title: Flowblocks
---
allow_comments: yes
---
body:
When you need redundant models to be added in the CMS at will, you can use flowblocks.
When used they show up in your CMS as buttons to add the flowblocks fields.
## The setup
You need to manually add a `flowblocks/` folder as a sibling of the `models/` and `templates/` folders.
If you are making a corresponding template then you will also add `blocks/` as a subdirectory of `templates/`.
## flowblocks.ini file
This is the redundant code that will be populated in the CMS every time you click the button.
Here the fields are the same as a `models.ini` would be, but the section head will say `[block]` instead of `[model]`,
and there will be a subsection text to identify this file as a flowblocks button to Lektor.
Example flowblock file: `button.ini`
```
[block]
name = Text Block
button_label = Text
[fields.text]
label = Text
type = markdown
[fields.thumbnail]
label = Button Thumbnail
type = select
source = record.attachments.images
[fields.link]
label = URL or File Link
type = string
```
## models.ini
Now that the `flowblocks.ini` file is made you'll add a field to a `models.ini` file to incorporate the flowblocks fields.
This would be the `[field.buttons]` in this models file.
Example model file: `mainLayout.ini`
```
[model]
name = mainLayout
label = {{ this.title }}
[fields.page_title]
label = Page Title
type = text
[fields.buttons]
label = Buttons
type = flow
flow_blocks = button
[fields.logo]
label = Logo
type = select
source = record.attachments.images
```
## Corresponding template
With the `button.ini` (flowblock) created and `mainLayout.ini` (model) including a field for the flowblock, we can use jinja code inside a template to handle the infinite number of flowblocks that could be added.
For this example we made `button.html` that directly corresponds to `button.ini` file.
This corresponding template isn't a requirement, just an easier way to segregate the code for this guide.
```
```
## Including templates
The `button.html` template will now be `included` in the `mainLayout.html` template (corresponds to the `mainLayout.ini` file) via jinja as well.
```
{{ this.page_title }}
{% include "button.html" %}
```
## Conclusion
With these files in place a CMS admin can add and subtract flowblocks at will and they will be displayed on the page after saving changes.
---
summary: Shows how to use flowblocks in Lektor.
{{ button.text }}
{% endfor %}