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Working with Bootstrap in Power Pages

Posted on by Rishan Solutions

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1. What is Bootstrap?

Bootstrap is a popular front-end framework that helps developers design responsive websites and applications quickly. It includes ready-to-use components like:

  • Grids
  • Buttons
  • Forms
  • Navigation bars
  • Modals
  • Alerts

Bootstrap is responsive by default, meaning it adapts to various screen sizes, including mobile devices, tablets, and desktops.

Integrating Bootstrap into Power Pages allows you to quickly design modern, mobile-friendly, and consistent user interfaces.

2. Why Use Bootstrap in Power Pages?

  • Consistency: Bootstrap provides a consistent layout and design across different pages and devices.
  • Responsive Design: Easily create mobile-friendly pages without extra effort.
  • Rich Components: Utilize pre-built components like buttons, modals, alerts, and forms.
  • Speed: Accelerates design and development time with its ready-made CSS and JavaScript components.

3. Adding Bootstrap to Power Pages

There are two main methods to integrate Bootstrap into Power Pages:

A. Using the Bootstrap CDN (Recommended)

The Content Delivery Network (CDN) method is the easiest way to add Bootstrap to Power Pages. It doesn’t require uploading files and ensures you’re using the latest stable version of Bootstrap.

Step 1: Add Bootstrap CDN to Header Web Template

  1. Go to Power Pages Admin Center or Portal Management App.
  2. Open Web Templates and edit the Header Web Template.
  3. Add the following Bootstrap CSS link inside the <head> tag:
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://stackpath.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/4.5.2/css/bootstrap.min.css" integrity="sha384-9a2mb31D+zFlT0lDJtB6kLzm1A2L6TP7G+mrhBQ9iY1dq7Lf5S1oJfrf0JQz5fBk" crossorigin="anonymous"> Replace the version number with the one you need (this example uses Bootstrap 4.5.2).

Step 2: Add Bootstrap JavaScript CDN

  1. In the Header Web Template, just before the closing </body> tag, add the Bootstrap JavaScript files:
    <script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.6.0.min.js"></script> <script src="https://stackpath.bootstrapcdn.com/bootstrap/4.5.2/js/bootstrap.bundle.min.js"></script>
  2. Save and publish the changes.

You’ve successfully integrated Bootstrap into your Power Pages site.

B. Uploading Bootstrap Files as Web Files (Advanced)

If you prefer to host Bootstrap files locally (for offline use or additional control), follow these steps:

Step 1: Download Bootstrap Files

  1. Visit https://getbootstrap.com and download the latest version of Bootstrap.
  2. Extract the files to get bootstrap.min.css and bootstrap.bundle.min.js (or separate JS files).

Step 2: Upload the Bootstrap Files as Web Files

  1. Go to the Power Pages Admin Center or Portal Management App.
  2. Navigate to Web Files and upload the following:
    • bootstrap.min.css
    • bootstrap.bundle.min.js
  3. Set the Partial URL (e.g., bootstrap/bootstrap.min.css).
  4. Save and publish the Web Files.

Step 3: Reference the Local Bootstrap Files in the Web Template

  1. Edit the Header Web Template.
  2. Add the local CSS and JS references:
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="/webfiles/bootstrap/bootstrap.min.css"> <script src="/webfiles/bootstrap/bootstrap.bundle.min.js"></script>
  3. Save and publish the changes.

4. Using Bootstrap Components in Power Pages

Once Bootstrap is added to your site, you can start using Bootstrap components to enhance the design of your pages.

Common Components You Can Use:

A. Bootstrap Grid System

The grid system allows you to create responsive layouts. It divides the page into 12 columns.

Example:

<div class="container">
  <div class="row">
    <div class="col-md-6">Column 1</div>
    <div class="col-md-6">Column 2</div>
  </div>
</div>
  • col-md-6 means that the columns will take up 6 of the 12 available columns on medium to large screens. It will stack on smaller screens.

B. Buttons

Bootstrap offers predefined button styles like primary, secondary, success, danger, etc.

Example:

<button class="btn btn-primary">Primary Button</button>
<button class="btn btn-secondary">Secondary Button</button>

C. Navigation Bar

Bootstrap provides an easy-to-use responsive navigation bar.

Example:

<nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg navbar-light bg-light">
  <a class="navbar-brand" href="#">Brand</a>
  <button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#navbarNav" aria-controls="navbarNav" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation">
    <span class="navbar-toggler-icon"></span>
  </button>
  <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="navbarNav">
    <ul class="navbar-nav">
      <li class="nav-item active">
        <a class="nav-link" href="#">Home</a>
      </li>
      <li class="nav-item">
        <a class="nav-link" href="#">Features</a>
      </li>
    </ul>
  </div>
</nav>

D. Alerts

You can show customizable alerts like success, danger, warning, etc.

Example:

<div class="alert alert-success" role="alert">
  This is a success alert—check it out!
</div>

E. Forms

Bootstrap also includes form styles for input fields, labels, checkboxes, etc.

Example:

<form>
  <div class="form-group">
    <label for="exampleInputEmail1">Email address</label>
    <input type="email" class="form-control" id="exampleInputEmail1" placeholder="Enter email">
  </div>
  <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary">Submit</button>
</form>

5. Best Practices for Using Bootstrap in Power Pages

  • Stick to Responsive Layouts: Leverage Bootstrap’s grid system to create layouts that automatically adjust to different screen sizes.
  • Customize Bootstrap: Modify Bootstrap’s default styles to match your brand using custom CSS. For example, change button colors, font sizes, etc.
  • Avoid Overuse: Use only the necessary components to avoid unnecessary loading times and complexity.
  • Test on Multiple Devices: Bootstrap is responsive by default, but it’s always best to test your site on various devices to ensure the layout and functionality work as expected.
  • Use the Bootstrap Documentation: Always refer to the official Bootstrap documentation for component details, customization options, and best practices.

6. Troubleshooting Tips

IssueSolution
Bootstrap not applyingCheck the link to CSS and JS files. Ensure they are correct.
Layout breaks on mobileVerify your grid system classes and adjust breakpoints if necessary.
JavaScript components not workingEnsure both jQuery and Bootstrap’s JavaScript files are loaded in the correct order.

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