Is it possible to use CMS with a Webflow native gallery/slideshow?

I hope you are all well. I am just a beginner with Collections.

Is it possible to create a collection that works with multiple gallery images and slideshows, each having different text overlays? This is what it looks like, statically:

https://preview.webflow.com/preview/david-goldman-agency?utm_medium=preview_link&utm_source=designer&utm_content=david-goldman-agency&preview=ad0953d8e1c84da46d337ad490db3369&pageId=6046398abbe198ef9e9a60b0&mode=preview

I was able to make the top banner and slide-down bio work, with a single collection, but when I try to populate one of the thumbnails with an image from the collection, or get the text overlay from the collection, the options aren’t there. Is this because CMS won’t work with the Webflow native gallery object?

How can I achieve this, so I will be able to create 15 separate artists pages automatically from a template? One collection for all? 15 separate collections? Neither, it just won’t work?

Sorry this is so complicated.

Joseph Notovitz


Here is my public share link: https://preview.webflow.com/preview/david-goldman-agency?utm_medium=preview_link&utm_source=designer&utm_content=david-goldman-agency&preview=ad0953d8e1c84da46d337ad490db3369&pageId=6046398abbe198ef9e9a60b0&mode=preview

Hi,

I opened up your read-only link and i didn’t see any CMS collections created.

By using CMS collections, you will be able to create text, images and other fields within the collection and then fill those out individually every time you create or edit a CMS item.

Cheers.

Hi Kimmy,

Thank you for answering. This version has no CMS — my question was just “general”. Trying to find out if it’s possible to use CMS within the gallery widget dragged into the canvas from the “add element” area on the left.

When I tried (in another version) to do this, there was no option to do anything CMS-related to the thumbnails and text overlays. Here is a link to the version with my CMS attempt:

https://webflow.com/design/david-goldman-agency?p=60463989bbe19855dd9a6046&pageId=60464b0ebc5a3e76675665c1

As you can see, the top banner, with bio and name, are CMS-connected. The problem is with the thumbnails.

Thank you for your help!

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Hello again,

The link you provided just now is not working. However, i’m not so sure you can populate fields without a proper CMS collection element. The gallery element is just a static element, i believe, not a dynamic one.

In the long run it might be more beneficial if you just use webflow’s collection element. You just need to style the structure to your liking and then you’re good to go.

Cheers.

Hi Kimmy,

Thank you for answering. This version has no CMS — my question was just “general”. Trying to find out if it’s possible to use CMS within the gallery widget dragged into the canvas from the “add element” area on the left.

When I tried (in another version) to do this, there was no option to do anything CMS-related to the thumbnails and text overlays. Here is a link to the version with my CMS attempt:

https://webflow.com/design/david-goldman-agency?p=60463989bbe19855dd9a6046&pageId=60464b0ebc5a3e76675665c1

As you can see, the top banner, with bio and name, are CMS-connected. The problem is with the thumbnails.

Thank you for your help!

You replied with the same exact response as in your previous reply.

The first “send” came back as unaccepted because of an included pasted TIFF. So I sent it again.

In any event, here is a share link that should work. It shows the CMS I created which didn’t work on the thumbnails or text overlays.

I really appreciate your help and patience!

https://preview.webflow.com/preview/david-goldman-agency?utm_medium=preview_link&utm_source=designer&utm_content=david-goldman-agency&preview=ad0953d8e1c84da46d337ad490db3369&pageId=60465c1a2c438610eac8d5a6&mode=preview

The page is called “Michelle-Barnes-CMS”

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Hello again,

The link works but it tells me the page has been deleted and redirects me to your project’s default page, i also don’t see a page called “Michelle-Barnes-CMS” on the page navigator, sorry!

Did you create a CMS collection page or just a regular page?

Cheers.

Yes and no. Is the answer. Natively in webflow you can ad CMS to one slide at a time and then limit it. I have only used it for a hero slider of 4 images. I know there will ever only be 4 in the slider. So I create a collection called slides. In the collection I put an image field and and alt text or whatever else I want in the slide. Then on the collection list start at one limit 1. Then repeat for next slide except start at 2 limit 1.

Finsweet has a workaround for a dynamic webflow slider but I like the cycle 2 JS better.

I use this slider all the time. and built instructions for it. https://preview.webflow.com/preview/cms-slider-and-cycle2js?utm_medium=preview_link&utm_source=designer&utm_content=cms-slider-and-cycle2js&preview=fe8f3fe8373fee1a2a76d667671881fc&mode=preview

here is the live link https://cms-slider-and-cycle2js.webflow.io/
There are also other pages with slick slider implementation.

There is the same problem with CMS lightboxes not working great if you want to limit the images to a particular gallery.

So no webflow does not handle Complex CMS galleries natively well.

Sorry Kimmy, I have done this more carefully. This page is the one with CMS. You’ll notice that the top banner calls in the right elements from CMS, but I’m not sure how to apply CMS to the thumbnails below, or the text overlays.

Right now the text overlays are 100% opacity so you can see them. When published, I turn this to “0 opacity”, and the hover state brings it to 100%.

https://preview.webflow.com/preview/david-goldman-agency?utm_medium=preview_link&utm_source=designer&utm_content=david-goldman-agency&preview=0fb245983c44676b6ec399363ca7a22c&pageId=604665690fc7a59a4cd65c2e&mode=preview

What are the steps I need to do in order to handle the thumbnails and overlays in CMS?

Many thanks again, Joseph Notovitz

Wow, thank you Jeremy.

I will have to absorb this. As I am a beginner with this, there is a lot to consider.

I deal mostly with creators and entertainers and I am constantly trying to find the best things I can add to enhance them and get around the webflow limitations.

Don’t be intimidated by the little jquery or script bits. A lot of people me understand them over the years. Finsweet has a javascript library that greatly enhances the webflow CMS. But start easy. Start with the cycle2js slider. - What it allows that the webflow one doesn’t is the ability to add slides automatically. Add an item in the collection it gets added automatically. The slick slider can do this easily as well. I like the cycle2js one for easy customization, and the pager image fucntion. If you need help with either of them let me know.

Thank you again, Jeremy. Let me see how far I can get, reading your detailed instructions carefully.

I made it clonable as well but I’d suggest trying to do it from scratch. Reach out anytime either here or message me directly. Happy to help.

Thank you, I greatly appreciate it.

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