[Resolved] Using Elementor to design Toolset Archives

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[Ben]

Are there any plans to be able to integrate Elementor further so you can design Toolset Archives with it?

[Beda]

No, there are no plans to integrate Elementor further right now, we will continue to support the existing integration and threat issues that come up with.

The focus is mainly on Gutenberg when it comes to "page builders" and similar plugins integrations.

I just answered extensively to another user, how it could be possible to actually successfully style archives with Elementor and use Toolset Data in it.
Maybe you can profit from it:
https://toolset.com/forums/topic/problem-with-taxonomy-archives/#post-1190968

In short, Anywhere Elementor PRO is used there, and the archives are created with its templates, then the content is shown on those templates with Toolset Views.
Important is that no Content Template is ever assigned or used on any of the involved items, then it should work pretty well.

What you can also do is insert a Template of elementor in a View Loop directly (see the exceptions and links on the other post).

Finally, if you would like to see more integration - I would suggest you mention this to the Product Management here:
https://toolset.com/home/contact-us/suggest-a-new-feature-for-toolset/

[Ben]

Thank you for your reply Beda.

I've had a look through that other thread and the information is useful.

I've also filed a request for a new feature.

As a sort of "workaround" is there any problem with me using Elementor templates and inserting a View into the Elementor Archive Template that queries all Post Types but uses a Taxonomy Query Filter of whichever Archive it is? I seem to be able to select both "Select posts with taxonomy the same as the page where this View is shown" and "Select posts with taxonomy the same as the current Archive page". These both seem to reproduce the same results and I can add this into an Archive page and it seems to display whatever the Toolset Archive would in the first place. Is that correct?

Are there any problems to me doing it this way? As on the surface is appears to allow me to do exactly what I wish for. Design the aesthetics of the page using Elementor and have the functionality controlled by Toolset.

[Beda]

Yes, this is in summary what the other user did, and the only that leads to the goal set.

I cannot state that it is part of the intended and in past released integration, where we integrated Elementor so you can add Toolset elements to its templates.
This is available when you create Elementor Templates, which you apply to your content, as widgets.
Forms, Views, and Fields (as dynamic options)

So there are a few logical consequences of this:
- you could design the archive with Views Archives and then the templates for the posts in that loop with Elementor.
- However, since archives are more templates than single data, and in posts, we would suggest using Elementor Templates to show Toolset Data, it is safe to say that the same should be done on archives.

Especially, note the ability of Elementor's templating of child terms, this is something that is natively not possible in Toolset - it seems possible in Elementor.

Loading a View with the Query parameter as you mention is not dangerous and has to work, just remember that if something would be to alter the Archive Query... The view would have to obey that and eventually fail.
This is not the case here, Elementor just provides the templates for the archives, not the queries.
Inserting a View to such archive will return the posts connected to the terms as in the current archive.

It should hence be OK to do this, even if it is not part of the documented how to.

Note here the documented how to:
https://toolset.com/documentation/user-guides/using-toolset-with-elementor-page-builder/design-archive-pages-for-custom-post-types/
It leads here https://toolset.com/documentation/getting-started-with-toolset/customize-post-archives/
After reading that, it's clear we do not document or "support" templating archives with Elementor as Elementor is missing from the particular list, leaving us with designing without any page builder option only.
However, what that DOC does not take into account is your decision and Elementor's AddOns.

I have informed our DOC responsible about the "out of date" statement on https://toolset.com/documentation/user-guides/using-toolset-with-elementor-page-builder/design-archive-pages-for-custom-post-types/
I say out of date because Elementor as well evolved, and back when that Document was written, eventually, the add-ons were not at today's popularity.

Eventually, we will update the doc - I will leave this decision to the ones in charge of this.

I hope to have answered any doubts, if not please let me know.

[Ben]

Thank you so much for your detailed responses with this issue Beda. You have covered everything I needed to know!

I'm sure you're some sort of Toolset superhero as apposed to a Supporter!

I think I will go down this route and will report back if I face any unforeseen problems.