In Simple mode, selecting a block shows a block controller in the properties panel: a compact set of high-level controls for that block. It replaces the Advanced Layout / Style / Logic tabs. You get the controls that matter for the block (its content, options, colors, an action, an animation) and none of the raw plumbing.
Every certified block has a controller. The controls are always either a curated choice (a preset dropdown, a style picker) or a direct value with safe bounds (a color, a number, some text). Simple never offers a control that composes arbitrary logic or positioning.
TODO: screenshot of a Simple-mode block controller (for example the choice controller) in the properties panel.
When a block has no controller
A block without a Simple controller cannot be edited in Simple. The panel shows one of two things:
- If the block uses Advanced-only features, a read-only amber card titled “Some features are Advanced-only”: “You can style this element here, but it also uses advanced features that stay intact and are editable only in Advanced mode,” followed by the list of what is locked (conditional values, positioning, custom components, advanced animations).
- Otherwise, a short placeholder telling you to switch to Advanced for full control.
Nothing is ever lost. Switch to Advanced to edit these in the full property tabs.
Controls shared across blocks
Several controls appear in many controllers.
When tapped
Interactive blocks (like a button) get a “When tapped” section with a single Action picker. You choose one verb from a curated list:
| Verb | What it does |
|---|
| Do nothing | No action. |
| Continue | Advance to the next screen. |
| Go back | Return to the previous screen. |
| Go to screen… | Jump to a screen you pick. |
| Open link… | Open a URL you enter in the Link field. |
| Finish flow | Close the flow. |
Auto-advance (single-choice questions)
A single-select question controller has an “Auto-advance” toggle: “When on, picking an option goes to the next screen.” It saves you from adding a separate Continue tap for one-answer questions.
Animation
Most controllers have an “Animation” section with three controls:
- Effect: None, Fade up, Slide in, Pop, Scale & fade, or Bounce in.
- Trigger: On appear or On tap.
- Delay (ms) (on-appear only): 0 to 2000.
These map to vetted animation presets. The full timeline, stagger, and attention editors stay in Advanced.
Text effect
Text blocks add a “Text effect” section with one Effect picker: None, Typewriter, Typewriter (words), Count up, Fade in lines, or Scramble.
Required
Choice and input blocks have a “Required” section. Turning Required on disables a target (usually the Continue button or a persistent-zone footer button) until the question is answered or the field is filled. You pick the target in the Disables dropdown.
- On a choice block, it reads “Must answer to continue” and “Stays disabled until an option is selected on this screen.”
- On an input field, it reads “Must be filled to continue” and “Stays disabled until this field is filled in.”
If there is no button to gate yet, the section prompts: “Add a continue button to this screen or a persistent zone first.” Required gating is Simple-only; see Interactions and actions.
Controllers by block
| Block | Its controller’s main controls |
|---|
| Title / Subtitle / Normal Text / Rich Text | Content (the text), Typography: a Size preset (Display, Title, Heading, Subheading, Body, Caption), Color, and Align (Left / Center / Right), plus Text effect and Animation. |
| Image | Image: source and Fit (Cover, Contain, Fill, None, Scale down), plus Animation. |
| Single / Multi Choice | Options (add, edit, reorder; Add Option), Answer values (see Calculated values), Selection (the bound Variable, a Haptic “Vibrate on select” toggle), Option Style (quick styles Soft / Outline / Contrast, plus background, border, radius, padding, gap), Option Typography (font size, weight, color), Auto-advance, Required, and Animation. |
| Rating | Rating: Style (Stars / Numbers) and Scale (3, 4, 5, 7, …), plus Animation. |
| Text / Long Text / Email / Phone / Number / Password input | Field: Heading, Placeholder, Validation (Optional / Required / Valid email (required)), and Lines for long text. Data collected: the Name and the Saved to variable (or Create new variable). Plus Required and Animation. |
| Buttons (Primary / Secondary / Text / Icon / Pulse / Gradient) | Button: Label, Style (filled / outline / text / gradient), and Color (or gradient Start / End). Shape & icon: Shape (Rounded / Pill / Square), Icon, Icon side (Leading / Trailing). Emphasis: a Pulse toggle. Plus When tapped and Animation. |
| Hero | Image (source) and Text (Title, Subtitle), plus Animation. |
| Review | Review: Stars (3, 4, 5) and the quote, author, and avatar, plus Animation. |
| Continue Button | A light controller with the When tapped action and styling. |
| Progress Bar | Appearance: Fill and Track colors and Thickness (Thin / Medium / Thick). |
| Analysis Loader | Title, subtitle, accent color, plus Animation. |
| Columns / Rows / Carousel | Container controls: add or remove cells (a Column / Row / Slide) and set spacing. Fill each cell by dragging blocks into it. |
Common mistakes
- Hunting for a Position or per-edge padding control. Simple does not expose them. Spacing is set per block (a gap or padding value in the controller); precise positioning is an Advanced control.
- Trying to add a second action on tap. Simple’s “When tapped” is a single action. For chains, delays, or non-tap events, switch to Advanced.
- Renaming an input’s variable and breaking a Calculated value. The Saved to key is what other features read. Keep references consistent, or edit in the Advanced variable manager.
- Expecting Required to work with no Continue button. Required gates a target. Add a Continue button (or a footer zone button) first.
Related pages
