• Installing Custom Static Blocks
• Uninstalling Custom Static Blocks
• Compatibility
• Getting Around
• Creating a custom static block

The Magento 2 Custom Static Blocks extension allows web merchants to smartly arrange the layout of their stores via customizable content blocks. For individual customer groups, store admins can create static blocks by choosing the pages where each block should be displayed and in-page block positions. By using conditions, admins can apply each block to a custom selection of products. Finally, the scheduling options enable them to display blocks at specific times and time periods.

Installing Custom Static Blocks

Command Line Installation

1. Backup your web directory and store database
2. Download the Custom Static Blocks installation package
3. Upload contents of the Custom Static Blocks installation package to your store root directory
4. In SSH console of your server navigate to your store root folder:

cd path_to_the_store_root_folder

run the following command:

php bin/magento module:enable Aheadworks_Csblock

php bin/magento module:enable Aheadworks_CsblockGraphQl

then:

php bin/magento setup:upgrade

after:

php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy -f

     5. Flush store cache; log out from the backend and log in again

Composer Installation

If you are installing an extension from Aheadworks for the first time, you need to add our composer repository to your Magento store:

     1. Login to your ssh console and navigate to your store folder:

cd path_to_the_store_root_folder

Run the following command:

composer config repositories.aheadworks composer https://dist.aheadworks.com/

After the command was executed successfully, you can use the composer to install the products.

To install the extension:

     2. Login to your ssh console and navigate to your store folder:

cd path_to_the_store_root_folder

      3. Run the following command to install the latest version of the extension:

composer require aheadworks/module-csblock

if you need to install a specific version, run this command:

composer require aheadworks/module-csblock:<version>

When prompted, enter Public Key (Username) and Private Key (Password):

Both Public Key (Username) and Private Key (Password) can be found in My Projects and Licenses in your personal account on our site:

     4. Enable the extension:

php -f bin/magento module:enable Aheadworks_Csblock

php -f bin/magento module:enable Aheadworks_CsblockGraphQl

Next, register the extension:

bin/magento setup:upgrade

Recompile your Magento store if you are in the Production mode:

bin/magento setup:di:compile

To verify that the extension is enabled, run this command:

bin/magento module:status

Clean store cache, by running the following command:

bin/magento cache:clean

Log out and Log in the backend again.

To upgrade the extension:

     5. To update or upgrade an extension:

Download the updated extension file. Take note of the module-name and version. Export the contents to your Magento root.

If a composer package exists for the extension, run one of the following.

Update per module name:

composer update aheadworks/module-csblock

Updater per version:

composer require aheadworks/module-csblock:<version>

Uninstalling Custom Static Block

Since Magento introduced declarative Database you need to be very carefull when uninstalling or disabling the module.

Manual Removal

1) Run command: 

bin/magento module:uninstall --non-composer Aheadworks_Csblock

It will remove hide price attributes from the system (e.g. eav_entity_type table).

2) Disable extension: 

bin/magento module:disable Aheadworks_Csblock

3) Run setup upgrade: 

bin/magento setup:upgrade

It will remove module related tables from the system (hp_rule_entity, hp_rule_product, etc).

4) Remove module files manually: 

app/code/Aheadworks/Csblock

Automatic Removal (via Composer)

1) Disable extension:

bin/magento module:disable Aheadworks_Csblock

2) Run setup upgrade: 

bin/magento setup:upgrade

3)

php bin/magento module:uninstall Aheadworks_Csblock

Run the following commands to upgrade, deploy, and clean the cache.

php bin/magento setup:upgrade --keep-generated
php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy
php bin/magento cache:clean

Compatibility

Getting Around

The extension introduces its section under Content → Custom Static Blocks by aheadworks → Manage Blocks

Manage Blocks screen is the management center of the extension. Here store administrator can:

• Create new blocks;
• Enable/disable/delete existing blocks;
• Click the block to proceed to the block editing page.

Here store administrator can also adjust the Manage Blocks screen look and feel according to requirements:

• The Columns button allows adding/disabling the blocks grid columns, some may be excessive and some relevant to your current tasks;
• The Filter button allows looking for the custom blocks matching a set of attributes;
• The Default View button allows saving perfect custom blocks grid look you found to quickly load it whenever required.

That is all for the Custom Static Blocks store backend pages. The extension does not have general settings as all the blocks are configured separately.

Creating a custom static block

Click Create New Block button at the Manage Blocks screen to create the first custom block.

General

At the General section of the new static block page administrator is suggested to define where and how the block will be displayed. The screen offers the following settings:

• Name - the name of the static block for internal identification purposes;
• Status - the status of the block: enabled/disabled;
• Customer Groups - the customer groups the block will be displayed to;
• Where to Display - on what page types the block will be displayed:
  • Home Page;
  • Product Pages;
  • Catalog Pages;
  • Shopping Cart;
  • Checkout.
• Position - the position on the page where the block will be displayed:
  • Sidebar top;
  • Sidebar bottom;
  • Content top;
  • Page bottom;
  • Menu Top;
  • Menu Bottom.
• Conditions - lets the store administrator define the conditions on which the static block will be displayed (e.g.: product attributes, category). The setting is Where to Display dependent.

This covers the placement aspects of the Custom Static Blocks.

Content

Once done with the General section click Content in the navigation menu to your left:

At the Content section of the new static block page administator is suggested to define the static block's content.

The content is defined by the CMS blocks available at your store. Before adding a static block's content make sure you have created the appropriate CMS block under Content > Elements > Blocks.

• To add new content option to the static block, click on the '+' button - it will add a new line of content;
• In the content line specify the Store View for the CMS block you want it displayed at;
• Select appropriate CMS block in the Static Block box (if required the CMS block can be edited on spot);
• Click on the '+' icon one more time if you want to add another CMS block.

Schedule

The final step of configuring the Custom Static Block is the Schedule section.

NOTE: At least 1 minute should be set to display the block. Time is set by the timezone of the store (Admin > Stores > Configuration > General > General > Locale Options > Timezone option). The set time is displayed according to the timezone of the store. If the customer's time is GMT +1, and the store has GMT +3, then set time from 10 to 12 - the customer's time will be from 8 to 10.

Here administrator is suggested if the block should be scheduled to display at a set time, or leave the fields blank to manually manage the block activity.

The section is spilt into two sections: Display Block - defines from when and how long the block should be active, and Schedule Patter - defines on what schedule the block be displayed during the Display Block period.

For example:

• In the Display Block section you have configured block to be displayed from January 1st to January 30th.
• In the Schedule Patterns you have selected From Monday to Friday;
• In the From/To Time you have set 8:00 - 13:00.

On such conditions the block will be displayed from January 1st to January 30th on the business week only: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. From 8:00 to 13:00.

Such scheduling settings may prove useful if you are intended on running a particular sales campaign to get more customers on business days.

That covers the Custom Static Blocks settings. You may now want to create some static blocks to test the best possible display options.

Product Page