Dawn 7.0.1: Trying to make customized slideshow

Topic summary

A user is building a custom slideshow section for Dawn 7.0.1 to keep the original theme slideshow intact. They’ve successfully made subsequent slides clickable with customizable links via the Shopify customization interface, but the first slide’s image remains non-clickable while others work correctly.

Technical Details:

  • Code includes custom CSS hiding slider buttons
  • Uses Dawn’s standard slideshow components (section-image-banner.css, component-slider.css, component-slideshow.css)
  • Implements adaptive image height based on aspect ratio
  • Blue-highlighted code sections relate to image link functionality

Current Issue:
Only the first slide fails to register clicks, suggesting a potential z-index conflict, missing link wrapper, or initialization problem specific to the first slide element.

The user has shared their current code implementation and is seeking guidance on identifying the error causing this inconsistent behavior.

Summarized with AI on November 25. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.

I’m attempting to create a custom section so the original dawn slideshow can remain unedited, but I’m running into a small roadblock. I want to make the entire image of the slideshow clickable and want the link to be able to be input from the Shopify customization page, but the first slide of the slideshow isn’t clickable. The slides following the first slide ARE clickable but the image from the first slide is not. Any guidance on where I went wrong is greatly appreciated!

Here is what the code currently looks like (The blue text relates to the image link):

{{ 'section-image-banner.css' | asset_url | stylesheet_tag }}
{{ 'component-slider.css' | asset_url | stylesheet_tag }}
{{ 'component-slideshow.css' | asset_url | stylesheet_tag }}

<style>
  /* Section for added CSS */
  
  .slider-button{
    display: none !important;
  }
</style>
  

{%- if section.settings.slide_height == 'adapt_image' and section.blocks.first.settings.image != blank -%}
  {%- style -%}
  @media screen and (max-width: 749px) {
    #Slider-{{ section.id }}::before,
    #Slider-{{ section.id }} .media::before,
    #Slider-{{ section.id }}:not(.banner--mobile-bottom) .banner__content::before {
      padding-bottom: {{ 1 | divided_by: section.blocks.first.settings.image.aspect_ratio | times: 100 }}%;
      content: '';
      display: block;
    }
  }

  @media screen and (min-width: 750px) {
    #Slider-{{ section.id }}::before,
    #Slider-{{ section.id }} .media::before {
      padding-bottom: {{ 1 | divided_by: section.blocks.first.settings.image.aspect_ratio | times: 100 }}%;
      content: '';
      display: block;
    }
  }
  {%- endstyle -%}
{%- endif -%}

<slideshow-component class="slider-mobile-gutter{% if section.settings.layout == 'grid' %} page-width{% endif %}{% if section.settings.show_text_below %} mobile-text-below{% endif %}" role="region" aria-roledescription="{{ 'sections.slideshow.carousel' | t }}" aria-label="{{ section.settings.accessibility_info | escape }}">
  {%- if section.settings.auto_rotate and section.blocks.size > 1 -%}
    <div class="slideshow__controls slideshow__controls--top slider-buttons no-js-hidden{% if section.settings.show_text_below %} slideshow__controls--border-radius-mobile{% endif %}">
      <button type="button" class="slider-button slider-button--prev" name="previous" aria-label="{{ 'sections.slideshow.previous_slideshow' | t }}" aria-controls="Slider-{{ section.id }}">{% render 'icon-caret' %}</button>
      <div class="slider-counter slider-counter--{{ section.settings.slider_visual }}{% if section.settings.slider_visual == 'counter' or section.settings.slider_visual == 'numbers' %} caption{% endif %}">
        {%- if section.settings.slider_visual == 'counter' -%}
          <span class="slider-counter--current">1</span>
          <span aria-hidden="true"> / </span>
          <span class="visually-hidden">{{ 'general.slider.of' | t }}</span>
          <span class="slider-counter--total">{{ section.blocks.size }}</span>
        {%- else-%}
          <div class="slideshow__control-wrapper">
            {%- for block in section.blocks -%}
              <button class="slider-counter__link slider-counter__link--{{ section.settings.slider_visual }} link" aria-label="{{ 'sections.slideshow.load_slide' | t }} {{ forloop.index }} {{ 'general.slider.of' | t }} {{ forloop.length }}" aria-controls="Slider-{{ section.id }}">
                {%- if section.settings.slider_visual == 'numbers' -%}{{ forloop.index }}{% else %}<span class="dot"></span>{%- endif -%}
              </button>
            {%- endfor -%}
          </div>
        {%- endif -%}
      </div>
      <button type="button" class="slider-button slider-button--next" name="next" aria-label="{{ 'sections.slideshow.next_slideshow' | t }}" aria-controls="Slider-{{ section.id }}">{% render 'icon-caret' %}</button>

      {%- if section.settings.auto_rotate -%}
        <button type="button" class="slideshow__autoplay slider-button no-js-hidden{% if section.settings.auto_rotate == false %} slideshow__autoplay--paused{% endif %}" aria-label="{{ 'sections.slideshow.pause_slideshow' | t }}">
          {%- render 'icon-pause' -%}
          {%- render 'icon-play' -%}
        </button>
      {%- endif -%}
    </div>
    <noscript>
      <div class="slider-buttons">
        <div class="slider-counter">
          {%- for block in section.blocks -%}
            <a href="#Slide-{{ section.id }}-{{ forloop.index }}" class="slider-counter__link link" aria-label="{{ 'sections.slideshow.load_slide' | t }} {{ forloop.index }} {{ 'general.slider.of' | t }} {{ forloop.length }}">
              {{ forloop.index }}
            </a>
          {%- endfor -%}
        </div>
      </div>
    </noscript>
  {%- endif -%}

  <div class="slideshow banner banner--{{ section.settings.slide_height }} grid grid--1-col slider slider--everywhere{% if section.settings.show_text_below %} banner--mobile-bottom{% endif %}{% if section.blocks.first.settings.image == blank %} slideshow--placeholder{% endif %}"
    id="Slider-{{ section.id }}"
    aria-live="polite"
    aria-atomic="true"
    data-autoplay="{{ section.settings.auto_rotate }}"
    data-speed="{{ section.settings.change_slides_speed }}"
  >
    {%- for block in section.blocks -%}
      <style>
        #Slide-{{ section.id }}-{{ forloop.index }} .banner__media::after {
          opacity: {{ block.settings.image_overlay_opacity | divided_by: 100.0 }};
        }
      </style>
      <div class="slideshow__slide grid__item grid--1-col slider__slide"
        id="Slide-{{ section.id }}-{{ forloop.index }}"
        {{ block.shopify_attributes }}
        role="group"
        aria-roledescription="{{ 'sections.slideshow.slide' | t }}"
        aria-label="{{ forloop.index }} {{ 'general.slider.of' | t }} {{ forloop.length }}"
        tabindex="-1"
      >
        {% if block.settings.image_link != blank %}
          <a href="{{ block.settings.image_link }}" style="height: 100%;">
        {% endif %} 
        <div class="slideshow__media banner__media media{% if block.settings.image == blank %} placeholder{% endif %}">
          {%- if block.settings.image -%}
            {%- assign height = block.settings.image.width | divided_by: block.settings.image.aspect_ratio | round -%}
            {{ block.settings.image | image_url: width: 3840 | image_tag:
              loading: 'lazy',
              height: height,
              sizes: "100vw",
              widths: '375, 550, 750, 1100, 1500, 1780, 2000, 3000, 3840'
            }}
          {%- else -%}
            {{ 'lifestyle-2' | placeholder_svg_tag: 'placeholder-svg' }}
          {%- endif -%}
        </div>
        </a>
      </div>
    {%- endfor -%}
  </div>

  {%- if section.blocks.size > 1 and section.settings.auto_rotate == false -%}
    <div class="slideshow__controls slider-buttons no-js-hidden{% if section.settings.show_text_below %} slideshow__controls--border-radius-mobile{% endif %}">
      <button type="button" class="slider-button slider-button--prev" name="previous" aria-label="{{ 'sections.slideshow.previous_slideshow' | t }}" aria-controls="Slider-{{ section.id }}">{% render 'icon-caret' %}</button>
      <div class="slider-counter slider-counter--{{ section.settings.slider_visual }}{% if section.settings.slider_visual == 'counter' or section.settings.slider_visual == 'numbers' %} caption{% endif %}">
        {%- if section.settings.slider_visual == 'counter' -%}
          <span class="slider-counter--current">1</span>
          <span aria-hidden="true"> / </span>
          <span class="visually-hidden">{{ 'general.slider.of' | t }}</span>
          <span class="slider-counter--total">{{ section.blocks.size }}</span>
        {%- else-%}
          <div class="slideshow__control-wrapper">
            {%- for block in section.blocks -%}
              <button class="slider-counter__link slider-counter__link--{{ section.settings.slider_visual }} link" aria-label="{{ 'sections.slideshow.load_slide' | t }} {{ forloop.index }} {{ 'general.slider.of' | t }} {{ forloop.length }}" aria-controls="Slider-{{ section.id }}">
                {%- if section.settings.slider_visual == 'numbers' -%}{{ forloop.index }}{% else %}<span class="dot"></span>{%- endif -%}
              </button>
            {%- endfor -%}
          </div>
        {%- endif -%}
      </div>
      <button type="button" class="slider-button slider-button--next" name="next" aria-label="{{ 'sections.slideshow.next_slideshow' | t }}" aria-controls="Slider-{{ section.id }}">{% render 'icon-caret' %}</button>

      {%- if section.settings.auto_rotate -%}
        <button type="button" class="slideshow__autoplay slider-button no-js-hidden{% if section.settings.auto_rotate == false %} slideshow__autoplay--paused{% endif %}" aria-label="{{ 'sections.slideshow.pause_slideshow' | t }}">
          {%- render 'icon-pause' -%}
          {%- render 'icon-play' -%}
        </button>
      {%- endif -%}
    </div>
    <noscript>
      <div class="slider-buttons">
        <div class="slider-counter">
          {%- for block in section.blocks -%}
            <a href="#Slide-{{ section.id }}-{{ forloop.index }}" class="slider-counter__link link" aria-label="{{ 'sections.slideshow.load_slide' | t }} {{ forloop.index }} {{ 'general.slider.of' | t }} {{ forloop.length }}">
              {{ forloop.index }}
            </a>
          {%- endfor -%}
        </div>
      </div>
    </noscript>
  {%- endif -%}
</slideshow-component>

{%- if request.design_mode -%}
  <script src="{{ 'theme-editor.js' | asset_url }}" defer="defer"></script>
{%- endif -%}

{% schema %}
{
  "name": "Customized Slideshow",
  "tag": "section",
  "class": "section",
  "settings": [
    {
      "type": "select",
      "id": "layout",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "full_bleed",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.layout.options__1.label"
        },
        {
          "value": "grid",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.layout.options__2.label"
        }
      ],
      "default": "full_bleed",
      "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.layout.label"
    },
    {
      "type": "select",
      "id": "slide_height",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "adapt_image",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.slide_height.options__1.label"
        },
        {
          "value": "small",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.slide_height.options__2.label"
        },
        {
          "value": "medium",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.slide_height.options__3.label"
        },
        {
          "value": "large",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.slide_height.options__4.label"
        }
      ],
      "default": "adapt_image",
      "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.slide_height.label"
    },
    {
      "type": "select",
      "id": "slider_visual",
      "options": [
        {
          "value": "dots",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.slider_visual.options__2.label"
        },
        {
          "value": "counter",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.slider_visual.options__1.label"
        },
        {
          "value": "numbers",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.slider_visual.options__3.label"
        }
      ],
      "default": "counter",
      "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.slider_visual.label"
    },
    {
      "type": "checkbox",
      "id": "auto_rotate",
      "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.auto_rotate.label",
      "default": false
    },
    {
      "type": "range",
      "id": "change_slides_speed",
      "min": 3,
      "max": 9,
      "step": 2,
      "unit": "s",
      "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.change_slides_speed.label",
      "default": 5
    },
    {
      "type": "header",
      "content": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.mobile.content"
    },
    {
      "type": "checkbox",
      "id": "show_text_below",
      "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.show_text_below.label",
      "default": true
    },
    {
      "type": "header",
      "content": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.accessibility.content"
    },
    {
      "type": "text",
      "id": "accessibility_info",
      "label": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.accessibility.label",
      "info": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.accessibility.info",
      "default": "Slideshow about our brand"
    }
  ],
  "blocks": [
    {
      "type": "slide",
      "name": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.name",
      "limit": 5,
      "settings": [
        {
          "type": "image_picker",
          "id": "image",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.image.label"
        },
        {
          "type": "url",
          "id": "image_link",
          "label": "Image Link"
        },
        {
          "type": "select",
          "id": "box_align",
          "options": [
            {
              "value": "top-left",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.box_align.options__1.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "top-center",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.box_align.options__2.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "top-right",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.box_align.options__3.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "middle-left",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.box_align.options__4.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "middle-center",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.box_align.options__5.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "middle-right",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.box_align.options__6.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "bottom-left",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.box_align.options__7.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "bottom-center",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.box_align.options__8.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "bottom-right",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.box_align.options__9.label"
            }
          ],
          "default": "middle-center",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.box_align.label",
          "info": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.box_align.info"
        },
        {
          "type": "checkbox",
          "id": "show_text_box",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.show_text_box.label",
          "default": true
        },
        {
          "type": "select",
          "id": "text_alignment",
          "options": [
            {
              "value": "left",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.text_alignment.option_1.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "center",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.text_alignment.option_2.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "right",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.text_alignment.option_3.label"
            }
          ],
          "default": "center",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.text_alignment.label"
        },
        {
          "type": "range",
          "id": "image_overlay_opacity",
          "min": 0,
          "max": 100,
          "step": 10,
          "unit": "%",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.image_overlay_opacity.label",
          "default": 0
        },
        {
          "type": "select",
          "id": "color_scheme",
          "options": [
            {
              "value": "accent-1",
              "label": "t:sections.all.colors.accent_1.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "accent-2",
              "label": "t:sections.all.colors.accent_2.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "background-1",
              "label": "t:sections.all.colors.background_1.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "background-2",
              "label": "t:sections.all.colors.background_2.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "inverse",
              "label": "t:sections.all.colors.inverse.label"
            }
          ],
          "default": "background-1",
          "label": "t:sections.all.colors.label",
          "info": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.color_scheme.info"
        },
        {
          "type": "header",
          "content": "t:sections.slideshow.settings.mobile.content"
        },
        {
          "type": "select",
          "id": "text_alignment_mobile",
          "options": [
            {
              "value": "left",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.text_alignment_mobile.options__1.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "center",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.text_alignment_mobile.options__2.label"
            },
            {
              "value": "right",
              "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.text_alignment_mobile.options__3.label"
            }
          ],
          "default": "center",
          "label": "t:sections.slideshow.blocks.slide.settings.text_alignment_mobile.label"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "presets": [
    {
      "name": "Customized Slideshow",
      "blocks": [
        {
          "type": "slide"
        },
        {
          "type": "slide"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
{% endschema %}