How to Create a Sliding Push Sidebar in Divi

Sidebars can be great, but they can also be a waste of space. That’s why creating a sliding push sidebar can be a perfect option for those looking to have a sidebar that doesn’t distract the user from the main content of the page. Moreover, this kind of a sidebar gives the user the option to see or hide the sidebar whenever they want.

The sliding push effect does is unique in that the sidebar slides in from the left side of the page while simultaneous pushing (or squeezing) the main content of the page in order to fit the sidebar in the viewport. In short, it slides the sidebar and pushes the page.

Once the sidebar is built, it becomes a versatile tool for all types of applications, including menus and forms.

Let’s get to it!

Sneak Peek

Here is a quick look at the design we’ll build in this tutorial.

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To import the section layout to your Divi Library, navigate to the Divi Library.

Click the Import button.

In the portability popup, select the import tab and choose the download file from your computer.

Then click the import button.

Once done, the section layout will be available in the Divi Builder.

To add it to a page or template, you will need to add a new section and choose the section layout from the library.

Let’s get to the tutorial, shall we?

What You Need to Get Started

To get started, you will need to do the following:

1. If you haven’t yet, install and activate the Divi Theme.
2. Create a new page in WordPress and use the Divi Builder to edit the page on the front end (visual builder).
3. Choose the option “Choose a Premade Layout”.
   
4. Choose the Event Layout Pack and click to use the Event Home Page layout.
   

How to Create a Sliding Push Sidebar in Divi

To create the Sliding Push Sidebar, we are going to need to use a new regular section. We will size and position the section to become a fixed sidebar that opens when clicking a button, pushing (and squeezing) the main content area on the right to make room for the sidebar.

Building the Section

First, let’s add a new regular section to the page.

Then move the section at the top of the page.

Section Settings

Open the section settings and update the position to be fixed as follows:

• Position: Fixed
• Z Index: 9999

Under the design tab, update the size and spacing as follows:

• Width: 350px (desktop and tablet), 100% (phone)
• Height: 100%
• Padding: 100px top, 0px bottom

The padding is to make room for the header at the top of the page.

Next, under the advanced tab, give the section a CSS Class:

• CSS Class: et-push-sidebar

Once the css class is in place, give the section a background color:

• Background Color: #1a1e36

To create a more noticeable separation, go back to the design tab, and add a right border.

• Right Border Width: 2px
• Right Border Color: #eeeeee

That takes care of the section which serves as the main container for our sidebar. Now its time to start building the two buttons that we will use to toggle the sidebar open and then closed.

Creating the Sidebar Toggle Buttons

There will be two buttons used to toggle the sidebar. The first button will be an “X” icon that will close the mobile version of the sidebar after it is opened. The “X” will be built using a blurb module. The second is the main toggle button which we’ll build using a blurb module that is rotated with vertical text and positioned absolutely adjacent to the sidebar/section.

Let’s get to it.

Creating the Row for the Buttons

Create a new one-column row inside the section/sidebar.

Open the row settings and update the following:

• Gutter Width: 1
• Width: 100%
• Padding: 0px top, 0px bottom

Under the Advanced tab, update the position options as follows:

• Position: Absolute
• Z Index: 1

Creating the “X” Close Icon

To create the “X” Close Icon, add a blurb module to the row. It may be easier to add a new module using the Layers modal because things will be a little difficult to click.

Content

Then open the blurb settings. Under the content tab, take out the title and body content and add the X icon to the blurb.

• Use Icon: YES
• Icon: x (see screenshot)

Design

Under the design tab, update the following:

• Icon Color: #eeeeee
• Image-Icon Placement: Left
• Use Icon Font Size: YES
• Icon Font Size: 40px
• Width: 50px

Next, bring the icon down a bit by adding the following transform translate property:

• Transform Translate X : 100px
• Transform Translate Y : -10px

Advanced

Under the Advanced tab, disable the blurb on tablet and desktop so that we only see it on phone display.

• Disable On: tablet and desktop

Then add a CSS Class to the blurb and give it a fixed position so that it stays in view when scrolling through sidebar content on phone display.

• CSS Class: et-slide-push-close
• Position: Fixed
• Location: Top Right

That takes care of the “X” Close Icon button.

Creating the Main Sidebar Toggle Button

To create the Main Sidebar Toggle Button, add a blurb module under the existing “X” icon blurb.

Content

The update the Title and click to use the down arrow icon.

• Title: Event Info
• Use Icon: YES
• Icon: down arrow (see screenshot)

Next, add a background color to the blurb.

• background color: #eeeeee

Design

Under the design tab, update the following:

• Icon Color: #1a1e36
• Image/Icon Placement: Left
• Use Icon Font Size: YES
• Icon Font Size: 25px
• Title Font: Overpass
• Title Font Weight: Bold
• Title Font Style: TT
• Title Text Color: #1a1e36
• Title Letter Spacing: 2px
• Title Line Height: 1.2em
• Padding: 0.6em top, 1em left, 1em right
• Rounded Corners: 5px on bottom two corners

To position and rotate the blurb outside of the section, use the transform options as follows:

• Transform Translate Y : 100px
• Transform Rotate Z : -90deg
• Transform Origin: top right

Advanced

Under the Advanced tab, update the following:

• CSS Class: et-slide-push-toggle
• Position: Absolute
• Location: Right Center

Adding Custom Code with a Code Module

Once the two buttons are complete, we are ready to add the custom code that will provide the sliding push functionality we need for the sidebar.

To add the code, first, add a code module to the same column.

Then paste the following code into the code module.

<style>
  #page-container, #et-main-area, .et-push-sidebar, .et-slide-push-toggle .et-pb-icon {
    transition: all 300ms !important;
  }
/*
 * use if using blank template with no header or footer
 * 
  #page-container.et-push-sidebar-active {
    margin-left: 350px;
  }
*/  
  #page-container.et-push-sidebar-active #et-main-area {
    margin-left: 350px;
  }  
  .et-push-sidebar {  
    transform: translateX(-100%);
  }
  .et-fb .et-push-sidebar {  
    transform: translateX(0%);
  }
  .et-push-sidebar-active .et-push-sidebar {
    transform: translateX(0%);
  }
  .et-slide-push-toggle, .et-slide-push-close {
    cursor:pointer;
  }
  .et-push-sidebar-active .et-slide-push-toggle .et-pb-icon {
    transform: rotate(180deg);
  }
@media all and (max-width: 767px) {
  .et-push-sidebar-active .et-push-sidebar {
    overflow: scroll !important;
    overscroll-behavior: contain;
  }
  #page-container.et-push-sidebar-active #et-main-area, #page-container.et-push-sidebar-active {
    margin-left: 0px;
  }  
}  
</style>
<script>
(function($) {
  $(document).ready(function(){
    $('.et-slide-push-toggle').click(function(){
      $('#page-container').toggleClass('et-push-sidebar-active');
    });
    $('.et-slide-push-close').click(function(){
      $('#page-container').removeClass('et-push-sidebar-active');
    });    
  });
})( jQuery );   
</script>

Creating the Sidebar Content Row

The first row we created was for the buttons and code that make the sidebar function. This next row will be for the sidebar content.

To create the sidebar content row, add a new one-column row under the first row in the sidebar/section.

Row Settings

Open the settings of the new row and udpate the following:

• Width: 100%
• Height: 100%
• Padding: 5% top, 5% bottom, 5% left, 5% right

Under the Advanced tab, update the overflow options as follows:

• Horizontal Overflow: scroll (desktop and tablet), auto (phone)
• Vertical Overflow: scroll (desktop and tablet), auto (phone)

Filling the Sidebar with Content/Modules

Now that your sidebar is ready, all you need to do is add any module to the second row in the sidebar as needed. For this example, I’m just copying modules from the event home page layout and pasting them in the column of the row.

Final Result

Check out the final result on the live page.

Adding the Sliding Push Sidebar to a Page Template

If you would like to use this sidebar on all of your pages by default, you will need to add the sidebar/section to a page template using the Divi Theme Builder.

Save Section Layout to Divi Library

To do this, first, save the section that was used to create the sidebar to the Divi Library. You can do this by clicking the three dots on the sidebar in the layers modal, add the layout name, and saving it to the library.

Create a New Page Template

Next, go to the theme builder and create a new template and assign that template to all pages.

Adding the Sliding Sidebar to the Page Template

Next, click to edit the page template.

Inside the template layout editor, add a new fullwidth section.

Then insert a Fullwidth Post Content module to the section.

Next click to. create a new section above the fullwidth section. Then click the Add from Library tab and select the Sliding Push Sidebar section layout from the library.

Once done, you can edit the sidebar however you need using the body layout editor.

Save Theme Builder Settings

Make sure to save the changes to the theme builder.

Now all of your pages will have the sidebar.

Final Thoughts

A sliding push sidebar is a perfect option for those of you looking for the best of both worlds – a sidebar that stays at the forefront without taking away from (or distracting) the main content of the page. Feel free to use it for all kinds of things like registration forms, email opt-ins, menus, and much more.

I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.

Cheers!