183
HTML Hub Section
in review
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Sara Greenlaw
The ability to create sections in the hubs that allow HTML.
EDIT FROM SEARCHIE TEAM:
The HTML Section could accommodate widgets such as:
- any community platforms that allow for widgets (ex. Circle.so)
- interactive maps
- a calendar widget
- forms/assessment tool
- HTML5 for interactive videos
Will McArthur
Hey all!
For this... would adding an iFrame embed capability cover most of the cases you're thinking of for this? Or would you need a field of entirely customizable HTML?
We have some concerns when it comes to security of allowing raw HTML to be added to the Hub, but adding an iFrame embed option would be much easier, safer, and quicker to implement.
Let me know what you think!
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Steve Newton
My use case is for an interactive flow chart where each object can link back to an explainer video and/or URL and/or download. Current option is to build it in LucidChart, embed in a web page on my main site, and then link it to the URL in Searchie.
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Jessica Rhoades
I'd love to be able to embed javascript. I'm looking to integrate https://www.rupt.dev/ into Searchie. I know there are lots of different use cases and this is mine.
Bryan Bennett - TeamKickstart.com
Jessica Rhoades: - Wow. Rupt is
exactly
what I've been looking for. Have you used it before? Does it work well?J
Jessica Rhoades
Bryan Bennett - TeamKickstart.com: I haven't. It was a possible solution we were looking at. My client decided to move away from Searchie because there is no way to track logins and they have issues with members sharing logins.
J
Jessica Rhoades
I'd like to integrate https://www.rupt.dev/ and need to be able to add custom javascript. I know there are several use cases and wanted to let you know mine.
Lori Lorenz
An iframe module that would allow me to run javascript and custom css would be awesome. I have a web app assessment, and other calculators that I want to run on the same page as searchie video learning content. There are cookies that also make sure a pdf report gets to the right person. Let me know if you have more questions. This is for corepassion.com.
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Samantha Johnston
Will McArthur I believe Circle is using an iFrame when they provide the HTML so I'm not sure how that would work. If it's an iFrame inside of an iFrame, would that create issues?
Happy to supply some code samples of what Circle provides for embed options.
Will McArthur
Samantha Johnston: This is the kind of case we would be looking to handle with our iframe. You would use the details of the Circle iframe and embed it into the Hub directly.
This would 100% be possible with an iframe element.
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Ma He
iframe is good
Will McArthur
Heads up- I've created an iFrame element post for a feature that will cover some of the use cases here, but not all of them. Feel free to upvote that one to receive updates on its progress.
Will McArthur
Hey all!
For this... would adding an iFrame embed capability cover most of the cases you're thinking of for this? Or would you need a field of entirely customizable HTML?
We have some concerns when it comes to security of allowing raw HTML to be added to the Hub, but adding an iFrame embed option would be much easier, safer, and quicker to implement.
Let me know what you think!
b
brandi
Will McArthur: I just want to be able to add our addevent calendar and a chat bubble.
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Scott Paley
Will McArthur: YES!!!! This would be SOOOO helpful!
Will McArthur
brandi: Do you know if that is possible with an iFrame?
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Mike Indovina
Will McArthur: I don't think an iframe would allow for html code to cover things like chat windows, site tours, or even tracking codes like Hotjar, analytics, etc. Admittedly, I'm not the most skilled with the html side of things so I could be wrong.
Bryan Bennett - TeamKickstart.com
Will McArthur: I would strongly prefer entirely customizable HTML. If you are concerned, you might consider adding a warning for users or labeling it an advanced/risky feature or something of the sort... but you can take comfort in the fact that.... every page builder (obviously) and most course and group platforms allow for customized HTML.
Bryan Bennett - TeamKickstart.com
Mike Indovina: You can do all of what you mentioned using Google Tag Manager, which Searchie does support... just so you know.
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Mike Indovina
Bryan Bennett - TeamKickstart.com: Just not on the Pro Plan :(
Phillis Benson
Will McArthur: Prefer HTML over iFrame for embedding forms & calendars that do not use iFrame code ;-) BUT, will take iFrame for now.
Will McArthur
Mike Indovina Bryan Bennett - TeamKickstart.com, WordPress actually lists which tags they support in their custom HTML sections:
In their list of unsupported ones, do any here throw alarm bells for you? Meaning, are there any in this list that are the reason for requesting this?

C
Christina Kimball
Will McArthur: I think so
William Beem
Will McArthur: I'm looking for HTML to use with different snippets of code. Also, iFrame is another security risk due to XSS issues.
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Sylvia Schneider
Will McArthur: So, having iFrame would pull from another site, not within the Searchie environment? There are risks with that as well. I'm still not thinking clearly post-Covid, but I
think
I'd prefer HTML blocks. There are risks with both methods.Tom Vizzini
Will McArthur: HTML would be helpful for many things like calendars
and other such widgets.
Iframe works well for me since what I want to do is embed Vimeo livestreaming. Right n ow I have to split my membership between 2 sites so that I can do our monthly live events.
If I had a choice I would like the full HTML option but would gladly settle for iframe :)
Now lets talk about the ability to email members :)
Bryan Bennett - TeamKickstart.com
Will McArthur: Ok, here's the deal... to be honest, I'm trying to push you for customizable HTML because I'm worried that if we don't get you to do it now, it'll be another 1-2 yrs before you revisit this topic -- and it's a topic we've been begging for for a very, very long time, so the possibility of that type of delay concerns me.
The only immediate needs I have are for iframes and javascript, but I just hired a dev team that is going to help me amp up our client experiences and I want them to have the flexibility to add custom HTML as needed.
And, I know I can use javascript at the page and site level using GTM. So, that's partially handled.
Will McArthur
William Beem: Yes, for sure- we're accounting for that.
Will McArthur
Bryan Bennett - TeamKickstart.com: Okay- understood. This is helpful as we are also fairly confident an iFrame-based element would cover many initial use cases, but it wouldn't provide the full functionality you're looking for. It gets us closer, though.
Lori O'Grady
Will McArthur. In reply to your comment above. Not being able to add a form in an HTML block would be an issue. A big reason for wanting html is to add embedded forms. The disclaimer is really that people can't use those tags if they have a Wordpress.com site that doesn't allow for plugins. Most managed Wordpress sites do allow for some of these tags in the html block. I have tried to imbed forms inside of iframes before. it can be a nightmare for setting what happens after submit because you can't always replace the "parent". And styles inside the iframe sometimes gets overwritten by other CSS. Though I get your point about wanting to restrict some tags.
Will McArthur
Lori O'Grady: Would you be looking to build that form natively with HTML? Or are you thinking of using a service for this?
Jane Harbison
Will McArthur: yes iframe works for me
Lori O'Grady
Will McArthur: to answer the form natively with HTML question above. A key reason I would want to do a form in my Hub, would be to have a means to do things like surveys, feedback forms, sign-up forms, etc. At the moment, there is a CTA button with Searchie, but it takes you outside the membership to an external page or service. So it's two steps for the members. There is no way to embed these things on Searchie (or am I wrong, and there is a new feature).
Sometimes it means adding an embedded form (like for Mailchimp). For others it's an embedded script (like for Calendly).
In my message above, when I was talking about past struggles with embedding forms in Wordpress and Wix, I was thinking of what I did years ago with embedded sign-up forms. Now I use WPForms on Wordpress and send the output to Zapier. It's cleaner and fits into my site design better.
For some things, instead of an HTML feature in Searchie, what might really be desired is a Form feature.
Ana Edna GO
Will McArthur: Thank you for getting us involved in this, Will!
I would strongly prefer a totally customizable HTML field.
Will McArthur
Ana Edna GO: Is there something specific you’re looking to do that can only be done in a fully customizable HTML field?
Will McArthur
Lori O'Grady: I wonder… our Audience Attributes are already great for this. If we introduced a way to put inputs for those directly on a Hub page, and then gave export options for those attributes in the audience area, would that accomplish the same thing? And eliminate the need for another tool?
Lori O'Grady
Will McArthur: thanks. i will look at this.
Andron Ocean
Will McArthur: An iFrame would cover maybe 30% of what I'd want to do with custom code. Embedding media or sub apps like quizzes would all be fine that way. Forms can be OK in iFrames but post-submit routing can be messy in my experience.
What I really want is JavaScript and DOM API access, maybe some SVGs. Google Tag Manager works great for adding tracking codes. It gets increasingly awkward to use GTM to add chat buttons, site tours, and other customizations. I can do it, but it's not a nice interface. I have to examine the rendered HTML myself, track navigation, and keep track of state inside GTM and
hope
that Searchie doesn't change things after I'm done.If Searchie itself took control of adding/removing custom stuff from the DOM when the page changes it would be a lot nicer. I do get that custom HTML becomes a lot harder since Searchie is a single-page app.
My questions would be, what security risks are introduced by offering full custom HTML, that aren't already a concern with GTM? Could Searchie use a Content Security Policy with random nonces and 'strict-dynamic' to protect against malicious custom code? (Those of us adding custom HTML would have to modify our script elements to add a {{nonce}} variable or something, but that's not a deal-breaker.) Could it be an opt-in feature that isn't automatically enabled, and users have to contact support to have it manually activated in their hubs?
Ana Edna GO
Will McArthur: As far as I know, iframes are used to embed content.
I'd like the capability to use JavaScript to filter elements, add progress bars, sticky elements, display timed content, etc., without having to call content from an external source.
Does this make sense?
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Katrina Sequenzia
Will McArthur: iframe... my current need is to embed my podcast player on my hub.
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Ma He
PLEASE make 158 people happy.
Casey Patch
YES please can we be able to add script to be able to embed chat boxes into our hubs too! That would be so handy!
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