If you used EDOnline last year, you are already off to a great start in EDONext. While the core design tools and overall workflow will feel familiar, EDONext has received a major upgrade and visual refresh this year. The result is a cleaner layout, improved performance, and several new features designed to make creating your yearbook faster and more intuitive.

That said, you may notice that some tools have moved, menus look a little different, and a few workflows have been streamlined. This guide will walk you through the top 10 tips to help you confidently transition from EDOnline to EDONext, so you can spend less time searching for tools and more time designing a book your school will love.

Tip 1: Templates are now called Layouts
Templates haven’t gone away. They have simply been renamed to Layouts. You will find them under the Layouts tab, and they place on the page the same way they did before.

Tip 2: Themes now have their own menu
There is a new Themes option in the left menu. This brings all theme elements together in one organized space, including layouts, backgrounds, and clipart. Everything connected to your theme now lives in one convenient location.

Tip 3: Elements combines clipart, shapes, and backgrounds
The Elements button now houses clipart, shapes, drop photo boxes, and backgrounds all in one place. You can easily toggle between categories inside the Elements panel. In EDOnline, these lived in separate menu areas. They are now combined to make room for new features like Themes and People.

Tip 4: The new People menu helps with proofing
You will now see a People menu in the left panel. This is where you can review missing or untagged people data to help proof your pages. If a page has missing people, the menu will turn red to alert you.

Tip 5: Custom Colors now include a color picker
Custom Colors have been upgraded with a built-in color picker. You can now sample colors directly from elements on your page to create perfectly matched custom colors.

Tip 6: The Ladder is now a right-side sidebar
The Ladder has moved to a sidebar on the right. You can keep it open while working or toggle it on and off from the top menu. Previously, it lived in the left menu and could not stay open while you accessed other tools.

Tip 7: Meet Ask Ed inside the designer
In addition to Live Chat, you now have Ask Ed built directly into the designer. This allows you to search the Knowledge Base without leaving your book.

Tip 8: Settings moved to the top left
Settings are now located in the top left corner. Here you will find page dimensions, EDO page locks, Team Chat controls, auto save settings, and more.

Tip 9: Auto Save is here
EDONext now includes Auto Save. You can adjust how often it saves in Settings, giving you added peace of mind while you work.

Tip 10: Team Chat is built in
Team Chat is now available directly inside the designer, making collaboration easier than ever. Admin users can enable or disable this feature at any time in Settings.