# Dev Diary Ep17 - Elements and Globals **URL:** \ **Category:** Elements\ **Tags:** elements, devdiary, globals\ **Created:** [May 7, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229 "2024-05-07T17:08:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 5:08pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/1 "2024-05-07T17:08:45Z")
Hey Weavers, In today’s video we talk about the naming of Elements and give you a sneak peek at Globals (previously known as Layouts). **Globals is another huge new feature** that will set Elements apart from anything that has come before it. With Globals you can easily share a group of Elements between pages. You can also override images, text and even design settings allowing you to customise Global Elements on different pages. It’s more powerful and flexible than anything else out there 💪 We only scraped the surface of the Globals feature today, we’ll do a deep dive in the coming weeks to show off all the benefits of this new feature! [![](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/realmacsoftware1/original/3X/f/d/fd91dae50e8310a6c4e876a67347d7bf6a85533b.jpeg "Dev Diary Ep17 - Elements and Globals") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18CRcqK2hTo) As always your feedback is invaluable to us, so let us know what you think of today’s announcement in the comments below. I’ll be back next Tuesday as usual. Cheers, Dan & Team Realmac ---
**Author:** ![Flash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Flash](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Flash)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/2 "2024-05-07T17:39:47Z")
This was a good video. Yes you can see the insecurities you are feeling. That’s okay. This is a feature that is huge when it’s comes to speed and automation, and that takes time to develop. Good stuff! ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 5:43pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/3 "2024-05-07T17:43:15Z")
Thanks for the kind words, it really means a lot to all of us here at Realmac HQ 💪 ---
**Author:** ![Bill](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/bill/32/107_2.png) [@Bill](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Bill)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 6:00pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/4 "2024-05-07T18:00:53Z")
Hi Dan, Globals is good - I think everyone will take to it fairly easily. Note on Overrides - adding another icon for global is probably going to be confusing. Could you stick w/ one override icon & if needed, track internally whether a change is applied to a standard element or a global element? Thanks, Bill ---
**Author:** ![gfcreative](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/gfcreative/32/22974_2.png) [@gfcreative](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/gfcreative)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 6:12pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/5 "2024-05-07T18:12:34Z")
I concur with Bill. Instead an individual override icon for each thing you want to change, can you make one override option that allows the user to make multiple changes? ---
**Author:** ![Flash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Flash](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Flash)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/6 "2024-05-07T18:14:33Z")
> [@Bill](#): > > adding another icon for global is probably going to be confusing. While I don’t have a better idea. I do feel that two differentiating indicators are needed. If a person is visually impaired, a separate color as well as shape would be nice. ---
**Author:** ![upssjw](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/upssjw/32/26063_2.png) [@upssjw](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/upssjw)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 7:38pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/7 "2024-05-07T19:38:31Z")
Globals look great, no issues with 2 overrides, for those that are new as long as when you hover over it pops up what it is for (option to disable pop up once used to it) did notice this, override under L ![Image 07-05-2024 at 20.26](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/realmacsoftware1/original/3X/a/c/acf38f4c03cf93b0de0e9fc26612ce7ee4422ea0.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/8 "2024-05-07T21:27:16Z")
> [@upssjw](#): > > did notice this, override under L Good catch, we’ll get that fixed ☺ ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2024, 9:28pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/9 "2024-05-07T21:28:01Z")
> [@Bill](#): > > Globals is good - I think everyone will take to it fairly easily. Thanks, we hope so too. Lots more to show on this next week! ---
**Author:** ![MrMacvos](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/mrmacvos/32/25447_2.png) [@MrMacvos](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/MrMacvos)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 7:39am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/10 "2024-05-08T07:39:11Z")
Those globals are GREAT! I love it! ---
**Author:** ![klap](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/klap/32/25866_2.png) [@klap](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/klap)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2024, 10:30am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/11 "2024-05-08T10:30:45Z")
This is wonderful Dan! The Globals will be very helpful to keep things simple. ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2024, 7:06am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/12 "2024-05-09T07:06:58Z")
> [@klap](#): > > The Globals will be very helpful to keep things simple. Yes, I think they are going to be very popular 👍 ---
**Author:** ![majobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@majobo](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/majobo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 6:03am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/13 "2024-05-10T06:03:49Z")
Globals to me will certainly be a crucial component of Elements. but, please, do keep them in a separate tab. I think that will greatly help clarity. love where Elements is going, Matthias ---
**Author:** ![anon68150607](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@anon68150607](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/anon68150607)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 11:56am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/14 "2024-05-10T11:56:20Z")
I’ll be honest, at this point I don’t really get the point of globals - other than that they themselves are elements—which can already be shared and reused across a site—with the added ability to change the content and/or styling on an individual basis. Dreamweaver _(yeah, I know…)_ had a concept of templates and libraries with variable/conditionals regions, which enabled users to change content in these templates on individual pages, but still benefit from the underlying template/styles/etc being able to update across as the site without destroying your specific changes. While the changes you could make were limited, they did ensure that your site templates could still be updated without worry of either removing content/styles, or requiring the user to go through and check/update each of their modifications individually. To me Globals currently seem like they could be a nightmare in the making if someone using globals liberally throughout their site, then decided to edit each global instance individually making the point of being able to automatically update all of these global elements a much more complicated task as they all now have different values, styles, etc? Which ones get automatically updated, and which ones need to be painstakingly updated by hand? I’m also a little weary of the circle + square UI/UX as it effectively doubles the cognitive load when scanning the left side of properties panel for changes. I don’t have a better solution, but I think the current implementation could prove confusing for some users. I’m hoping next week’s video will alleviate my concerns. ---
**Author:** ![Flash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Flash](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Flash)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/15 "2024-05-10T16:24:28Z")
> [@anon68150607](#): > > then decided to edit each global instance individually I suppose with every tool, its use could be abused or overly complicated. As with anything, practice makes a person good at what they do. This includes web designers. ---
**Author:** ![anon68150607](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@anon68150607](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/anon68150607)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 4:26pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/16 "2024-05-10T16:26:51Z")
True, but if a tool affords a specific behaviour (and it’s touted as a feature) you can’t blame users for ‘holding it the wrong way’. ---
**Author:** ![Flash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Flash](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Flash)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/17 "2024-05-10T16:35:59Z")
Well I for one find Globals awesome. And I’m sure we are going to see more cool stuff next update. If a web designer thinks it’s going to be a problem for them I guess like all things, eat the watermelon and spit out the seeds. But always enjoy the treat. They don’t have to use it if it gets them in trouble but don’t let it stop you from designing an awesome website! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Flash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Flash](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Flash)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 12:31pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/18 "2024-05-15T12:31:07Z")
@dan I miss getting the chance to watch the update yesterday. Funny how we grow to appreciate the weekly surprises. ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 1:05pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/dev-diary-ep17-elements-and-globals/43229/19 "2024-05-15T13:05:43Z")
@Flash Sorry about that, I had a few appointments yesterday so didn’t get time to do the video 😭 However, I’ve recorded a new video this morning, and am just waiting on YouTube to process it 😃 Should be live in the next couple of hours. Stay tuned, it’s a really good one!