HTML Component Not Rendering html

Elements
1

I maybe missing something. I using an HTML component in a test project with just one page and just the HTML component in a container. However, when I preview it, it doesn’t seem to be rendering all the html properly. If I open an html file outside of Elements with the exact same coding, it renders as expected.

Here is the html code, but the only thing that seems to be working is the Bold. No h1, blockquote or list.

<h1>MyTitle</h1>

<p>
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, <b>consectetur adipiscing elit</b>, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt </p>

<blockquote>
Neque porro quisquam est, qui Ennii Medeam aut Antiopam Pacuvii spernat aut reiciat, quod se isdem Euripidis fabulis delectari dicat, Latinas litteras oderit? Synephebos ego, inquit, potius Caecilii aut Andriam Terentii quam utramque Menandri legam? A quibus tantum.
</blockquote>

<ul>
	<li>Audeam scribere? Quamquam a te ipso id quidem f
	<li>Detractio molestiae consecutionem affert voluptatis, 
</ul>
2

I think it is working but you have to setup styles for the HTML tags.

You are missing the </li> tag at the end of your list items.

This post from @ben might help; especially the second option: Unordered and ordered lists in Elements - #2 by ben

Maybe @elementsbot can help?

1 Like
3

Absolutely, I can help clarify this! :waving_hand:

What’s Happening?

By default, the HTML Component in RapidWeaver Elements does render your HTML, but out-of-the-box there’s minimal or no styling applied to “raw” HTML like <h1>, <blockquote>, or <ul>/<li>. That means elements like headings, blockquotes, and lists will appear unstyled—so they can look almost invisible or plain in the Editor/Preview, except for basic elements like <b> which apply a browser default.

This is actually a feature, not a bug. It gives you full control to style things using Tailwind classes or your Theme settings.

How to Give Your HTML Some Style

Option 1: Use Tailwind Classes

If you want styled content straight away, wrap your HTML in a <div> and add Tailwind utility classes. For example:

<div class="prose">
  <h1>MyTitle</h1>
  <p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, <b>consectetur adipiscing elit</b>, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt</p>
  <blockquote>
    Neque porro quisquam est, qui Ennii Medeam aut Antiopam Pacuvii...
  </blockquote>
  <ul>
    <li>Audeam scribere? Quamquam a te ipso id quidem f</li>
    <li>Detractio molestiae consecutionem affert voluptatis,</li>
  </ul>
</div>
  • The class prose gives you lovely typography (thanks to Tailwind’s Typography plugin).
  • Make sure to properly close your <li> tags as well—otherwise browsers may ignore your whole list!

Option 2: Use Theme Controls

If you’d rather use the full power of Elements, add the “Typography” or “Rich Text” Component. Those components are connected to your Theme styles and automatically apply beautiful, consistent styling to headings, lists, blockquotes, and more.

Quick Fix for Your Code

Your list items need closing tags; try this, inside a <div class="prose">:

<ul>
  <li>Audeam scribere? Quamquam a te ipso id quidem f</li>
  <li>Detractio molestiae consecutionem affert voluptatis,</li>
</ul>

More Resources

:sparkles: If you ever want to ask me anything about Elements, just mention @elementsbot — I live for this kind of thing! Welcome to the Power of Elements!

1 Like
4

I added the div with tailwind class, but no change

5

Thanks for following up, Edward! Let’s see what’s happening:

1. HTML Component & Tailwind Classes

The HTML Component in Elements does let you use Tailwind classes like prose, but there are some important caveats:

  • The HTML Component runs in a “raw” sandbox. By default, it doesn’t automatically apply your Theme’s typography or all Tailwind classes unless you explicitly include them via your theme settings or a wrapper component.

  • If you’re using <div class="prose">...</div> and it’s NOT showing the expected styling:

    1. Double-check that your page or section’s theme actually supports typography/the prose class.
    2. Some Tailwind classes (including prose) may not be applied if you are only using the plain HTML Component. They are supported out-of-the-box in the Typography or Rich Text Components, but you may need to assign them in the Theme Studio if you want them everywhere.

2. The “Elements Way” (Recommended!)

Instead of using the HTML Component for styled text, drag in a Typography or Rich Text Component.

  • These automatically apply your theme’s typography, spacing, and color settings to all elements—headings, lists, blockquotes, links, etc.
  • Just paste your content, and you’re good to go.
  • That’s the Power of Elements: clean design, no messy workarounds.

3. What To Do Next

If you must use HTML Component:

  • Try manually adding Tailwind classes to each tag, e.g.:
    <h1 class="text-3xl font-bold mb-4">MyTitle</h1>
<p class="mb-2">Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, <b>consectetur adipiscing elit</b>...</p>
<blockquote class="border-l-4 pl-4 italic text-gray-600 mb-4">Quote here…</blockquote>
<ul class="list-disc ml-8">
  <li>Item one</li>
  <li>Item two</li>
</ul>
    This ensures Tailwind actually styles your elements!

Or: Use Theme Studio

  • Go to Theme Studio and check if your base styles/typography classes support prose.
  • (If not, use the Typography or Rich Text Component for rich content — Elements was designed to apply theme styles that way, not via “raw” HTML.)

4. Still Not Working?

Double-check:

  • That you don’t have any conflicting styles or extra CSS overriding your tags.
  • You aren’t in “Edit” mode (sometimes the preview is different—hit Preview to see the real output).
  • Try with a basic Tailwind class for testing, like <div class="bg-red-500 text-white p-4">Test</div> — if this shows a red background, Tailwind is working!

Summary:
For styled text, use Typography or Rich Text Component — it’s fast, beautiful, and takes full advantage of your theme styles. The HTML Component is for custom markup or code snippets, not for styled text content.

If you want to dive deeper into how theme styling works, check the Elements User Manual: Typography & Theme Studio for details.

Need help troubleshooting your specific page? Drop a screenshot or let me know the theme you’re using — or just mention @elementsbot any time! I live for this stuff. :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

Welcome to the Power of Elements!

6

I do most of my writing outside of Elements using markdown. I really don’t want to have to strip out the coding and paste into a styled text component that doesn’t support pasting in formatting.

I was trying to use the HTML component because I can export my markdown to html code, so I thought it would be a work around.

7

Great follow-up, Edward! I totally get why you’d want a smooth Markdown → HTML workflow, and you’re definitely not the only one with this use case. Let’s tackle it head on—the Power of Elements is all about flexibility, after all!

Why the HTML Component Isn’t the Best for Markdown-to-HTML Styling

When you paste exported HTML (from Markdown) into the HTML Component, it does render, but it won’t get the nice typography or theme styles automatically. That’s because:

  • The HTML Component renders “raw” HTML, and styling is only applied if you add Tailwind classes yourself (which is tedious, as you’ve found).
  • By design, theme-based styling (typography, colors, spacing, etc.) is most easily leveraged using the Typography or Rich Text Components.

Your Actual Options (2025 Edition!)

1. Copy Directly as Markdown into Typography/Rich Text

  • If you paste Markdown (not HTML) into the Typography Component, it will render with the correct theme styles and structure—headings, lists, blockquotes, etc.
  • If your source supports it, you may be able to copy as rich text or Markdown directly.
  • Yes, you lose some “exported code” control, but you gain an instant, themed output.

2. Automate the Addition of Tailwind Classes (Advanced Users)

If your workflow requires exporting HTML:

  • Use a Markdown-to-HTML tool that supports adding Tailwind classes automatically (for example, using markdown-it with plugins).
  • There are tools and npm packages that can output <h1 class="prose-h1">, <ul class="list-disc">, etc., making copy-paste easier. But, it’s extra work compared to just using a rich text component.

3. Feature Request Time!

You’re not alone—support for pasting Markdown or HTML with auto-styled output is a common feature request. The Elements Team loves hearing about workflows like yours (it helps improve the app for everyone).

  • I’d encourage you to post your workflow as a Feature Request in the Elements Feedback forum. If you want, I can ping @dan and @ben here to flag it!
  • What to request? A “Paste Markdown as styled content” button, or smarter HTML Component that can ingest Markdown/HTML and apply theme (prose) styling automagically.

Recommended Approach (Today):

  • For best results and no extra markup fuss:
    • Write in Markdown.
    • Paste Markdown into Typography or Rich Text Component.
  • If you’re stuck with HTML exports, and really want theme styling:
    • Look for Markdown-to-HTML tools that add Tailwind classes to all exported tags (rare, but possible!).
    • Or apply classes manually—but that defeats the speed/purpose of Markdown.

TL;DR:

  • The HTML Component is for custom, raw markup—not ideal for styled content blocks.
  • Typography/Rich Text = instant, theme-powered, beautiful output, and supports Markdown pasting.
  • If you need deeper pasting/import flexibility, the Elements team wants to hear your feedback—you’re helping shape the future of the app!

Want me to flag this as a feature request to the devs? Or need tips on a Markdown-to-Tailwind workflow? Let me know—or just @elementsbot again, I’m always lurking with advice. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Welcome to modern web design—without the legacy baggage!

8

The recommended approach doesn’t work. Pasting markdown into Typography or Text component just shows the codes as part of the text. It does not style the text accordingly.

9

Thank you for clarifying, Edward! You’re absolutely right: at present, pasting Markdown directly into the Typography or Text Component will not auto-convert it into styled HTML—it will just display your Markdown as plain text, not as formatted content. (I double-checked the latest Elements docs, and this is indeed how it currently works.)

Why This Happens

  • The Typography Component in Elements expects rich text—not Markdown or HTML. So, when you paste Markdown, you see the literal asterisks, hashes, etc., instead of headings, lists, and blockquotes.
  • The HTML Component does render HTML, but (as you’ve discovered) it won’t pick up your theme or typography styles unless you decorate every element with classes—definitely not ideal for Markdown-driven workflows.

Current Workarounds

1. Convert Markdown to HTML with Tailwind Classes (Advanced)

  • Use a Markdown converter that can add Tailwind classes to tags. You can then paste the output into the HTML Component for styled output.
  • This workflow is (frankly) more complex than most users want, and not “drag and drop”—but it’s technically possible.

2. Request Markdown Support!

  • You are not alone—native Markdown support (with live preview and theme styling) is a popular request among writers and bloggers.
  • I can flag this thread and ping @dan (the Big Chief) and @ben (lead web dev) so the Realmac team sees how important this is for content creators like you.

3. Keep an Eye on Updates

  • Elements is under super-active development, with rapid releases and tons of user feedback shaping each update.
  • There are regular dev diaries and many, many new features shipping all the time—Markdown/Rich-Text improvements could be coming sooner than you think.

What Should You Do?

  • For now, Elements does not natively turn pasted Markdown into themed, styled content—only rich text is supported in Typography/Rich Text Components, and HTML Component requires you to manage classes.
  • If Markdown support is essential to your workflow, let the team know! Your feedback drives features.

Would you like me to officially flag this as a feature request and ping the devs here? Or help you find a Markdown-to-Tailwind tool as a temporary solution?

Welcome to the Power of Elements—modern, fast, and always evolving! :rocket:
If you want, just say the word and I’ll call in @dan and @ben so this gets on the roadmap.

10

Yes please officially flag this as a feature request. Also help find a markdown to tailwind tool

11

Thanks, Edward! :rocket: Let’s make this official:

1. Feature Request Flagged!

:waving_hand: @dan @ben — This is a high-value workflow improvement for content creators and bloggers:

“Support for pasting Markdown (or Markdown HTML export) into a Typography, Rich Text, or dedicated component, and having it render as themed, styled content—no manual reformatting or hand-adding Tailwind classes required.”

This would majorly streamline writing workflows for anyone who drafts in Markdown, bringing the Power of Elements to modern writers and devs alike!

2. Markdown-to-Tailwind Tool Help

While we wait for native support, here are some options you can explore for converting Markdown to HTML with Tailwind classes automatically applied:

a) markdown-it + Tailwind Plugins (Advanced/DIY)

  • markdown-it is a powerful markdown parser in JavaScript.
  • Use custom plugins or write a processor to automatically wrap/replace tags with Tailwind classes (e.g., <h1 class="text-3xl font-bold">, <ul class="list-disc ml-8">).
  • Not turnkey, but if you’re comfortable with Node.js, you can automate this in your workflow.

b) Online Tools / GitHub Projects

There are a few projects and scripts that try to do this. For example:

  • tailwind-md – converts Markdown to HTML styled with Tailwind classes (experimental, but promising!).
    • Try it: Clone, install, and it will output HTML with Tailwind classes.
  • markdoc — powerful and extensible if you want to build a custom pipeline, though not “one-click”.

c) Manual Template as Middle Ground

If you have a small set of common blocks (headers, lists, blockquotes), you could set up a find/replace macro in your editor to wrap those tags with common Tailwind classes before pasting into Elements.

Short Version:

  • Feature request officially flagged! The dev team will see this thread—native Markdown-to-themed-content would be a big win.
  • In the meantime, try tools like tailwind-md or build a small automation (happy to help if you want to go this route!).
  • For questions about dev workflow, just @elementsbot anytime.

Thanks for helping shape the future of Elements—the only site builder that moves as fast as you do. The Power of Elements is always growing! :flexed_biceps:

If you want a step-by-step guide for setting up markdown-it or any of the tools above, just let me know!