Blocks

Reading time: 8 minutes

In short: Blocks are versatile elements for building and customizing page content. They include text, media, interactive widgets, and reference links, offering flexibility for various use cases. You can also embed files, set up collections, and manage data directly within pages, enhancing productivity and organization.

What are blocks?

In Timebook, blocks are customizable elements that help you manage and present content on your pages. There are several types of blocks, each serving a specific purpose. Additionally, Timebook offers AI assistance to enhance your writing and content creation experience.

You can use blocks to format text, similar to how you would in other popular text editors. Additionally, you can add visual elements to your pages by incorporating different types of media or linking content from external sources. Timebook also offers widgets—specialized blocks designed to dynamically present selected Timebook data, including Projects and Sprints.

You can primarily use blocks to build your pages, but this feature is also available in other text editors throughout Timebook, such as the description fields for different objects.

Creating and managing blocks

When you open an empty page, you can start typing immediately, which creates a new text block at the top. You can also add more advanced blocks by clicking the [+] button in the page margin or typing “/” within the working area. If you use “/”, and continue typing, the menu will display only the block types that match your input.

Press the “/” key while editing a page.
Select the type of block you want to add from the list. You can start typing to narrow down possible options.
Depending on its type, the selected block can either become a new section on your page or an inline object. A block that spans an entire section has its own handle, which you can use for editing the block later.

To add images or most other file types, simply drag and drop them from your device onto the page.

You can also rearrange blocks to change the structure of your page. To move a block, grab its handle and drag it to a new location. Clicking the handle also reveals additional actions:

[Insert above] allows you to add a new block directly above the one you are currently editing.
[Insert below] allows you to add a new block directly below the one you are currently editing.
[Duplicate] creates an exact copy of the block you are currently editing.
[Delete] removes the block from the page.

You can select multiple blocks to copy and paste them all at once using standard keyboard shortcuts.

Available block types

Timebook offers a wide variety of blocks, allowing you to manage your content in any way that suits your needs. These blocks are organized into several main types. Explore the sections below to discover more about each option and how they can enhance your pages.

Basic blocks

Basic blocks are designed to simplify formatting text and numbers. They are perfect for working on documentation, instructions, or any other text-heavy content.

You can highlight a portion of the text within a basic block and access the context menu to adjust its style. Options include bold, underline, changing the color, and aligning the text—covering all the popular formatting choices.

NOTE: You can also highlight text and select the [Convert to Work Item] option. This feature allows you to instantly create a Work Item, using the highlighted text as its name or description.

This is a list of available basic blocks:

[Heading]: Apply different heading levels to structure your content for easier readability. Three options are available, each with a distinct font size.
[Bulleted list], [Numbered list], [Checklist]: Use these list types to organize details. A bulleted list is ideal for collections of items, a numbered list for step-by-step procedures, and a checklist for managing tasks and to-dos. NOTE: You can move individual list items separately on a page rather than moving the entire list as a block.
[Divider]: Use this block to separate two sections with a thin line, helping to visually organize your content.
[Quote]: Perfect for presenting inspirational or significant sentences in a highlighted style.
[Code]: This block allows you to create a snippet for small, reusable pieces of code that others can easily copy into another website or app.
[Table]: Use this block for structured content that fits best in columns and rows. The block includes buttons for inserting and deleting sections, making it easy to expand or trim your table. NOTE: Pasting comma-separated values directly onto a page will automatically create a table to present your data.
[Column]: This block allows you to create a section with multiple columns on your page. It helps you organize content side by side for a more structured presentation. There are several column layouts to choose from.
[Callout]: A visual element designed to draw attention to specific information. The options available in the [...] menu of a Callout block let you change its background color and icon.
[Toggle]: Creates an expandable section that allows you to show or hide selected content. Each Toggle has a customizable heading; clicking on it will open or hide the attached content.
[Table of contents]: This block automatically captures the headings on your page and creates a linked list for easy navigation. Each heading (H1, H2, H3) appears as a clickable link, allowing you to jump directly to different sections of your content.

Inline blocks

The advantage of inline blocks is that they don’t require a dedicated section on a page. You can insert them in the middle of an existing paragraph, surrounded by your content.

Most inline blocks function as links, referencing data from different Timebook modules.

This is a list of available inline blocks:

[Date]: A simple tool for creating timestamps. Adding it to the page displays a small callout with the current date and time. Click the block to access the calendar picker and modify the date and time, with options to select past or future dates.
[Link]: Use this to add a link to an external source. Specify the display text and paste the actual URL. You can present the link as plain text or turn it into a bookmark for a more visually appealing experience.
[File link]: Allows you to add a downloadable file to a page. You can add files from various sources, including Timebook, Google Drive, or your device.
[Wiki link] and [Document link]: Use these blocks to reference another Document from one of your Timebook Documents or Wikis. This will create a snippet of the selected content, showing its name and icon, allowing you to quickly jump to the referenced item.
[Event link]: Create references to Timebook events in your calendar. Use the search to find the desired event, and we will create a snippet on the page, enabling quick access to this event.
You can also link and reference various Timebook objects, including Work Items, Projects, and Solutions. Simply select the object type, find it using Timebook’s global search, and a snippet will be added to the page, giving you quick access to the linked object.

Media blocks

Timebook offers a range of media blocks to help you integrate visuals, audio, and documents directly into your pages.

This is a list of available media blocks:

[Image]: Upload graphics from various sources. You can display an image from your Timebook files, upload from Google Drive or your device, or link an image from the web using a URL.
[Audio] and [Video]: Add audio and video files to your pages using uploads from the same sources listed above. These blocks include a volume control that allows you to adjust the sound or mute it entirely. NOTE: The video player in Timebook features a picture-in-picture mode, letting you watch videos in a floating window while switching tabs.
[PDF]: Upload PDF documents directly to your pages. This block previews the file on the page rather than displaying it as a simple attachment, making it easier to view and interact with the document.

Widgets

Widget blocks provide interactive tools for managing and displaying data directly on your page. Unlike inline blocks that create simple clickable references, widgets allow you to interact with and manage the data of a Sprint or Project right within the page.

Additionally, widgets can be used to create collections of Sprints or files, enabling you to organize and access multiple items in one place.

This is a list of available widgets:

[Project]: Displays a widget that allows you to interact with the selected Project’s data directly on the page. This enables you to manage the Work Items of the selected Project without leaving the page.
[Sprint]: Displays a widget that lets you interact with the selected Sprint’s data directly on the page. This enables you to manage the Work Items of the selected Sprint without leaving the page.
[Sprint collection]: Allows you to select multiple Sprints and displays all their Work Items in one comprehensive view.
[File collection]: Lets you upload files from Timebook, Google Drive, or your device, displaying them directly on the page for easy access and management.

Embeds

Use embed blocks to display content from external sources. Embeds allow you to enhance your work data with documents, videos, charts, and sheets from other apps.

To add an embed block to your page, select a source from the list below and paste the URL of the content you want to embed. If you select an embed block type without providing a URL, we will create a placeholder so you can add the URL later.

Timebook supports embeds from these sources:

AI-powered blocks

In Timebook, you can support your pages with AI-generated content. To do so, select the [Write with AI] block or press the [Space] key when starting a new text block.

You can then write a prompt telling our AI Assistant precisely what you need. After the content is generated, you can confirm that you want to keep it, ask the Assistant to modify it, or discard the generated text.

NOTE: The scope of AI-related features may be limited by your Workplace’s pricing plan.

You can boost the page content even further using the @ key on your keyboard.

When editing pages or most Timebook text fields, press the @ key to open the search console. This allows you to mention someone from your Workplace or reference specific Timebook content like documents, work items, projects, and goals.

Simply start typing to see matching results or choose from suggested items based on your recent activity.

Pages

Other Timebook objects

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Last updated 6 months ago

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What are blocks?

Creating and managing blocks

Available block types

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