---
title: Columns visual guides
description: "The \"Columns visual guide\" feature in the [PublishPress Blocks](https://publishpress.com/links/blocks) plugin makes it easier to see what is happening with your layouts. --- ## How to use the Columns visual guide To see the \"Columns visual guide\" feature in action, choose…"
url: "https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/column-visual-guides/"
updated: "2026-10-14"
category: PublishPress Blocks / Configuration
---

# Columns visual guides

The "Columns visual guide" feature in the [PublishPress Blocks](https://publishpress.com/links/blocks) plugin makes it easier to see what is happening with your layouts.

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## How to use the Columns visual guide

To see the "Columns visual guide" feature in action, choose a [PublishPress Columns](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/columns-manager-block/) block:

![Add PublishPress Columns block](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screen-Shot-2022-10-05-at-19.05.47.png)
Add PublishPress Columns block

Choose a layout option:

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screen-Shot-2022-10-05-at-19.06.36.png)

Add content to your layout, and you will see a dotted line around the outside of each column. This is the "Columns Visual Guide":

![Dotted Line Guide](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screen-Shot-2022-10-05-at-19.09.39.png)
Dotted Line Guide

These guidelines can be particularly useful as your layouts become more complex. This next image is an example of one "[Columns Manager](https://publishpress.com/links/columns-manager)" block inside another "[Columns Manager](https://publishpress.com/links/columns-manager)" block. In this image, the guidelines are very helpful for seeing your layout:

![Dotted Line Guide 2](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screen-Shot-2022-10-05-at-19.11.29.png)
Dotted Line Guide 2

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## Settings for the Columns visual guide

You can choose to enable or disable the visual guide for your whole site, or individual posts / pages.

Inside every post or page, you can click the [PublishPress Blocks](https://publishpress.com/links/blocks) icon in the top-right corner. You can then choose one of these settings:

- [Inherit](https://publishpress.com/links/inherit) from global settings
- Enable
- Disable

![Visual Guide Settings 1](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Screen-Shot-2020-12-09-at-17.16.13.png)
Visual Guide Settings 1

The "Global Settings" show above can be configured this way:

- Go to Blocks in your WordPress admin menu.
- Then Settings
- Enable columns visual guide

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Screen-Shot-2022-10-05-at-19.12.53.png)