I’m a huge fan of the Headway theme framework, but I’ve been asked by a few readers for my opinion on the PageLines theme framework. I’ve had the chance to work with the PageLines theme for various web design clients during the last couple of years. Both PageLines v. 1.x (branded “PageLines PlatformPro”) as well as the latest v. 2.4 (branded “PageLines Framework”)
Note: This short review is based on PageLines Framework v. 2.4 and when I compare it to Headway – I refer to Headway v. 3.4.4.
Now: Let’s get on with the show!
PageLines Basics
Without making this into PageLines tutorial, you just gotta know this:
PageLines’ templates consists of Sections. Sections are a brilliant concept! If you’ve ever used Unbounce’s visual editor to create landing pages, you’ll find similar possibilities in PageLines.
WordPress website design – made simple
One thing that’s always bothered me about WordPress, is that each page only has one, single content area. Other CMS’s like ExpressionEngine, MODx, Drupal and concrete5, will all give you the possibility to have each single page contain several different content areas.
Yes yes, I know, you can fake this with custom post types and custom fields, but it sure as hell isn’t as elegant and easy as the competition makes it.
The PageLines theme solves the problem in a very interesting way though!
The Sections in PageLines lets you compose individual pages, that each has both the main content, as well as several other horisontal fields (for lack of a better word) of special content, like boxes, sliders, call-to-actions, etc.
All very cool, and much much welcome. It makes WordPress so much sexier to use as a web designer.
But PageLines also comes with some annoyances:
What’s Not to like about PageLines?
First of all, and my major criticism of PageLines:
Its nomenclature is confusing! If you look up the word “ambivalence” in the dictionary, I’m sure the entry will mention PageLines.
So many names for everything in PageLines… What does it all mean? I mean really? Have a look:
Custom post types named: Banners, Boxes and Features… Huh? How do they differ? Which one does what?
PageLines’ Sections are called: Carousel, Masthead, Banners, Boxes, Hero Unit, Highlight, Features, QuickSlider, Callout… While some of them make sense, most do not. What da heck is the difference between a Highlight and a Callout? Hero Unit and the Banner section? They are similar, but different. Same same, but different.
And what if you’d like yourself a nice content slider? There’s the QuickSlider. That one’s obvious. But what if it’s too quick and simple for ya? Well, there’s the… huh? Hmmmm, so… maybe the… aha! Turns out the Features section is an advanced slider! That makes a little sense. But only a little. Not much. Could make more sense.
The admin part of the PageLines theme is similarly confusing: You have a tabbed interface with a Dashboard (not to be confused with WordPress’ own dashboard) and Site Options, Page Options and Drag & Drop. While it may sound simple and straghtforward enough. But in reality… it isn’t. To create your site, you’ll go from tab to tab, and never quite be able to remember in which tab you do what.
PageLines vs Headway – Sections vs Blocks
Compared to my fave WordPress theme framework – Headway – the approach of PageLines is very sexy and alluring, but much more complex and confusing.
Headway doesn’t have any Banners, Boxes and Features. Headway simply has something called Blocks. These blocks can be placed on a grid layout. Headway Blocks can be many things, but each are clearly labeled: Content, Widget Area, Header, Footer, Navigation, Gravity Form, etc.
I could say more about how the two compare, but for me it basically boils down to the above.
Multiple sidebars possible? No?
Having multiple sidebars, alternating on different templates, depending on context: Is not supported. For that you’ll have to use a plugin like Widget Logic. While Widget Logic is free, I’m one of those purists who think less plugins are better, and that multiple sidebars should be handled by the theme. Headway supports it by default, for example.
Everything comes at a cost. PageLines included.
The pricing is prohibitively high in my opinion. The pricing scheme is complexified by an optional PLUS Membership. Too many choices are never good in ecommerce, or commerce in general. Read Martin Lindstrom’s book Buyology if you don’t agree. I don’t think you disagree though. Who wants more tough choices in life? It’s full of them already: Should I wear my pink Hello Kitty underpants today… or the Yellow Submarine ones?
What I really really like about it
Each section has a separate full width wrapper, which means you can easily make full width, fluid layouts. Not just header and footer, but every section, listed above. Makes it much easier to separate your page elements, and create a visual flow when scrolling the page. The Headway theme framework currently doesn’t have full width support, but I have a strong sense it is coming, sooner rather than later. Doesn’t help me right now though. Full width is all the rage these days. It’s what the young people want. It’s the ordeal of the day. You know.
Some of the sweet charms of PageLines:
- It’s built on Twitter Bootstrap. Tons of shortcodes to easily format your content.
- It supports the LESS CSS framework.
- It is a grid-based framework. I find grids essential to good design.
- It is responsive by default. Can be disabled if you wish.
- The support documentation is simple, thorough and well-organised.
Despite my above critical points, I must admit I’m impressed with PageLines!
Read more about PageLines on their own site – and do not hesitate with your comments or questions!
Onore says
What about Yoo and their warp framework?
Oliver Nielsen says
Warp is more of a developer-focused starter theme / framework. Not catering to the same users as Headway and PageLines DMS.
Cesar Falcão says
Great article. The heated debate was very valid, and congratulations to Oliver Nielsen as moderator, keeping it on the track and also being polite and unbiased.
I found this site one month ago while searching for headway tutorials. I liked the articles so I’m sticking with it for while. I’m waiting for the headway course too.
I was very inclined to switch to headway, since I’m can’t code anything and having used Elegant themes and Woo themes I needed to pay someone to change the theme’s CSS and such (although elegant themes have some kind of support for minor changes).
So the need to switch is both for financial and for freedom of being stuck to a dev.
Now Pagelines DMS is a great surprise. I’d like to see a new comparative here when it’s ready.
Oliver Nielsen says
Thanks Cesar! A PageLines DMS vs Headway review will definitely be coming as soon as I get a chance to test PageLines DMS;)
Sachin Nambiar says
Just thought i’ll add, headway does have fluid layouts now. I have found that headway can be really fast for building websites quickly compared to pagelines. Just to cite an example, you need to create box sets, then boxes and then assign them to a page(Three steps just layout). In headway, you create boxes directly on the page and can clone them on subsequent pages. (Two steps just layout). I find it more intuitive.
Oliver Nielsen says
I totally agree.
Have you read this?
https://www.webmatros.com/headway-fluid-header-footer
Rob says
Hi Jame,
PageLines provides a Base Theme… essentially a blank slate child theme you can use to customize and create a child theme. They also have a customize plugin what you can use for hooks and functions, and several options for CSS. Personally, I think it’s the most masterful system because you can use it as simple as you want, or get really complex in your design, based on your skills.
Jame says
Could I use plugin to create Custom Post Types? Plugin like Easy Custom Content Types of Pippin.
Does the templates adopt my custom post type?
Thanks!
Oliver Nielsen says
Hi Jame
I haven’t personally used the plugin you mention, but see little reason why it shouldn’t work. You may have to create a custom loop though, depending on your use of custom fields.
Oliver
Rob says
Oliver, unless these custom post types are going outside the normal loop, I’ll have to disagree about a custom loop. Nonetheless, PageLines Framework could handle it.
Oliver Nielsen says
For custom field output, a custom loop may be needed.
Rob says
Jame, I’ve used custom post types without any difficulty at all with PageLines. Being a framework, it simply picks up whatever is in the Post Loop, and displays it. Properly added, these custom post types should inherit the styling from the framework, but also you should have the ability via the plugin to add a custom class in case you want to style it uniquely. In fact, there may be a customized class or ID already built in by the plugin, just for this purpose. I haven’t tested those particular plugins, but I can’t think of any reason they wouldn’t work.
Oliver Nielsen says
Thanks for chiming in Rob! Much appreciated and very kind of you.
Oliver
Jame says
I doubt about the templates. Does it inherit the drag and drop, differentiate it with PageLines features or not?
Rob says
Well, the Drag & Drop is essentially for sections, not post types unless they are sections built within the framework. Since PageLines provides so many resources, it’s possible to clone and modify an existing section to create your own. Many people have customized it, creating all sorts of great things.
Jame says
Thanks Rob! Appreciate your comments!
Rob says
You’re very welcome!
Jame says
I’ve never use any theme frameworks before. Currently, I’m looking to build my WordPress Sites on a framework.
Pagelines is attracted me because some factors that I want such as Twitter Bootstrap, Responsive & Non-Responsive, Drag & Drop etc.
Anyways, good post!
I want to know that is it too difficult to create a custom theme from scratch based on PageLines? I can’t write PHP codes but I’m familiar with them to arrange with WordPress.
Thanks!
Oliver Nielsen says
If you know CSS you can make a PageLines child theme. That would be the best way to go.
Rob says
Hi, To clarify your article’s section on “Multiple sidebars possible? No?” you’ve confused the difference between sidebars and widgets. PageLines Framework users can certainly have multiple sidebars set up based on templates you intend for specific purposes. You can even clone sidebars or create custom sidebars.
Your argument is based on the specific use of widgets within sidebars, based on use. Well, that’s why Widget Logic is one of the most popular plugins for years – which is why every theme or framework should work with it, and PageLines does.
In truth, PageLines lets you assign sidebars or remove them not only on a template basis, but also on an individual page or post level using the PageLines Meta Settings. Those settings let you display or hide any section or element set up in the template used.
Widget Logic, to be clear, only controls the appearance of widgets (in ANY sidebar) based on WordPress conditionals. No theme does that, all of them, including Headway, leaving that up to the individual.
PageLines, I dare say, has done an utterly fantastic job of making the sidebars as flexible, useable and controllable as any other, bar none. If someone needs to manipulate how widgets appear, that’s a totally different issue than the control of sidebars.
Oliver Nielsen says
Hey Rob
Thank you for your words, very valuable and welcome.
I do know Widget Logic and have worked with it in several projects. Good plugin, but also too geeky for many non-techy users.
Most of what I write on my blog is with non-techy users in mind, front and center. What may be easy for me and you may not be easy for every average Joe and Jane.
Headway solves the widget challenge very elegantly I think. Have you tried it?
Oliver
g argle says
hmmm, too geeky!>? Oliver, you are patronising the majority of your reader base by these comments. If you find it too complicated to use that is one thing but the rest of us have found the support and documentation on the widget logic WordPress page to be very intuitive and helpful.
It is nice to see loyalty to one theme as you obviously have to headway (affiliate)
Oliver Nielsen says
You assume you know who my reader base are and who my target group is. I’m sorry, but you don’t. I try to write for those people who do NOT wish to geek around. Those who have something they want to create and express, with as little effort and friction as possible.
My interest is how the fast-paced advances in UI and UX make it possible for anyone, including non-techny people, to create a website that expresses who they are and what they do.
I’m happy with Headway yes, but also point out its shortcomings. Actually I’m sitting here writing a blog post about some of that, this very moment. I’m not partial, so please don’t try to paint such a picture of me. After all, I’m here, but who are you? No real name, no website.
If the next version of PageLines is better than Headway, I’ll sure as hell tell that to the world:)
Rob says
Oliver, sorry I’m late to reply to this thread. I will politely disagree with your position on Widget Logic, but thoroughly understand your view. Many people wish for a perfect widget management solution with incredible ease and a simple UI. So far, IMO, the developer community hasn’t really come up with that perfect solution. In terms of the greatest accuracy though, I believe that Widget Logic is unparalleled (yes, I did try Headway). If someone reads the descriptions in the WordPress Conditions link, they should be able to manage widgets like a pro in minutes. Of course, the key being whether people actually read the docs. Believe me, I’m not (that) geeky, and I figured it out in minutes. 🙂
Oliver Nielsen says
You are welcome to disagree. That’s just the nature of humankind:-)
Anyway, I understand Widget Logic as well. But most of my clients would never get it, they’d mess it up and I’d be an idiot for having put them in such a position.
More elegant solutions are to be investigated.
But code-wise, Widget Logic is fine. Works as intended.
Sachin Nambiar says
I must admit the initial releases of Headway were disappointing as i found them to be buggy. But the later versions have really improved and i like the idea of having unstructured layouts. Seems more creative in my head!
That being said, i will add that pagelines can be pretty good if you get your head around it. And their support forum is pretty good too.
Oliver Nielsen says
I’m very excited about the upcoming PageLines 3 release. It can turn out to be really great. Time will tell;)
g argle says
im not sure there is any information regarding a new version anywhere i can see. do you have any more information on this?
Oliver Nielsen says
Lots of hints here and there;)
http://dribbble.com/arpowers
etc:)
Jona slong says
What a load of rubbish. The Nomenclature is straight forward and not confusing. What you mean is that it is different from the names of similar parts of headway. Headway is very very flimsy and the site made with it are very basic.
Oliver Nielsen says
Thanks for your comment Jona. I respect your view that PageLines’ nomenclature/labelling isn’t confusing to you personally. But to me, it is, and to the clients I’ve worked with, it is confusing as well. Fact is: It could easily be simplified and made clearer, with little to no negative impact. Quite the contrary.
Headway flimsy and Headway sites basic? Ha! That simply isn’t true. Does http://www.dorthelenbroch.dk look basic to you? Simple, yes indeed. Basic, in a bad sense? No. I built it from scratch with Headway. 100% tailor-made to my client.
I am working on two Headway Skins that will be released in the nearby future, both of which will prove you wrong. They will be simple and somewhat minimalistic, ie. clean, but very polished and well-designed.
Feel free to throw a few links to some non-basic PageLines sites as well as some basic Headway sites. Am interested to see what you mean.
Lex says
Hello, Thanks You!
I just purchased Pagelines. And found that I can’t create a new module style, and apply it to different widgets. (I could do it easy with WRAP Framework http://bit.ly/WMTegC )
What level of custom css will I have with Headway? I don’t know php, and need that functionality, but I hate editing css in framework admin. I like to use real text editors.
Should I go with Headway in this term or Pagelines? Thanks so much
Oliver Nielsen says
In Headway you can easily apply classes to each widget area, to style them differently.
With Headway you can either make a child theme and use your own text editor, or you can use the built-in CSS editor. The beauty of it is, that it has *live* preview. You see your CSS changes immediately. Makes editing CSS much faster.
Same as in the Mac apps CSSEdit and Espresso if you happen to have used those;)
In Headway you can also create a custom code block, that contains whatever code (JS, HTML or PHP) you might need. I haven’t found a straightforward way to do that in PageLines yet.
Overall I find PageLines very charming, but Headway more powerful, yet much simpler to work with.