Introduction
Recently, we were working with the O365 application. One thing we noticed is that Microsoft introduced a new OOTB Hero web part. Personally, I like that web part very much, so I explored the WP in-depth and thought it would be good to share it.
Details
In Communication sites, the Hero web part is included by default and the web part is pre-populated with default images, text and links that can be modified later for our needs. The default Hero web part comes in a tiled layout with five tiles.
Creating a Communication Site, from <SharePoint Admin site>/_layouts/15/online/AdminHome.aspx#/siteManagement
Figure 1:Office 365 – SharePoint Online – Creating a communication site
Choosing a Site Design while Creating a Communication Site
There are 3 types of Site Design you can choose while creating a new communication site:
Figure 2: O365 – SharePoint Online – Choosing site design while creating Communication Site
Topic Communication Site design
In a communication site, when we choose a Site design as a Topic, then by default, the Hero WP comes with a tiled layout with five tiles (this can change from one to five) and is pre-populated with default images, text, and links that can be modified later according to your needs.
Figure 3: Office 365 – SharePoint Online – Hero WP from Topic site design – Tiled layout
Showcase Communication Site design
In the communication site, when you select choose a Site design as Showcase, then by default Hero WP comes with a vertical layout with three layers (this can change from one to five) and is pre-populated with default images, text, and links that can be modified later according to your needs.
![Office 365 - SharePoint Online - Exploring OOB Hero Webpart]()
Figure 4: Office 365 – SharePoint Online – Hero WP from Showcase site design – Vertical layout with three layers
Blank Communication Site design
In the communication site, when you select to choose a Site design as Blank, then by default there is no Hero WP added in the page.
Steps to add and modify Hero WP on page
- Click page edit button in a page
Figure 5: Office 365 – SharePoint Online -Adding / Updating Hero WP on the page
- Click on the add button and find HERO WP
![Office 365 - SharePoint Online - Exploring OOB Hero Webpart]()
Figure 6: Office 365 – SharePoint Online -Adding / Updating Hero WP on the page
- After adding web part, you will get following default layout depending on the Communication Site design selected. The following layout is for the Communication Topic site design.
Figure 7 : Office 365 – SharePoint Online -OOB Hero WP added on the page
- To edit the layout, click on the edit button.
Figure 8: Office 365 – SharePoint Online – editing OOB Hero WP
There are 2 types of layout options:
Figure 9: Office 365 – SharePoint Online – Hero WP – Layout options – Layers
Figure 10 : Office 365 – SharePoint Online – Hero WP – Layout options -Tiles
- Click on the select link for adding an image or link:
Figure 11: Office 365 – SharePoint Online – Adding image or link to OOB Hero WP
- After clicking on Select link, the following popup will appear, we can select an image or link from the following options.
Figure 12: Office 365 – SharePoint Online – Image popup
- After selecting an image, the following options will ask for an edit.
- Link
Title – add title for image. we can hide or show title
Auto-selected – Automatically selects an image from the page
Custom image –You can select custom image
Color only – select any color corresponds to your site theme color
Call to action text – You can add your Call to action text (for example, “See more”).
You can show a call to action link by switching the toggle to Yes.
Figure 13:Office 365 – SharePoint Online – Hero WP – edit properties
In layers, the following sessions are added:
Link
Description – we can add a Description that will appear in an image
Options
Show topic heading- we can add a heading for an image
We can show a topic heading link by switching the toggle to Yes.
Figure 14:Office 365 – SharePoint Online – Hero WP – Adding images / links
Hero WP Images are stored in the Asset Library SitePages folder:
Figure 15: Office 365 – SharePoint Online – Images of Hero WP are stored in “Site Assets” library under “Site Pages” folder