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Using List View to select and reorder nested blocks

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List View shows the structure behind a block layout, making it easier to select a whole section or move content inside a nested group. Use it when clicking the page canvas repeatedly selects the wrong paragraph, image or container.

How does List View show nested blocks?

A Group can contain Columns, each Column can contain several blocks, and a pattern can wrap the entire arrangement. Moving the parent moves its children together. Deleting the parent can also remove all of those children, so check the selection before using a destructive action.

01 Navigate and move content

  1. Open the post or page editor and select the Document Overview control, then the List View tab.
  2. Expand the arrows beside container blocks to reveal their contents. Select a named block in the list and confirm its highlight in the canvas.
  3. Collapse unrelated sections so the source and destination are easy to see.
  4. Move the selected block with the available movement controls or drag it within List View. Watch the insertion position and indentation to determine whether it will become a sibling or a nested child.
  5. Review the resulting structure before saving. Undo immediately if the item moved into the wrong container.

02 Make complex pages easier to maintain

Where the editor offers Rename, give major containers useful internal labels such as Services introduction or Contact details. These labels help editors distinguish repeated Group blocks without changing the visible heading. Use the Outline view separately to review heading order.

Confirm the expected result

Preview the page, especially where a section moved between columns or layout containers. A block can inherit spacing and alignment from its new parent, so the visual result may change even though its text did not.

If movement is unavailable, check whether the block or surrounding pattern is locked. Do not remove a structural lock without understanding why it exists. When working with a synced pattern, confirm whether you are changing a shared design used elsewhere. A single selection in List View can represent content that appears on many pages.

Sources and further reading

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