---
title: "Creating and using helpers"
date: "2017-11-12T16:00:26+00:00"
summary: "Create and use helpers in Site Studio to save and reuse layout elements efficiently. Learn how to save parts or entire layouts as helpers, organize them into categories, and quickly add them to your canvas for streamlined web design."
image:
type: "page"
url: "/drupal-starter-kits/add-ons/site-studio/creating-and-using-helpers"
id: "24aa42b1-c6de-4678-b564-8173809c829a"
---

Table of contents will be added

Helpers allow you to save Elements or groups of Elements on your Layout canvas to be used again quickly without having to rebuild them. You can think of helpers as an advanced copy and paste function. When you save an element as a Helper, it includes any child elements.

Important

When a Helper is added to the Layout canvas it turns back into Elements. If you change the Helper, it will not affect any Helpers that have already been added to the Layout canvas.

Saving part of your layout as a helper
--------------------------------------

You can save parts of your layout as a Helper directly from your Layout canvas. 

To save a Helper:

1.  Choose an element on your Layout canvas you want to save as a Helper and click on the **...ellipsis menu** and click on **Save**
2.  In the modal, enter a name for your Helper in the **Title** field. A short descriptive name is recommended
3.  In the Type drop-down select **Helper**
4.  In the Category drop-down, select a category of Helper. This organises your Helpers into logical categories to help you find them
5.  Click **Save**.

![df058332-create-helper-from-element.gif](https://acquia.widen.net/content/12945619-8604-4ce5-8218-dcf91a18340c/web/df058332-create-helper-from-element.gif?animate=true)

Saving your entire layout as a helper
-------------------------------------

You can save your entire layout as a Helper directly from your Layout canvas. 

To save a Helper:

1.  Click on the **Options menu** and click on **Save**
2.  In the modal, enter a name for your Helper in the **Title** field. A short descriptive name is recommended
3.  In the Type drop-down select **Helper**
4.  In the Category drop-down, select a category of Helper. This organises your Helpers into logical categories to help you find them
5.  Click **Save**.

![554f964c-create-helper-from-layout-canvas.gif](https://acquia.widen.net/content/b737e245-a0be-43b2-b433-66bbb9a6efd8/web/554f964c-create-helper-from-layout-canvas.gif?animate=true)

Using your helpers
------------------

You can use your Helpers to quickly add saved layouts to your Layout canvas.

To use your Helpers:

1.  Click on the **+button** on the Layout canvas to open the Sidebar browser
2.  Click on the **Dropdown icon** at the top of the Sidebar browser
3.  Select **Helpers** from the dropdown list
4.  Drag your Helper onto the Layout canvas from the Sidebar browser
5.  When dropped, the Helper will turn back into the Elements that it's made from.

![352547cc-using-helpers.gif](https://acquia.widen.net/content/9aace433-13ef-4d0e-911b-7912bf67c718/web/352547cc-using-helpers.gif?animate=true)

Managing your helpers
---------------------

You can manage all your Helpers from one place. For more information, see [Managing your helpers](/drupal-starter-kits/add-ons/site-studio/managing-your-helpers "Managing your helpers").