Introduction to new layout and configuration options for SharePoint Hero web part

Key insights

• SharePoint Hero web part: A tool designed to enhance the visual appeal of SharePoint pages by showcasing up to five items using images, text, and links.


• New Layout Options:
  • Carousel Layout: Displays multiple items in a rotating format with customizable slides. Features include autoplay and manual control, along with three style options: Image Overlay, Text Block, and Diagonal Split.
  
  
  • Tiles Layout: Presents items in a grid with one large tile and smaller ones. Allows configuration of one to five tiles, each linking to different content.
  
  
  • Layers Layout: Displays items vertically in layers with an image and text for each. Supports up to five layers with customizable or auto-selected images.


• Configuration Options:
  • Add or edit content for each tile, layer, or slide by selecting links to pages, documents, or images. Customize background images and add headers or call-to-action links.
  
  
  • Reorder items within the Hero web part using move options for desired positioning.
  
  
  • Adjust image focal points to highlight important parts within frames.
  
  
  • The Hero web part can take full page width but allows adjustments for section layouts within columns if needed.


• The new features provide a dynamic and customizable experience for creating engaging SharePoint pages.

Introduction to the New SharePoint Hero Web Part

The SharePoint Hero web part has been a vital tool for creating visually appealing pages in Microsoft SharePoint Online. With the latest update, Microsoft introduces a new Carousel layout, elevating your SharePoint pages and news to a modern, dynamic design. This update aims to provide an eye-catching and immersive user experience, enhancing the way content is presented. In the recent YouTube video, Microsoft showcases the new layout features and configuration options available in the Hero web part, which are being rolled out to customers worldwide. The video also invites feedback from users to further refine these features.

Exploring New Layout Options

The updated Hero web part offers several new layout options, providing greater flexibility in how information is presented.

• Carousel Layout: This newly introduced layout allows for the display of multiple items in a rotating carousel format. You can add up to five slides, each customizable with images, text, and links. The carousel can be set to autoplay, transitioning through slides automatically, or it can be manually controlled by users. Additionally, there are three style options for each slide:
  • Image Overlay: Displays a white or dark overlay color on top of the image to enhance text readability. Text can be aligned to the left, center, or right.
  • Text Block: Shows the text inside a light block with transparency, ensuring readability. Text alignment options include left, center, or right.
  • Diagonal Split: Divides the slide into two halves with a white solid trapezoid containing the text. Text can be aligned to the left or right, with the diagonal split adjusting accordingly.
• Tiles Layout: This layout presents items in a grid of tiles, with one large tile and multiple smaller ones. You can configure between one to five tiles, each linking to different content. The tiles can display auto-selected images from the linked content or custom images that you provide.
• Layers Layout: In this vertical arrangement, items are displayed in layers, each featuring an image and text. You can configure up to five layers, and like the Tiles layout, images can be auto-selected or customized.

Configuration Options for Enhanced Customization

The Hero web part's new configuration options allow for a more personalized and engaging user experience.

• Adding and Editing Content: For each tile, layer, or slide, you can select a link to a page, document, or image. You can also customize the background image, add a header, and include a call-to-action link with customizable text.
• Reordering Items: Items within the Hero web part can be reordered by selecting the item and using the move options to place it in the desired position.
• Image Focal Point: You can adjust the focal point of images to ensure the most important part of the image is highlighted within the frame.
• Section Layout: The Hero web part is designed to take up the full width of the page, but you can adjust the section layout to place it within one of two or three columns if preferred.

Tradeoffs and Challenges in Balancing Features

While the new features of the Hero web part offer exciting possibilities, they also present tradeoffs and challenges. For example, the Carousel layout provides a dynamic way to showcase content, but it may require careful consideration of image and text placement to maintain readability and engagement. Similarly, while the Tiles and Layers layouts offer flexibility in presentation, they might necessitate additional time and effort to curate and manage the content effectively. Moreover, the customization options, such as adjusting image focal points and reordering items, provide greater control over the appearance of SharePoint pages. However, these features require users to have a good understanding of design principles to avoid cluttered or visually overwhelming pages. Balancing these factors is essential to create a cohesive and effective user experience.

Conclusion and User Engagement

The enhancements to the SharePoint Hero web part represent a significant step forward in creating engaging and visually appealing SharePoint pages. By offering new layout and configuration options, Microsoft empowers users to present information in more dynamic and customizable ways. As these features roll out to customers worldwide, user feedback will be crucial in refining and improving the overall experience. For those interested in exploring these new features, the YouTube video provides a detailed demonstration and guidance on utilizing the updated Hero web part. As always, Microsoft encourages users to share their thoughts and experiences to help shape future updates and improvements.

Keywords

SharePoint Hero web part new layout configuration options introduction guide tutorial features update 2025