How can we efficiently duplicate sections in content build-out?

[Ben31]

Hi There,

As others have noted, we need a way to duplicate sections because duplicate and edit is one of the most common ways to build-out content.

Without duplicate, you have to scroll the list of sections and note the name of the section you want to duplicate, then scroll to the bottom, click add, search for the section, add it, then drag it to the position you want it (super painful on longer pages) then edit/re-make all the options.

It'd be a HUGE time-save if we could simply duplicate the thing we want - boom, done right?

Cheers, Ben

[PageFly-Noah]

Hi @Ben31 

This is Noah from PageFly - Shopify Page Builder App

Currently, Shopify doesn't have options to duplicate the section yet, however you can duplicate it in the code side and it is having the same effect. Follow my steps below

Step 1: Online Stores > Themes > More Actions > Edit code

Step 2: Search for the sections you want to duplicate. Copy the name

Step 3: Create new sections, with the name and -2 and the end of the name

Step 4: Copy/paste all the content from the original sections, then change the section name and section preset 

For example, i created a section with the same content and settings but changes only the name

Hope this can help you solve the issue 

Best regards,

Noah | PageFly

[Ben31]

Thanks for the reply but we're not looking for another app.

Instead, we'd rather Shopify keep working on the basics like having the same image library and text editor everywhere, the ability to properly replace images and have them update everywhere, and basics like duplicate - hence the request.

People tout apps as Shopify's competitive advantage but for merchants who've been around but are not quite big enough for Shopify Plus (plus dedicated devs to run it), apps are actually a huge negative because in our experience...

1. You pay 4x–6x your Shopify fee to get fairly routine functionality in 2023
2. Apps seem to have different coding standards, different support standards, different ideas on how things should work and often slow everything down
3. Apps often don't auto-remove cruft when uninstalled, causing pain, problems and time to remove
4. Apps often don't talk to one another and the ones that do, force you into a mini ecosystem of apps you might not want or need just to get basic features like duplicate
5. And finally, business is hard so apps come and go. We'd never rely on an app for something as fundamental (and mission critical) as website design sorry
6. We've also tried Page-fly a couple of times but found it unnecessarily confusing compared to Concrete5 CMS, Squarespace and the built-in Shopify sections to gain basic layout control over content - which is what website design actually is; content design

We appreciate the effort and work that goes into making and supporting apps (truly) but this request shouldn't be considered 'solved with an app'.

I mean, duplicate is a really basic editing feature that shouldn't require an app, a different way of working and/or risk app compatibility moving forward (it's already a constant frustration).

Hope that all makes sense.

Cheers Ben

[PageFly-Noah]

Hi @Ben31 

Please read my first reply, i didn't directed you to use an app, but a solution with a step by steps.

[Ben31]

@PageFly-Noah Sorry, my bad! It's so common to get pushed into an app (even by Shopify staff) these days.

I do appreciate your solution but it's just as much work as doing it in the 2.0 editor - right? Also, I don't want anyone from Shopify thinking; issue solved. Cheers

[PageFly-Noah]

Yes, you can follow my steps, and then the new sections will be visible for you to add in the template.

Please read my steps carefully, since it's need to change the code of the theme.

I suggest you should make a copy as a backup first

[SydneySmith]

I wanted to say your solution is what I was looking for. Thanks, Noah. Great for A/B testing as well.

[Dan-From-Ryviu · Accepted solution]

Hi @Ben31 

if your theme is Shopify 2.0 OS then you can do that by select option, hover on that section preview screen, click on duplicate icon.

[Ben31]

Awesome! Was looking for this in the sections sidebar. Thank you, very much appreciated.

[Dan-From-Ryviu]

Happy I could help! 

[Usman_061]

If it does not show on hover, click on any section or block you want to copy, and then click on three dots on top right corner in section/block setting, here you will see duplicate option. Click on the duplicate option and then your selected section/block will be duplicated successfully.