Turtl offers two types of grids to allow for design flexibility and versatility: Freeform and Column layout.
Use Freeform layout for fast and easy content creation. The flexible grid allows placing text, polls, images, and videos anywhere on the page to create presentation-like layouts. With Freeform pages, all content is pinned by default, ensuring that everything stays exactly where you place it.
The Column layout can be used to create text-heavy layouts, such as reports or whitepapers. The free-flowing text follows the columns and automatically creates new pages if it flows over the current page, with text flowing around images and interactive elements.
Differences between Freeform and Column layout
The below table highlights the main technical differences between Freeform and Column layouts.
Freeform page | Column page |
The freeform layout currently doesn’t support text-wrapping. | Text can flow around interactive elements, images, maps, etc. |
Widgets are pinned by default. | Widgets need to be pinned manually. |
Page breaks or column breaks are not possible nor needed, as all elements are pinned by default. | It is possible to break the free-flowing text by inserting page breaks and column breaks via the Content menu.
|
Our "Count columns" option in text boxes feature provides the option for a traditional column structure within a text box, which can be moved around the page in a controlled way. | The text flows throughout the whole page and is restricted by the selected number of columns (1-5), pinned elements it flows around, and any column or page breaks. |
Videos
Access Grid settings
By default, newly created Content pages will have a freeform layout, but you can convert to a column layout if you’re creating long text-heavy Docs with text flowing across multiple pages.
You can also have a combination of both layouts in the same Doc or even the same Chapter.
You can switch the grid:
At the bottom of a blank Content page.
Through the Content page editor "Settings" -> "Grid".
Alternatively, you can access Grid settings if you hover over the Content page thumbnail in the Outline, click on the three dots, and select "Grid".
You can also make the Column grid your default page layout by clicking on "Set as default for next time". This will then change to "This is the default for next time". This setting is specific to each user and will not impact other users creating Docs.
On the Content page editor, the "Pick a template" button opens a modal with Freeform and Column templates you can choose from to prepopulate your content page with professionally designed layouts.
Can I switch between layouts after the content has been added?
You can switch from a Column layout to a Freeform layout provided all your content is pinned.
The grid setting for individual pages is indicated with respective icons above the Content page thumbnails in the Outline.
Freeform and Column grid settings
Freeform settings
The freeform layout has two options: Precision or Flexible gaps.
The Flexible gaps option is a 24 x 26 grid with changeable gutters (0-40px), which allows you to adjust the gaps between the columns.
This is a great choice for text-heavy pages; Flexible gaps are a preferred option for use cases such as reports, whitepapers, or pages where text is the majority of the layout.
Precision is our 48 x 26 grid with no gutters.
It is perfect for presentation-style layouts or complex editorial layouts such as layered image galleries. We recommend a Precision grid when text makes up 25% or less of the overall page layout.
Column settings
Column settings allow you to select a number of columns, ranging from one to five.