Webflow Review Changes: A Comprehensive Guide to Publishing Updates

Webflow has revolutionized the way we design and publish websites. But as your projects grow and become more complex, managing and reviewing updates before you publish them can seem daunting. This is especially true when collaborating with a team, where multiple edits could be happening all at once. Don't worry, we've got you covered. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to review changes effectively in Webflow before publishing them.

The Challenge of Tracking Changes

As pointed out by Michael in the Webflow forum, one of the challenges Webflow users often face is the ability to review changes before publishing. You might be wondering if Webflow has a change log that shows the actual changes done by a collaborator since the last time the site had been published. It's a valid concern and something that can make your workflow a lot smoother.

The Solution: Webflow's Collaborator Features

Webflow does have some inbuilt features that can help. As Sergie Magdalin pointed out in the forum, collaborators can see the changes that will be published inside the Editor. When they hit publish, they're able to see all the changes that will be published. Although this feature is currently only displayed in the Editor, Webflow plans on adding this info to the publish popover in the Designer. This means that you'll be able to review changes before they go live, ensuring that you're fully informed about what's going to be published.

Step-by-Step Guide to Reviewing Changes

1. Open your site in the Designer: Start by opening your project in the Webflow Designer.
2. Go to the Editor: Click on the Editor button to switch to the Editor view. This is where you'll be able to see all the changes that have been made.
3. Review the changes: Take your time to go through all the changes. You can click on each item to see what has been edited or modified.
4. Publish the changes: Once you're satisfied with the changes, click on the Publish button. You'll be able to see a summary of all the changes that will be published.

Additional Resources

Webflow University offers a wealth of resources for managing your projects. If you want to learn more about publishing staged changes, have a look at their detailed guide.

If you're experiencing long publishing times, it could be due to several factors such as your internet connection, ISP issues, outdated browser versions, or even browser extensions. You can learn more about this in the Webflow forum.

And yes, you can still edit your Webflow site after publishing. Simply access the Webflow Editor and make necessary changes. Once done, you can re-publish your site to make these changes live.

Final Thoughts

Reviewing changes before publishing in Webflow doesn't have to be a headache. With the right knowledge and resources, you can ensure that your website updates are published smoothly and accurately. Remember, the power is in your hands to create and manage amazing websites with Webflow!

Pro Tip: Harness the Power of Backups

Webflow's Backup feature is a lifesaver that's often overlooked. It allows you to create checkpoints for your site that you can revert to if something goes wrong or if you're not satisfied with your changes. Not only does this give you a safety net, it can also be a powerful tool for review and collaboration.

Here's how you can use it. Let's say you're working on a significant update or redesign, and you want to be able to compare your new design with the old one, or maybe you want to show your client the changes before making them live. You can simply create a backup before starting your work, then at any point, you can restore to that backup, review, and then go back to your latest version.

To create a backup, go to your Project settings > Backups. Here, you can see all your automatic backups, and you can also create a manual one by clicking the "Create Backup" button. Give your backup a name that helps you remember what it's for. Now you can work on your site with peace of mind, knowing that you can always revert to this point.

Remember, the backup feature is only available on paid Webflow plans. But considering the flexibility and security it provides, it's definitely worth the investment!