This article shows you the layout of the Live Page Builder: the three columns, the save status and the way out.
Read it before your first session. Every other article in this section starts from here.
Before you start
Editing needs the Customize Store Appearance permission. Without it you can look around, and the settings panel says You can look around, but editing needs the appearance permission.
Publishing needs Publish Store Appearance, which is a separate permission.
The builder needs a computer or a tablet held sideways. On a smaller screen you see Open the page builder on a larger screen, with Back to Appearance to leave.
Step 1. Open the builder
In the side menu, under Design & Appearance, pick Live Page Builder. You can also press Customize on your active theme in the Theme Store. The builder fills the screen, with your real shop in the middle.
The builder fills the screen, and everything it can do sits on this one bar.
Step 2. Read the three columns
On the left is Sections: the blocks of your home page in the order they appear. Header is pinned above them and Footer below. At the bottom, the Global group holds the settings for the whole shop: Theme, Colours & fonts, Store layout, Navigation menus, Product card, WhatsApp widget, Custom CSS and My designs & templates.
On the right is Settings, which always shows the controls for whatever is selected. The buttons at each end of the top bar hide or show the two columns when you want more room.
Sections on one side, your real shop in the middle, Settings on the other.
Step 3. Click the shop itself
Move the pointer over the page and each part gets an outline. Click one to select it: the settings panel shows its controls, and the heading at the top of the panel names what you picked.
Pick a part of the page and the settings panel jumps to its controls, naming what you picked.
Step 4. Watch the save line
Beside the buttons at the top you always see where you stand: All changes saved, Unsaved changes, Saving… or Saved just now. If you see Couldn't save, press Retry beside it.
The small arrow next to Save draft holds the Auto-save drafts switch. Auto-save keeps your draft saved as you work. It never publishes anything.
The chevron beside Save draft holds the Auto-save drafts switch. Auto-save never publishes anything.
Step 5. Undo anything
The two arrows undo and redo. Rest the pointer on one and it names the exact action it will take back. On the keyboard, Ctrl or Command with Z undoes, adding Shift redoes, and Ctrl or Command with S saves the draft.
Press the question mark key at any time to see the full list of shortcuts.
The two arrows undo and redo, and their tooltips name the exact action you are taking back.
Step 6. See what you have changed
Changes carries a count of everything in your draft that differs from the shop your customers see. Press it to see the list, grouped by where each change is, with Revert on every line.
Changes counts everything in your draft that differs from the shop your customers see.
Step 7. Leave safely
Exit takes you back to the Theme Store. If anything is unsaved, the box You have unsaved changes opens: press Save draft and exit to keep your work, Exit without saving to drop it, or Cancel to stay.
Exit stops when anything is unsaved and offers Save draft and exit, so a stray click loses nothing.
Result
You can find any part of your shop in seconds, you always know whether your work is saved, and you can undo your way out of anything. Your customers still see the old shop until you publish.