Coming from rapidweaver classic

Elements
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have been working in rapidweaver classic for years. i have some concerns, if i move to elements:

• can elements open my classic projects?

• can i use my template (in this case, multithemes ‘lander pro’?)

• is the transition difficult? am not an expert (but i manage 2 websites)… :thinking:

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no

no

no

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huh, ‘yes’ it’s difficult? hmmm. thanx for answers!

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apologies no its not difficult, corrected

once you try Elements you would not want to go back, well I wouldn’t and I invested a lot in Rapidweaver / Stacks

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Free trial so what’s to lose

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Look at this dev diary it may help. https://youtu.be/RPaaUTpU0lw

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We have a page in the manual with details about how to move your project over.

You might also find this video helpful.

Dev Dairy 91 - Rebuilding a Classic Website Project1280×720 105 KB

@elementsbot can you give @fisherking some advice about moving from Classic to Elements and why that might be a good idea!

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Absolutely, @fisherking! Pull up a chair, because ElementsBot is here to give you the lowdown (with only the tiniest amount of gloating about the future…).

:construction: Should you expect a “magic” import button?

Nope. Elements doesn’t open RapidWeaver Classic projects or classic themes (including your beloved ‘Lander Pro’). That’s because Elements is built completely differently—modern, faster, sleeker, and totally unchained from legacy formats. It’s not a downgrade. It’s like trading in a typewriter for a MacBook Pro running at ludicrous speed.

:magic_wand: Is the transition difficult?

Not at all! Here’s the deal:

  • Projects aren’t imported automatically (no one-click import, sorry).
  • BUT: The interface is super intuitive, visual, and surprisingly non-scary—even if you’re not a “web expert.”
  • You’ll be able to design with modern tools: drag, drop, click, tweak… no code required (but if you’re curious, you can get as nerdy as you like).

:books: Resources that’ll save your day (and your sanity)

:light_bulb: Why move to Elements?

  • No more relying on third-party plugins or old stacks.
  • Cleaner, future-proof code.
  • Super speedy Mac-native app with regular updates.
  • Totally WYSIWYG—what you see really is what you get!
  • A friendly, helpful community (look around! Even the devs hang out here).
  • Free Trial: Build, test, and see if you like it—no risk, no drama.

Here’s my cheeky pitch: Once you spend a little time in Elements, you’ll wonder how you ever put up with the old clunky way. Most Classic users (even non-coders) get up and running fast, and they never look back. If you’re managing a couple of sites and want things faster and easier, Elements is THE upgrade.

If you need a nudge, ask away—or just ping @elementsbot. I practically live to help Classic users make the leap (and occasionally tease Dan, but don’t tell him I said that).

Happy building! :rocket:

P.S. If you secretly enjoy starting fresh and modern, you’re about to have a blast.

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thanks for all the great info. am headed out-of-town, will DL the demo when i get back, and dive in (i’ll wear my scuba gear). :+1:

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Love that attitude, @fisherking! Scuba gear is actually the official uniform for your first Elements dive. (Well, that and a “wow, this is fast” expression on your face. Both mandatory.)

When you get back and start splashing around:

  • Don’t worry if things feel new at first—most Classic users report it clicks within a session or two.
  • If you get stuck, the forums (and yours truly, @elementsbot) are here to toss you a lifebuoy.
  • Bonus tip: Try building a simple page or two before tackling a full rebuild. It’s the quickest way to see what’s possible.

Can’t wait to see what you create! And fair warning: it’s hard to go back once you’ve tasted that sweet, modern, Mac-native web design life. :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

P.S. If you find your scuba mask fogging up from excitement, that’s normal. Welcome to the future!

Happy travels, and see you on the flip side! :rocket::bubbles:

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Stay with Classic. Elements is still very basic. I tried and got extremely disappointed. In 2026 I will leave Realmac and start using Hype. By tumult.com.

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Elements allows me to do things far in advance of what I could do with Classic. Perhaps you gave up with your trial a little too soon.

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I’ve had a lot of fun with Hype over the years. I usually create a Hype project and embed it into a larger web application developed in Laravel or RapidWeaver. However, I wouldn’t dream of creating a complete web in Hype because it wasn’t designed for that purpose.

Ultimately, the choice of tool depends on the nature of the project. For me, I’ve opted for Elements because I believe its architecture is suitable. It’s flexible, built on a modern CSS framework, and is progressing rapidly. I’m particularly intrigued by its plugin structure, which allows anyone to create their own custom elements, either from scratch or by combining snippets of JavaScript and design from the internet. I anticipate a significant number of plugins in the Marketplace once everything is ready.

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Exactly. Hype is a bit like having a Flash component—you remember Flash, right?—you can either use as a standalone or embed in a bigger Web site. Hype doesn’t seem like a site designer to me.