The idea is to have some switch in every content type model to turn off the Live Preview if we find out it's not needed.
I give you an example:
A Form content type, where I'm using slices for every form item, but I don't need the live preview or it just doesn't improve the content creator experience.
Possible solutions:
Have a global switch to turn off Live Preview in any Content type
Have a switch to turn off Live Preview in any Slice type
Keep using the left column as a "mini-map" of slices, with current sort and other options, but without the iframe preview
Last feature can improve current slice preview box, since now they are so small but we have more horizontal space if move the slice index and the sort icon out of that box, since we should "move" (sort) the whole slice box, and not only the preview, I hope you get what I mean, as a concept.
Thanks for that feedback! We have a feature request for the ability to turn off live preview, or fallback on a screenshot when the server isn't available. I'll add your post to it to give it more visibility, and add your possible solutions to it.
I'm curious though, do you find the live preview to be actively in the way when not in use, or are you just thinking of ways to make it more efficient/improve on it? (Or both )
Sorry, I don't get what's exactly your point with the question, what do you mean with "to be actively"?
Anyway, I think I have a good solution for cases where any slices has preview disabled or preview is not working for any reason. Currently, when preview fails (no environment set for example), it shows just a text "Error". I suggest to use Slice variation screenshot instead of any error or preview for these cases.
For example, when I start to develop a website, I don't upload it to any server once it's almost finished, so I only see a lot of Errors in the preview sidebar, but it would be helpful to see the default slice screenshots instead, that way I can find any slice in that column quickly.
I meant whether this was really getting in the way of you doing your work, or if it was "just" a visual disturbance. Obviously we want to improve this feature, but maybe we were missing something in terms of how the Error could be a hindrance. I agree with you, I think your mockup is great. Like I said a feature request for it to fallback to a screenshot exists, this is a great case for it! If there's any update on it, I'll let you know
Oh okay. No, it's not disturbing my work at all, but I think it's always better to show information or tools related to every context. If a preview doesn't help because the slice is not "visible" or visually interesting in a small frame, or it directly doesn't work as in my last screenshot, it would be better to show something useful instead of an error message in every slice, or an empty preview (the case I explained in the first post).
So this can be just an improvement, the feature is great as it is, and it's being super helpful for both editors and developers.
)
