The New Block Editor is Crap
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This isn’t some complaint coming from someone who doesn’t want to change workflow, like you all so condescendingly put it in your justification for making things worse.
The new UX is terrible. The block editor is crap: everything useful is collapsed behind accordion panels where it used to just be right there within reach — quick, easy, no fuss. You’ve gone and made things harder to use. I’m not a UX expert, but it seems to me the goal would be the opposite.
I didn’t complain when you started by default pushing the New Worse Editor as long as I had access to the Good Editor from my post listing. But now that’s gone as well. Further, the quick-access help is insulated from the developer/feedback loop to the point they may as well not even exist.
Over the years I’ve used WordPress it’s become less useful and less convenient. Is it the goal to get people off your site? I’ve never had good support from WP, even when I was using a paid plan. Is this constant spiral downward just so people have the feeling you’re making things better? Because you’re not improving anything; and the calling card of good UX and good development is being able to improve things without pissing everyone off and making people re-learn how to use your product.
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Hi there,
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:
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/
We also have some extensive documentation available at https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/
If you have any feedback on the new editor, we’re always looking for ways to improve it, so please let us know.
Thanks you,
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I’ve seen all of these ‘resources’ but none address the basic complaint about the block mangler that I’m raising: it’s a worse user experience than before.
I’ve tried writing posts with the classic block: it’s inferior to the Classic Editor in every way. For specific example, the edit in html is hidden. It’s more work to do the same thing I had before. It’s in no way an improvement; frankly it feels dumbed down and geared toward idiots. Perhaps the classic editor was too hard for WP developers to use?
“If you have any feedback on the new editor, we’re always looking for ways to improve it, so please let us know”
That smells of tone deafness: I’ve mentioned already some areas where the new editor is worse than the old one.
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I completely agree. I can’t begin to express how much I hate the new editor. One of my major complaints is that I can’t upload multiple photos at once (except in some stupid predetermined collage!)
I can’t even adjust the space between elements (except to increase them) so there are huge gaps between the photos in my published page.
I don’t care about embedding a bunch of forms or payment systems. I just want to write my blog and post lots of photos.
You’ve ruined what used to be fun. -
I absolutely agree to Mattreamy.
“We’re aware that creating great software will never make every person happy.”
– point is, the editor is not great software. It is not even okay-ish.
I would really like to see an easy to use and inuitive editor and would be happy to change my workflow, but the block editor at this point is just really, really bad. It is slow, counter-intuituve, everything is hidden and collapsed, and even a simple Preview takes not one, but three clicks and often fails to load. This is the opposite of a great User Experience.
I designed block editors for Learning Management Systems and know how hard it is to balance the needs for complex use cases and a good user experience. The new WordPress Block editor is not even on a good way, and for the time being, customers should not be forced to use it.
Staff, Please relay this feedback to whom it may concern.
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Silencer137 and Heaterleed:
I appreciate the confirmation that it’s not just me.To the Unhappiness Engineers at WP:
Since I’m forced to use the Block Mangler for the posts I haven’t already got scheduled out, I’ve also noticed the block editor is:
Slow to load
Requires vastly more clicks to get anything done (as silencer pointed out)
Doesn’t remember how I like my posts edited
Doesn’t even remember that I don’t need to go through your stupid checklist to post
Works less reliably overall.I’m an adult dammit, I know what I’m doing and I don’t need your hand holding.
Since this all came up, I’ve spent my spare time developing my own site in the event I leave WP. I have about 90% of the work done in two days and the UX is infinitely better than this garbage you’re foisting on us.
Yes, I’d consider paying to host my own site rather than continue using yours.
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@mattreamy, and others,
Hi. The classic editor is still available to everyone. I’ve called for staff so that they may provide you with instructions for accessing the classic editor.
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Hey folks.
If the problem you’re having is with the navigation to the editor that is still there, you can read about navigation changes and how to choose your menu options here:
https://wordpress.com/forums/topic/unified-navigation/We have not recently changed any status with the Classic Editor. It will still be phased out eventually (here’s why). You’ll want to get into blocks and let us know about any specific issues you’re having so we can work to resolve them*
When you do send feedback, though, please know we are working to resolve whatever issues we can find, so it’s not frustrating anymore. But simply saying you hate it, trying to insult the developers, berating the community, etc, really doesn’t allow us to solve any problems. We can’t guess what problems you’re seeing. It just punishes our little community here. Surely that can’t be your goal?
So please be specific about what’s you’re trying to do, and what’s going wrong.
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This is a good example of a specific complaint:
The edit in html is hidden.
It is definitely a different interface, but our intent isn’t to hide anything except from those who would be confused by the options. In blocks, you can type /html on a new line, press enter again to select that block, and start writing your HTML. You’ll stay in your new HTML block until you click out.
If you wanted to write a code block instead (so your HTML displays as code, or if you wanted to use PHP or JS or some other language) type /code and voila, you can code away. Block settings will be available on the right if you want to pick a different language. Is that easier for developers? Yes, absolutely. And, it’s allowed developers to create all sorts of other features, too.
As my best tip for advanced techy types: just treat the forward slash like your own personal search through the WordPress block bin. Most blocks can come up under multiple search terms. Gallery, payment, code, form, image, pdf, … we have a lot of blocks now. And, if you have a few favorite blocks, just type / — your frequently used blocks will appear.
You can even make your own reusable blocks, like if you want to add a copyright or disclaimer or contact form below each post without having to rewrite it or copy and paste everywhere. If you need to edit it, edit the reusable block and your changes will be reflected across the site. They’re like widgets, but way more flexible.
If you’re having some other problem, let us know what it is specifically, so we can help or file an issue if needed.
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I’m looking for other specific feedback:
Further, the quick-access help is insulated from the developer/feedback loop to the point they may as well not even exist.
I’m not sure what you mean on this. Can you clarify?
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It is slow
If it’s slow on your computer, send details about your browser, operating system, etc.
If you mean it slows you down, please let us know what parts you’re struggling with so we can help.
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Pardon if I’m missing any specific feedback; I’m trying to sift through to find what I can.
I can’t even adjust the space between elements (except to increase them) so there are huge gaps between the photos in my published page.
You should be able to, and if that feature is missing it’s definitely worth filing a request. Can you send a link to the published page so we can take a look?
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I don’t care about embedding a bunch of forms or payment systems. I just want to write my blog and post lots of photos.
I recommend just typing then, and (if you don’t like clicking around a lot) just type /image or /gallery when you want to add images.
If you like to type then add images later, you can press the plus sign to add an image, or click on a paragraph and opt to insert a block above or below it.
You can also add /heading or /pullquote if that’s helpful. For bulleted lists, just start typing a list with dashes and it should auto convert for you.
If there’s an element on the page that’s bothering you, there’s likely an option to get rid of it. I don’t like the floating tool bar, so I pin it to the top (use the three dots menu to find that.) I also didn’t like spotlight mode, so I turned that off in my editor.
We’ve discussed the plus sign, and for the time being have just tried to make it less intrusive… if you’re just typing and pressing enter between paragraphs, it will disappear.
If there’s something else on the page that’s in your way or breaking your flow, let us know specifically what it is so we can get that feedback in. Thanks!
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@mattreamy, heatherleed, and silencer137,
How to Access the Classic Editor
Here’s the Classic Editor support page, and the How to Access the Classic Editor section of that support page. -
I’m going to stop searching this thread for specific complaints for the time being (others need help here too).
It’s lot easier on the community if you’ll create a separate thread, with a specific title, for each main issue you’re facing. If more than one person is having the same problem they can also post there.
Again, please refer back to our community standards; they really help with keeping things peaceful and productive here. We want the kind of feedback we can take back to developers so issues can be resolved.
Thanks in advance.
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Supernovia, let me see if I can be specific enough for you.
Let’s count the number of clicks it took me to load a post for editing with the classic editor. From my Posts page, I would click on “Classic Editor”. When that paged loaded, this is what I saw:
Just how I left it when I clicked Save after editing it. How many clicks did that take me? One — count ’em 1 — click from my list of Posts.
Now let’s compare that to the Block Mangler, which takes about twice as long to load. When it does come up, it looks like this:
Now to get the post into a useable state, I have to:
1 – Click somewhere in the post.
2 – Select the options item in the context menu that pops up
3 – Select “Edit as HTML”That is 4 clicks from my list of posts to get to the same place. That’s 3 more clicks than it used to take me. I’m not a mathematician, but I’m pretty sure 4 is more than 1. So before I even get to write a line of post, I’m 4 times less productive.
That is bad user experience.
Is that specific enough?
I said: “The quick help people can’t communicate with the developers.” Because it seems spelling things out for you all is required, these are the people that try to help with issue from the control panel/my sites page. These people can’t communicate feedback to the WP developers. Is THAT specific enough?
I said: The editor doesn’t remember I don’t need to go through the stupid checklist to post. That’s referring to this checkbox I have to clear every time I go publish a post:
That’s specific.Another user said: “I can’t upload multiple photos as once”. That seems specific.
Another: “even a simple Preview takes not one, but three clicks and often fails to load.” That’s specific.
“But simply saying you hate it, trying to insult the developers… really doesn’t allow us to solve any problems. We can’t guess what problems you’re seeing. … So please be specific about what’s you’re trying to do, and what’s going wrong.”
This is why I think you all are tone deaf. You’re not actually listening to the complaints. Unsurprisingly, it seems the developers have decided what we all want to use and that it’s amazing. Because you are all dead set on explaining to those of us with complaints why we’re wrong instead of listening to what we’re saying. Not everyone has the ability to communicate what it is they don’t like about a User Interface or a User Experience. They just know it’s not good. They’re not saying it’s not good for everyone; they’re saying it’s not good for them. Like most devs, you’ve assumed for everyone what works for them. This is demonstrated by the constant refusal to address the complaints and instead redirect the person to “tips” and “FAQs” and “documentation” about the new shiny thing you all made and are forcing us to use if we want to continue using your platform.
Even those of you offering that the “classic editor is still there” type of suggestions aren’t offering any real help when “[the classic editor]… will still be phased out eventually”. So we’re back to being forced to use this steaming pile of an interface, if not now “eventually”. You’ll have to forgive me for filing this away under less than stellar support.
At least tell me if you can understand WHY this sort of response from staff is underwhelming, even if you think it qualifies as help.
“It is definitely a different interface, but our intent isn’t to hide anything except from those who would be confused by the options.”
So… you ARE hiding options, but it’s okay if you do that because someone might be confused? Tell me how this makes any sense? How this is supposed to give you any credibility in helping solve my problem or convince me you’re giving my complaint any consideration on its merits instead of dismissing it outright?
It seems to some of us you don’t actually want to hear feedback. The feedback you’re given, you’re trying to explain away as if we’re not understanding something or doing something the “right” way. This is common among developers, and it’s infuriating to end users. From my perspective calls for being peaceful and productive only go one way in this forum.
It’s apparent to me the tone here is “Conform or Else” and it’s unlikely I’ll find any actual help here. I’ve tried explaining why I think that… is it specific enough for you?
Or are you going to dismiss it as “trying to insult the developers, berating the community”? Are you left to “guess what problems” I’m seeing?
Understand this: whether or not you give us access to the classic editor or not is NOT why I’m upset with WP and the Unhappiness Engineers. This is feedback not only about the new editor, but also a chance for you all to evaluate how you listen — or if indeed you actually DO listen — to feedback.
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@musicdoc1 — thank you. I know you were trying to help with your suggestions; I do appreciate it (it did help — the screenshot of the classic editor was accessed by your suggestion).
Nothing is more dumb than refusing to consider an argument before responding to it. Or being so utterly clueless about how they’re going to be perceived. I may be a grouchy old man yelling at the kids to get off my lawn, but I did point out in the thread opener this wasn’t about my having to change my workflow.
Software and computers are still like black magic to a lot of people. Most developers don’t realize how small a percentage of their users actually understand their product and are willing to poke around to figure things out. It’s close to 1%. A lot of people just aren’t comfortable with it.
I wasn’t kidding above: I’m actively building myself an alternative to get away from this dumpster fire. I may or may not use it, but I’ll have it if I need it. Not everyone has that option available to them.
I don’t expect much from WP on this; but what can I say? I’m a closet optimist. Maybe someone will learn something from this.
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Yes, and those who feel the wool being pulled over their eyes, and especially those who don’t feel it but suddenly find themselves suffering the consequences anyway, need advocates such as yourself.
On “hiding” things:
Not only are once easily accessible pages and tools hidden in the strange new dystopia of WordPress.com, but information must be hidden or ignored as well. For example, there have been numerous support requests over the last week or so in this forum wherein the OP essentially expresses their preference for the classic editor over the block editor, and asks how to regain access to the classic. How does staff respond to these requests?The obvious thing to do would be to provide a link to the Classic Editor support page, and the How to Access the Classic Editor section of that support page, as I’ve done above. More often than not, that isn’t what staff has been doing. Instead, they typically provide exactly what the OP does not want: information on and promotion of the Block Editor, as well as links to more information on and promotion of the Block Editor.
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