Question: How can I prevent the classes in the original element from changing when I change the classes in a copied and pasted element in Webflow?

Published on
September 22, 2023

To prevent the classes in the original element from changing when you change the classes in a copied and pasted element in Webflow, you can follow these steps:

  1. Duplicate the element: Start by duplicating the original element in Webflow. You can do this by selecting the original element and using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl/Cmd + D, or by right-clicking and selecting "Duplicate."

  2. Edit the classes: After duplicating the element, you can now make changes to its classes without affecting the original element. You can add new classes, modify existing ones, or remove them as needed.

  3. Detach the classes: By default, when you duplicate an element, it retains a connection to the original element's classes. This means that any changes made to the classes of the duplicated element will also affect the original element. To prevent this, you need to detach the classes from the original element. To do this:

  • Open the style panel: Select the duplicated element and open the style panel on the right-hand side of the Webflow interface.
  • Remove the connection to original classes: Look for the "Detach from symbol" button, which appears as a broken link icon next to the class name. Clicking this button will disconnect the element from the original classes.
  1. Style the duplicated element: Once the duplicated element's classes are detached, you can now modify its styles independently of the original element. You can apply new CSS properties, modify existing ones, or add interactions and animations specific to this element.

By following these steps, you can ensure that any changes made to the classes in a copied and pasted element will not affect the original element, allowing you to have greater control and flexibility when designing your Webflow project.

Example:

Let's say you have a button element with the classes "primary" and "rounded" in your original element. If you duplicate this element and remove the connection to the original classes, you can then change the classes of the duplicated element to "secondary" and "square" without affecting the original button's classes. This allows you to create variations of elements while keeping the original styles intact.

Additional questions:

  1. How do I duplicate an element in Webflow?
  2. Can I copy and paste styles between different elements in Webflow?
  3. What are the benefits of detaching classes in Webflow?