so we can get that filed. We won’t be able to maintain all editors forever, so it’s best to work through these things.
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Hello again folks, I’m glad that helped.
Regarding the WP app @mikecane I can’t really reply because I’m online here so much in the forums, I usually write directly in the browser. If you are having a specific issue with the app, it’s best to open a new forum thread so you can get support for that.
Regardless, you still have time to get used to the Block Editor, even if you start by only using the Classic Block. Read through the Support tutorial I linked to and post a new thread if you have questions.
I’ve already suggested it elsewhere, but I really am advocating for a full 30-minute webinar on the Block Editor because written directions like the WordPress Editor support guide at https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/ can be overwhelming (IMO).
And you all will forgive me, but I must go offline as the hour is quite late here.
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Thank you for your help here, @valcolours :)
All: I’m really sorry for the frustration. We still won’t be able to maintain both editors forever, though, and at this point support staff is limited in what we can revert for you.
We’ll keep doing our best.
And the very best thing we can do, based on past experience with other changes like this? It’s to collect specific feedback about the individual issues or pain points you’re running into, so we can get as many of those as possible addressed for you.
I can’t do much with this type of feedback:
I hate it! Change it back!
Even if I could convince the company to change the editors for you, or just run both side by side forever, we’d be running into all sorts of compatibility issues in the long run.
But feedback like this is really helpful:
The toolbar is too distracting
Or
I’m having trouble selecting the exact text I want
or
I can’t find the block I’m looking for
People hated the older editor at first, but came to really enjoy it as we got feedback from the community, and, over time, worked to blend the best ideas. I’m hoping for the same thing with blocks — in fact I’ve got plenty of faith that we’ll get there.
As for “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” — there were many limitations in the older editor that we needed a way to overcome, and features we wanted to add but could not. Blocks are helping us push through that, so thank you for your patience as we work on this.
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“We don’t like the obtuse and difficult block editor. Give us a way to switch back to Classic.”
“Hey you should use block editor!”
“But… that’s exactly what we *don’t* want.”
“You totally should. You’ll like it.”
“We’ve tried it. We don’t.”
“Are you sure?”This line of reasoning makes me beat my head against a desk. It’s a bad editor, and my blogging friends completely agree. I very much resent WP trying to shove this down our throat without making Classic available as a permanent alternative option.
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@supernovia – Still awake and still advocating for a full 30-minute webinar to cover the Block Editor. :) G’night now.
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Then why not maintain the editor that WORKED and ditch this one that clearly is not user friendly?
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If you have to watch a 30-minute video to understand how to use a blog editor, then as a design, it has greatly failed.
Block editor is not WYSIWYG, which is my #1 suggestion here. It doesn’t use intuitive design or elements that anyone coming to it fresh — or even as a veteran — can use without specific guidance.
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@supernovia What was the thinking behind the drastic changes? From my own use case, most of what I see being added were things I never used, never wanted, never even dreamed of (even in nightmares), or even want to use now. I liked having the ability to switch between HTML block (my primary entry) and sometimes to Visual to get an idea of where spacing would appear after an image. I liked being able to drag and drop an image into an HTML block where I wanted it to be — I didn’t need to see the image as anything other than the link unless, as noted, I wanted a peek at spacing.
Why not offer a version of the New stripped down to the basics of what we’ve been using and like, and make that an option without us having to sort through all the extra things we don’t want or need? It looks to me like WordPress is trying to compete with image-heavy outlets and pushing out those of us who are primarily interested in text with just a few images.
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I was always able to load the classic editor and us it, and that’s what I’ve been doing every day. Today that’s been taken away. So I just tried to post using the classic block in the new editor. Horrible. Really horrible. After 12 years here at Word press, posting every day. I’m going to have to give it up.
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Bonsoir
J’utilise WordPress depuis des années. J’ai 80 ans et je savais comment faire sur mon blog. J’aimais pour sa facilité la vieille façon de préparer mes messages. Je suis tellement frustré parce que (évidemment) le premier jour d’octobre est sous un nouveau format. JE NE LE VEUX PAS et je ne parviens pas à revenir au format antérieur. VEUILLEZ M’AIDER À retrouver ma facon de faire d avant.. je stresse en essayant de revenir l ancienne version que je ne trouve pas Mon adresse e-mail est (email visible only to moderators and staff) et le blog sur lequel j avais la chance de passer mon temps a mon age avec des amis est AASPP91 ~~~ MERCI d’avance pour votre aide. Josy Armirail et SVP répondez en francais je comprends pas l anglais
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