Add a Module to an Asset

Modules are reusable blocks of content like headers, footers, or product sections. You can drag and drop them into your asset layout.

Open your asset in the editor.
Scroll down on the right panel until you find the Modules section.
Locate the desired module.
Click and drag it into your asset where needed.

Dragging and dropping a premade module into an email

Working with Modules

Behavior of Added Modules

Modules are locked when added. You can move, clone, or delete them as a group.
You can update text, swap images, and add links inside the module.
You cannot add or remove content blocks within the module unless it is broken apart.

Break Apart a Module

If you need to customize the layout or structure of a module:

Click the Break apart module button.
The module will be split into editable sections.
You can now add or delete individual content blocks.

🔒 Note: Only users with the correct permissions can break apart modules.

Broken link icon and "Break apart module" buttons in red boxes

Deleted Modules and Assets

If a module is removed from the admin panel:

It will not be automatically deleted from any asset it's been added to.
A warning will appear in the Optimize tab if a deleted or outdated module is present in your asset.

📌 Use this warning to review and update affected assets if needed.

Module deleted warning in the module attributes section.

Updating an Out-of-Date Module

How to Identify Outdated Modules

Open the Optimize tab in your asset.
Look for a warning beside the module or in the module list.
Click the warning or the dial icon beside the module to view update options.

Optimize tab displaying out of date modules with the option to highlight and/or update the modules

How to Apply Module Updates

You have two ways to update a module:

In the Optimize tab, click Update module.
Click the dial icon beside the out-of-date module.

Dial icon that appears to merge an out of date module

You can also update all modules at once using the Bulk Update option in the Module Manager.

Module manager view with "update module" button displaying for assets with the out of date module.

What Gets Updated — And What Doesn’t

The system distinguishes between structural and content changes:

Type of Change	Updated?	Notes
Layout (new rows/columns)	✅ Yes	Structural changes are applied
Editable text or images	❌ No (if customized)	Custom content is preserved if marked as editable
Locked content	✅ Yes (for non-admins)	Reverts to the module’s default to maintain compliance

✅ What Will Change (If part of the updated module)

These updates are applied automatically during the merge:

A new button, image, or column is added to the module layout.
A heading’s font style, color, or size is changed by the admin.
Padding or spacing between content blocks is updated.
A background color or border style is added or modified.
A new social icon is included in a footer module.
An old layout with 2 columns is replaced with a 3-column layout.
Text in a locked (non-editable) field is changed by the admin.

❌ What Won’t Change (If customized by the user and marked editable)

These are preserved to avoid overwriting your asset-level edits:

Text edited in a paragraph field marked as editable.
A swapped image (e.g., replacing a product photo with another).
A changed link (e.g., customizing a CTA button URL).
Reordered items within a list module if the container is editable.
Custom alt text or accessibility labels.

Special Case: Admin Overrides and Merges

If an admin has overridden a module and a non-admin user later tries to update it:

❌ The admin’s override will be lost. Non-admins lose admin-only changes when updating.
✅ If the admin performs the update, their custom override is preserved. Admins keep their overrides when updating.

Why This Happens

Admin users have elevated permissions that allow them to bypass locked fields and restrictions. Knak is designed to prioritize admin-set rules to ensure brand and legal compliance. Non-admin users cannot carry forward restricted edits. This prevents mistakes or unapproved changes from appearing in published content.

Scenario	Admin Updates Module	Non-Admin Updates Module
Editable text	Preserved	Preserved
Locked text	Updated	Updated
Admin-only override (e.g., hiding a compliance disclaimer)	Preserved	Overwritten
Image swap in a locked field	Replaced with default	Replaced with default