WP Bakery Page Builder - Add URL option to make entire column clickable - Updated 22 June 2023

functions.php

<?php

/* add this to your theme's functions.php file */

/* Add option for URL to column settings */

vc_add_param("vc_column", array(
    "type" => "vc_link",
	"class" => "",
	"heading" => "Column Link",
	"param_name" => "column_link"
));

/* Add option for URL to column_inner settings */

vc_add_param("vc_column_inner", array(
    "type" => "vc_link",
	"class" => "",
	"heading" => "Column Link",
	"param_name" => "column_link"
));

?>

vc_column.php

<?php

/* place this file in [your-theme]/vc_templates/ */

if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
	die( '-1' );
}

/* This file modifies the vc_column output to accomodate the otional URL parameter */

/**
 * Shortcode attributes
 * @var $atts
 * @var $el_id
 * @var $el_class
 * @var $width
 * @var $css
 * @var $offset
 * @var $content - shortcode content
 * @var $css_animation
 * Shortcode class
 * @var WPBakeryShortCode_Vc_Column $this
 */
$el_class = $el_id = $width = $parallax_speed_bg = $parallax_speed_video = $parallax = $parallax_image = $video_bg = $video_bg_url = $video_bg_parallax = $css = $offset = $css_animation = '';
$output = '';
$atts = vc_map_get_attributes( $this->getShortcode(), $atts );
extract( $atts );

wp_enqueue_script( 'wpb_composer_front_js' );

$width = wpb_translateColumnWidthToSpan( $width );
$width = vc_column_offset_class_merge( $offset, $width );

$css_classes = array(
	$this->getExtraClass( $el_class ) . $this->getCSSAnimation( $css_animation ),
	'wpb_column',
	'vc_column_container',
	$width,
);

if ( vc_shortcode_custom_css_has_property( $css, array(
	'border',
	'background',
) ) || $video_bg || $parallax
) {
	$css_classes[] = 'vc_col-has-fill';
}

$wrapper_attributes = array();

$has_video_bg = ( ! empty( $video_bg ) && ! empty( $video_bg_url ) && vc_extract_youtube_id( $video_bg_url ) );

$parallax_speed = $parallax_speed_bg;
if ( $has_video_bg ) {
	$parallax = $video_bg_parallax;
	$parallax_speed = $parallax_speed_video;
	$parallax_image = $video_bg_url;
	$css_classes[] = 'vc_video-bg-container';
	wp_enqueue_script( 'vc_youtube_iframe_api_js' );
}

if ( ! empty( $parallax ) ) {
	wp_enqueue_script( 'vc_jquery_skrollr_js' );
	$wrapper_attributes[] = 'data-vc-parallax="' . esc_attr( $parallax_speed ) . '"'; // parallax speed
	$css_classes[] = 'vc_general vc_parallax vc_parallax-' . $parallax;
	if ( false !== strpos( $parallax, 'fade' ) ) {
		$css_classes[] = 'js-vc_parallax-o-fade';
		$wrapper_attributes[] = 'data-vc-parallax-o-fade="on"';
	} elseif ( false !== strpos( $parallax, 'fixed' ) ) {
		$css_classes[] = 'js-vc_parallax-o-fixed';
	}
}

if ( ! empty( $parallax_image ) ) {
	if ( $has_video_bg ) {
		$parallax_image_src = $parallax_image;
	} else {
		$parallax_image_id = preg_replace( '/[^\d]/', '', $parallax_image );
		$parallax_image_src = wp_get_attachment_image_src( $parallax_image_id, 'full' );
		if ( ! empty( $parallax_image_src[0] ) ) {
			$parallax_image_src = $parallax_image_src[0];
		}
	}
	$wrapper_attributes[] = 'data-vc-parallax-image="' . esc_attr( $parallax_image_src ) . '"';
}
if ( ! $parallax && $has_video_bg ) {
	$wrapper_attributes[] = 'data-vc-video-bg="' . esc_attr( $video_bg_url ) . '"';
}

$css_class = preg_replace( '/\s+/', ' ', apply_filters( VC_SHORTCODE_CUSTOM_CSS_FILTER_TAG, implode( ' ', array_filter( $css_classes ) ), $this->settings['base'], $atts ) );
$wrapper_attributes[] = 'class="' . esc_attr( trim( $css_class ) ) . '"';
if ( ! empty( $el_id ) ) {
	$wrapper_attributes[] = 'id="' . esc_attr( $el_id ) . '"';
}
$output .= '<div ' . implode( ' ', $wrapper_attributes ) . '>';
$innerColumnClass = 'vc_column-inner ' . esc_attr( trim( vc_shortcode_custom_css_class( $css ) ) );
$output .= '<div class="' . trim( $innerColumnClass ) . '">';

/* Inserted to check whether a link is present in the settings */
if( !empty($column_link) ){
    $column_link_array = vc_build_link($column_link);
    $column_link = esc_url($column_link_array['url']);
    $column_target = $column_link_array['target'];
    $column_rel = $column_link_array['rel'];
    $column_title = $column_link_array['title'];
    $output .= "<a href='$column_link' ";
    $output .= ( $column_target == '_blank' ) ? "target='_blank' " : '';
    $output .= ( $column_rel == 'nofollow' ) ? "rel='nofollow' " : '';
    $output .= ( $column_title !== '' ) ? "title='$column_title' " : '';
    $output .= "class='big_link' style='position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;z-index:9999;'aria-hidden='true'></a>";
}
/* End Changes - Resume base code */

$output .= '<div class="wpb_wrapper">';
$output .= wpb_js_remove_wpautop( $content );
$output .= '</div>';
$output .= '</div>';
$output .= '</div>';

echo $output;

vc_column_inner.php

<?php

/* place this file in [your-theme]/vc_templates/ */

if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
	die( '-1' );
}

/* This file modifies the vc_column_inner output to accomodate the otional URL parameter */

/**
 * Shortcode attributes
 * @var $atts
 * @var $el_class
 * @var $el_id
 * @var $width
 * @var $css
 * @var $offset
 * @var $content - shortcode content
 * Shortcode class
 * @var WPBakeryShortCode_Vc_Column_Inner $this
 */
$el_class = $width = $el_id = $css = $offset = '';
$output = '';
$atts = vc_map_get_attributes( $this->getShortcode(), $atts );
extract( $atts );

$width = wpb_translateColumnWidthToSpan( $width );
$width = vc_column_offset_class_merge( $offset, $width );

$css_classes = array(
	$this->getExtraClass( $el_class ),
	'wpb_column',
	'vc_column_container',
	$width,
);

if ( vc_shortcode_custom_css_has_property( $css, array(
	'border',
	'background',
) ) ) {
	$css_classes[] = 'vc_col-has-fill';
}

$wrapper_attributes = array();

$css_class = preg_replace( '/\s+/', ' ', apply_filters( VC_SHORTCODE_CUSTOM_CSS_FILTER_TAG, implode( ' ', array_filter( $css_classes ) ), $this->settings['base'], $atts ) );
$wrapper_attributes[] = 'class="' . esc_attr( trim( $css_class ) ) . '"';
if ( ! empty( $el_id ) ) {
	$wrapper_attributes[] = 'id="' . esc_attr( $el_id ) . '"';
}
$output .= '<div ' . implode( ' ', $wrapper_attributes ) . '>';
$innerColumnClass = 'vc_column-inner ' . esc_attr( trim( vc_shortcode_custom_css_class( $css ) ) );
$output .= '<div class="' . trim( $innerColumnClass ) . '">';

/* Inserted to check whether a link is present in the settings */
if( !empty($column_link) ){
    $column_link_array = vc_build_link($column_link);
    $column_link = esc_url($column_link_array['url']);
    $column_target = $column_link_array['target'];
    $column_rel = $column_link_array['rel'];
    $column_title = $column_link_array['title'];
    $output .= "<a href='$column_link' ";
    $output .= ( $column_target == '_blank' ) ? "target='_blank' " : '';
    $output .= ( $column_rel == 'nofollow' ) ? "rel='nofollow' " : '';
    $output .= ( $column_title !== '' ) ? "title='$column_title' " : '';
    $output .= "class='big_link' style='position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;z-index:9999;'aria-hidden='true'></a>";
}
/* End Changes - Resume base code */

$output .= '<div class="wpb_wrapper">';
$output .= wpb_js_remove_wpautop( $content );
$output .= '</div>';
$output .= '</div>';
$output .= '</div>';

echo $output;

Hello,

First of all thank you for this code, it's such a good function!
It still works in WP Bakery 6.10 but there is a tiny problem.
The link always opens with target=_blank but i do not select it in the link options when editing the page.
If I switch to wordpress view and edit the target to target=_self it does not do anything and on the front end it keeps opening in a new tab.

Is there a solution for this? I'm not an expert but i tried hard and I can't do it...

EDIT: nevermind, its only when you are logged in ^^ for visitors it works

I've just published an update for the latest WP Bakery Page Builder v. 6.13

Slight changes in their code, but nothing major. Added some ternary operators to bypass bits of code if title, rel, and target boxes aren't checked.

The Best way to add WP Bakery column clickable

Add a Custom CSS Class:

1. In WPBakery Page Builder, edit the column you want to make clickable.
2. Under the "Design Options" or "Design" tab (depending on your WPBakery version), you should find an option to add a custom CSS class to the column. It might be labeled as "Extra class name" or something similar.
3. Add a custom CSS class, for example, "clickable-column" to the column.

.clickable-column{
cursor: pointer;
}

Custom JavaScript:

1. In your WordPress theme, you can add custom JavaScript code to make the columns with the "clickable-column" class clickable. You can do this by adding the JavaScript code in the theme's JavaScript file or using a custom JavaScript plugin.

Here's an example of how you can use JavaScript (jQuery) to make columns with the "clickable-column" class clickable and navigate to a specific URL:

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
// Add a click event handler to elements with the "clickable-column" class
$('.clickable-column').click(function() {
// Get the URL from a data attribute or set it directly
var targetUrl = $(this).data('target-url') || 'https://example.com';
// Navigate to the URL
window.location.href = targetUrl;
});
});

DO NOT DO THIS.
Even if it wasn't a bad idea because you'd have to do it for every 👏 single👏 column👏, it can cause accessibility issues. Without having a semantically clickable element, there's no target for assistive technology.

DO NOT DO THIS. Even if it wasn't a bad idea because you'd have to do it for every 👏 single👏 column👏, it can cause accessibility issues. Without having a semantically clickable element, there's no target for assistive technology.

I'm using it for Anchor ID, & it works for me :)

I didn't say it wouldn't work. I said it's a bad solution.

…

On Thu, Sep 14, 2023 at 3:02 AM Abdullah Ijaz ***@***.***> wrote: ***@***.**** commented on this gist. ------------------------------ DO NOT DO THIS. Even if it wasn't a bad idea because you'd have to do it for every 👏 single👏 column👏, it can cause accessibility issues. Without having a semantically clickable element, there's no target for assistive technology. I'm using it for Anchor ID, & it works for me :) — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <https://gist.github.com/RichardNesbitt/5ed1198ef75ef53fcc820419e57307ee#gistcomment-4692107> or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ACIMJHI5XLBVXTZMCTG3PQLX2LI2TBFKMF2HI4TJMJ2XIZLTSKBKK5TBNR2WLJDHNFZXJJDOMFWWLK3UNBZGKYLEL52HS4DFQKSXMYLMOVS2I5DSOVS2I3TBNVS3W5DIOJSWCZC7OBQXE5DJMNUXAYLOORPWCY3UNF3GS5DZVRZXKYTKMVRXIX3UPFYGLK2HNFZXIQ3PNVWWK3TUUZ2G64DJMNZZDAVEOR4XAZNEM5UXG5FFOZQWY5LFVA4TGOBRHEZTQNFHORZGSZ3HMVZKMY3SMVQXIZI> . You are receiving this email because you authored the thread. Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub> .

@RichardNesbitt everything works fine in the backend, but frontend-wise the column is still not clickable :/

WPB Version 6.4.2

Hi I am trying to get this to work for me. I am able to add the link in the back end, but it is not working in the front end. I may be putting the second lot of code in the wrong place? I cannot find [your-theme]/vc_templates/ */. I found this which I hoped was the same thing
Jevelin: Visual Composer Compatibility(beta!) Page Template (page-vc.php).

Where do I find vc_templates? I tried theme file editor in wordpress and I searched the files on cpanel

Or is there an easier way??

Im am just winging it, any help would be appreciated!!!

@jennyLupo i just pasted both vc files in the theme root folder, since i also dont have any /vc_templates/ folder. maybe that might also be the issue for me.

my theme is bought of envato.