SharePoint - Preview Tools for Pages and News

Key insights

• Preview Feature Introduction: Microsoft has launched a new preview feature for SharePoint pages and news, allowing content creators to see how their pages appear on different devices and in emails, enhancing cross-device compatibility.


• Live Demo and Roadmap: The video includes a live demonstration of the preview feature and discusses future developments, including a new animation feature for improved rendering experiences.


• Flexible Sections: New flexible sections in SharePoint allow authors to create dynamic pages without strict column structures. Web parts can be moved freely within a two-dimensional grid, resized, overlapped, and grouped.


• User-Friendly Design: The preview mode is accessible via a button in the command bar, enabling easy switching between desktop and mobile views. It also offers email previews for news posts to ensure optimized delivery across channels.


• Custom Web Part Support: Custom web parts built with SharePoint Framework (SPFx) are supported within flexible layouts. SPFx v1.21 will be released by February 2025 with enhanced support for flexible layout configurations.


• Ongoing Updates: Microsoft plans to roll out this feature to all customers by April 2025 and is considering additional customization options for web part sizing and reflow settings on smaller devices.

Introduction to the New Preview Feature for SharePoint Pages and News

Microsoft has recently introduced a groundbreaking preview feature for SharePoint pages and news, designed to enhance content creation and user experience. This innovative feature allows users to preview how their pages and news posts will appear across different device types, ensuring that content is optimized for various platforms. By making such advancements, Microsoft aims to streamline the content creation process and improve the overall presentation of SharePoint content.

What is This Technology About?

The new preview feature in SharePoint empowers users to view how their pages and news posts will be displayed on various devices, such as desktops and mobile devices. This feature is particularly beneficial for content creators who need to ensure that their content looks consistent and appealing regardless of the device being used to access it. The preview mode is activated through a "Preview" button in the SharePoint command bar, allowing users to switch between desktop and mobile views while editing their content. Consequently, this functionality provides a more efficient way to manage content across different platforms. In addition to device previewing, the feature includes an option to preview how news posts will appear in email formats. This capability is crucial for those who rely on email as a primary channel for distributing news articles. The preview feature ensures that the content remains visually appealing and professionally formatted when sent via email.

Advantages of Using This Technology

There are several advantages to using this new preview feature in SharePoint. Firstly, it ensures **cross-device compatibility**, allowing content to look professional and consistent across multiple devices, thereby enhancing user experience. This functionality is vital in today's digital age, where users access content from a myriad of devices. Moreover, the feature supports **enhanced content creation**, enabling creators to optimize their content for different screen sizes and form factors before publication. This foresight reduces the likelihood of issues arising post-publication and ensures a smoother user experience. Furthermore, the preview feature allows for **efficient testing**, as it minimizes the need for manual testing on multiple devices, saving time and effort in the content creation process.

Basics of the Technology

The technology underlying this preview feature is both intuitive and user-friendly. To activate the preview feature, users simply click a button in the command bar. Once activated, they can choose between desktop and mobile device options to see how their content will appear on each platform. Additionally, an email preview feature is available for news posts, allowing users to view their content in email format across both desktop and mobile devices. This feature is seamlessly integrated into SharePoint, requiring no complex setup or technical expertise to use. It is designed to be accessible to all users, from novice content creators to seasoned professionals, thereby democratizing the content creation process.

What is New About This Approach?

This new approach marks a significant departure from previous methods, primarily due to its ability to seamlessly preview content across different devices directly within SharePoint. One of the key new aspects is the **streamlined preview process**, which eliminates the need to physically switch between devices or browsers. This advancement not only saves time but also reduces the potential for errors in content presentation. Additionally, the inclusion of **email preview** options for news posts represents a significant enhancement. Users can now see how their content will be delivered via email, ensuring it remains optimized for all delivery channels. This capability is particularly important for corporate communications, where maintaining a professional appearance is paramount. Moreover, this approach emphasizes **ease of use**, with the feature being designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. No technical expertise is required, making it accessible to a wide range of users. This democratization of technology aligns with Microsoft's broader mission of empowering individuals and organizations to achieve more.

Innovations in Flexible Layouts

Beyond the preview feature, Microsoft has also introduced **flexible sections** in SharePoint Pages and News. This new section type allows authors to build dynamic pages without the constraints of a strict column structure. Within these sections, web parts can be moved freely on a two-dimensional grid, resized, overlapped, and grouped. This flexibility provides content creators with unprecedented freedom to design engaging and visually appealing pages. When adding a flexible section to a page, users will notice a new section type, "Flexible," in the section toolbox. After adding this section, users can utilize the content pane Toolbox to add web parts and media by clicking or dragging-and-dropping them into the section. Web parts can be moved anywhere on the grid, with alignment cues and resize hints assisting in achieving the desired layout. Furthermore, web parts can be grouped together within flexible sections, signifying their relatedness and ensuring they reflow together in mobile view. This grouping persists across editing sessions, providing a cohesive and consistent user experience. When viewed on mobile or in email, flexible sections transform into a one-column format, with two reflow algorithms available to prioritize web parts either from left to right or top to bottom. This adaptability ensures content remains accessible and visually appealing across different platforms.

Challenges and Future Directions

While the new preview feature and flexible layouts represent significant advancements, they also pose certain challenges. Balancing the ease of use with the complexity of features can be difficult, as users may have varying levels of technical expertise. Therefore, Microsoft must continue to refine these features to ensure they remain accessible to all users. Additionally, as these features roll out to more users, Microsoft will need to gather feedback and iterate on the technology to address any unforeseen issues or user concerns. This feedback loop is crucial for ensuring the technology meets the needs of its diverse user base. Looking forward, Microsoft plans to enable more sizing options for all web parts and consider further user customization for how flexible sections reflow in email and on smaller devices. These enhancements will provide users with even greater control over their content and its presentation, thereby further enhancing the SharePoint experience. Overall, Microsoft's new preview feature and flexible sections represent a significant step forward in the evolution of SharePoint. By providing users with powerful tools to preview and customize their content, Microsoft continues to empower individuals and organizations to create engaging, professional, and accessible content across all platforms.

Keywords

SharePoint, preview feature, SharePoint pages, news updates, Microsoft 365, collaboration tools, enterprise solutions, digital workplace