Q: Draftium looks like a really polished tool and could be very helpful for building some quick mockups.
Having played with the free version for a bit I have a few questions:
(1) is it possible to create my own layouts from scratch? I've used Balsamiq for years, and for Draftium to be a viable replacement I'd need to be able to put elements on screen exactly how and where I want them.
(2) are all the templates single column/full width? I sometimes have layouts with a sidebar and couldn't see how to set up a page with a sidebar.
(3) while I like the selection of templates with pre-filled text, that could be counter productive where a client doesn't fit your options. Would it be possible to have a set of generic templates with some kind of lorem ipsum text - that way if I forget to change any of the default text it's rather easier to explain why there's a bit of latin than why there are references to hair care!
(4) if I am creating a multi-page site, is it possible to create a new page from an existing template? Or for any new page after the first one I have to either duplicate an existing page in my template, or start from scratch (other than header/footer blocks).
(5) is it possible to edit a global block for one page only? For example, if I have a global menu bar, I might want to show the current page as active.
(6) if I have a multi-page mockup, how do I give a client a simple list of all pages? It seems like they have to either find the page by clicking on links in the mockup, or go into comment mode where they can switch between pages.
(7) comment mode seems to work nicely for desktop sized mockups, but is it possible to leave comments on the mobile version of the site?
(8) is it possible to adjust breakpoints/how things change on smaller screen sizes?
(9) exporting directly to WordPress Gutenberg blocks could be fantastic. Will that work with any Gutenberg ready theme, or will it be tied to a specific base theme (or specific set of themes)?
Sorry... that's rather a lot of questions! Unlike many people who have commented and seem to want a simple click & drag -> publish website workflow, I'm looking for a wireframe/mockup tool which I can use for customised/hand crafted pages and sites.
Already Draftium can do many things well that Balsamiq doesn't do - but do you intend for it to be a viable replacement for tools like Balsamiq, or is it aiming for something different?
Viki_W
May 14, 2024A: Hi @rowatt,
Sorry for some delay in our reply.
Let me answer all your questions step-by step.
(1) For the moment you are able to create a prototype that you need by picking a blank prototype - it is the first one in the library. Soon we’ll deliver blocks designer where you’ll be able to build a block with the elements you need.
(2) We still do not have sitebars, but they are in progress of development.
(3) Our initial idea was to fill the templates with pre-defined text that corresponds the block type or template theme. We thought that in such way the user will understand what type of text should be placed there. But you could replace all the texts it with “lorem ipsum” by copy-paste.... unfortunately, still manually.
(4) You can easily create a new page for your prototype (if the picked template doesn’t contain several pages) just by click to Add page - https://prnt.sc/mx0lne
(5) Could you please specify what do you mean by “global block”? If you are talking about menu, header or footer, you can set them for all the prototype. You may also add links to pages, menu, buttons to make your prototype interactive.
(6) Your clients could see all the pages by click to the links to them.
The list of all prototype pages you may see on the same place here - https://prnt.sc/mx0lne
(7) For the moment comment mode is available for desktop version only, but we’ve got a lot of requests to make the feature available on tablets and mobile, so our product team is already estimating this feature.
(8) You can change paddings for the moment without any effort. All the prototypes are adaptive to all screens and the will adjust in proportion.
(9) We are already developing the feature that will allow to export the prototype in HTML, but still have no precise solution regarding WP.
That’s great that you’ve got a lot of questions, that should be so. And I’m happy to answer.
Actually there are a lot of niche solutions at the market. But we’ve just intended to create the best the tool for fast prototyping that users will love & use :)
0e0b0dd3f6754365b27f521786b3910bMore than 2 weeks without any answer to this?
meerkat+1
rowattPLUS
Verified purchaser
Thanks for your reply.
(5) global block - yes, I mean things like menu, header and footer. I realise I can set them for the whole prototype, but can I vary them on a page by page basis? Sometimes small details of headers/footers change on specific pages - for example to show the currently selected page.
(8) changing padding doesn't solve the problem. What if I want to change how something responds responsively? For example, if a block has 4 pictures side by side at full width, can I define when the block changes to a 2x2 and then a 4x1 grid?
You said "we’ve just intended to create the best the tool for fast prototyping that users will love & use :)" - who are the "users" you are creating this tool for?
Is it people creating a website for themselves, or developers/agencies etc creating websites for others?
Hi @rowatt,
(5) in Draftium we set header and footer as global blocks. You can control them in one place and make some changes on the pages you need.
(8) we’re waiting to arrive a block builder within a week, and within a month our dev team promised to add more controls for blocks that you could change proportions and spaces between element.
Draftium is a prototyping tool. So we believe that it will be mainly helpful for those ones who building wireframes (pro website agencies & designers) and for those ones who are assigning task to the designers to create a website or landing page (marketers, project managers).
Hi again @rowatt,
I have great news! Custom block is already delivered to Draftium and it is already available for testing, so you may already test it -https://prnt.sc/mxikpk