# Countdown bar

Use the **Countdown bar** section to display a live countdown for an upcoming event or sale. A countdown timer can create a sense of urgency or anticipation for your customers.

{% hint style="info" %}
Check out the [Countdown banner](https://help.fluorescent.co/cornerstone/pages/theme-sections/countdown-banner) section for a larger alternate layout.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="https://475958657-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fyt3Wwaqhge0XvrXmVj7D%2Fuploads%2FHnzto5PpsgYJrZBu02wl%2Fcountdown-bar-botanical.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c9f71659-18f2-4bf9-b67d-a31ff8f06e90" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Editing templates will change all pages that use the same template**. [Create new templates](https://help.fluorescent.co/cornerstone/general/editing-themes/using-templates#create-and-assign-multiple-templates) for different page layouts, or [show dynamic page content](https://help.fluorescent.co/cornerstone/general/adapting-your-theme/dynamic-content-with-metafields) in the same template.
{% endhint %}

## Set up section

***

In the editor side panel, click **(+) Add section** and select **Countdown bar**. Click and hold the drag handles **`⋮⋮`** to re-order sections.

### Section styles

Sections include general styles. Click the section to find options for **colors**, **spacing**, and **animations**.

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th align="center"></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td align="center"><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Section colors</strong></mark></td><td><a href="../section-styles#section-colors">#section-colors</a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Section spacing</strong></mark></td><td><a href="../section-styles#section-padding">#section-padding</a></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Section animations</strong></mark></td><td><a href="../section-styles#section-animations">#section-animations</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Set up timer

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Select the date and time for the end of the countdown. Choose to hide the timer when the countdown or add a message when the countdown is complete.

<details>

<summary><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>STEPS</strong></mark></summary>

In your theme editor (**Customize**):

1. Click the **Countdown bar** section to open the settings.
2. Select the **Year**, **Month**, **Day**, **Hour**, and **Minute** for the completion date of your countdown.
3. Check the **Hide the timer on complete**

   > You may want to enable this option when using the countdown to display the amount of time remaining for a current event or promotion (such as a sale).
4. Enter text for the **Timer complete message** that appears when the countdown reaches '0'.

   > The message will appear only if the **Hide timer on complete** option is unchecked.
5. Click **Save**.

</details>

`Click Countdown bar to find settings`

<table><thead><tr><th width="237">Setting</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Year</mark></td><td>Enter the year of the end-date.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Month</mark></td><td>Select the month of the end-date.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Day</mark></td><td>Select the day of the end-date.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Hour</mark></td><td>Select the hour of the end-time.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Minute</mark></td><td>Select the minutes of the end-time.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Time zone</mark></td><td>Choose to display the timer according to your Shop time zone or the User’s local time zone.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Hide timer on complete</mark></td><td>Choose hide the countdown timer when it has completed.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Timer complete message</mark></td><td>Add text to display a message when the timer has completed.</td></tr></tbody></table>

## Add background image

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Choose to display a background image that spans the entire bar instead of a background color.

<table data-card-size="large" data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-type="content-ref"></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="files"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Using color overlays</strong></mark></td><td>Learn how to change overlay colors and use gradients.</td><td><a href="../section-styles#image-overlays">#image-overlays</a></td><td><a href="https://475958657-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fyt3Wwaqhge0XvrXmVj7D%2Fuploads%2F73JN6EXgS8wovHQZ2N6u%2Foverlay-solid.png?alt=media&#x26;token=780c4a79-021f-4cd4-96e1-f7ea21e4356e">overlay-solid.png</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

<details>

<summary><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>STEPS</strong></mark></summary>

In your theme editor (**Customize**):

1. Click on the **Countdown bar** section to open the settings.
2. (*Optional*) Under **Background**, click **Select image** to upload a background image.

   > For optimal quality across all devices, we recommend images width or height of **`2500px`**.
3. Use **Image focal points** to specify the main focus of your images. The focal point of your image will remain centered and within frame when your site adapts to different screen sizes.

   > See our [image guide](https://help.fluorescent.co/cornerstone/general/image-guide/theme-image-settings#image-focal-point) to learn more about specifying a focal point for an image used within a section or for an uploaded image file when used anywhere on your site.
4. Use the color selector to change the **Text** and **Background** color.

   > The background color appears when there's no background image.
5. (*Optional*) Change the **Overlay color** and **Overlay opacity** using the slider to increase the contrast between the text and background image (if used).

   > These settings help make your text clear and readable.
6. (*Optional*) Click the **Overlay gradient** option to add a color overlay that fades across a range of hues.

   > You can choose the style, angle, position, and opacity of the gradient. See Shopify's [color gradient guide](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/themes/theme-structure/color-scheme#gradients) to learn more.
7. Click **Save**.

</details>

`Click Countdown bar to find settings`

<table><thead><tr><th width="179">Setting</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Image</mark></td><td><p>Select or upload an image to display as the background of the banner.</p><p><br>There are no required image dimensions. We recommend a minimum width of 2500px.</p></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Mobile image</mark></td><td>Select or upload a mobile-specific image to display as the background of the banner.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Image focal point</mark></td><td>For desktop and mobile, select the most important part of your image to keep centered. Use focal points to avoid unwanted cropping across different screen sizes.</td></tr></tbody></table>

## Section content

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Change the **Heading** and **Text**. Add a **button** with a custom style.

<details>

<summary><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>STEPS: Add headings and text</strong></mark></summary>

In your theme editor (**Customize**):

1. Click the **Countdown bar** section to open the settings.
2. Enter **Heading** text to display as a title at the top of the banner.

   > we recommend one to three words.

   > Delete the text in this field to remove the heading.
3. Enter **Subheading** text to display beneath the heading.

   > We recommend two to three short sentences.

   > Use the formatting buttons to add text styles, links, or lists. To learn more, see Shopify's [Rich text editor guide](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/shopify-admin/productivity-tools/rich-text-editor#format-text-with-the-rich-text-editor).
4. (*Optional*.) Enter additional **Text** beneath the countdown clock to provide more information to your customers.
5. Click **Save**.

</details>

<details>

<summary><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>STEPS: Add button</strong></mark></summary>

In your theme editor (**Customize**):

1. Click on the **Countdown bar** section to open the settings.
2. Select or paste a URL for the **Button link**.
3. Enter text for the **Button label**.

   > The most effective button labels ask customers to do something (e.g. Get started, Join us, Shop now). To learn more, [read "What is a Call to Action?"](https://www.thebalancesmb.com/call-to-action-1794380)
4. Select a **Button style**: either **Solid**, **Outline**, or **Text**.

   > The button uses the theme-wide button color set in the Theme settings.
5. Click **Save**.

</details>

`Click Countdown bar to find settings`

<table><thead><tr><th width="188">Setting</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Heading</mark></td><td>Add text to show a main heading.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Text</mark></td><td>Add text to display below the main heading.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Button link</mark></td><td>Select or paste a URL for a button. You can add up to three buttons below the section heading.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Button label</mark></td><td>Enter text to display as the button label.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Button style</mark></td><td>Choose a style for the button. Select <strong>Solid</strong>, <strong>Outline</strong>, or <strong>Text</strong>.</td></tr></tbody></table>

## Bar height and width

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* Choose whether to enable **Full width**
* Adjust the **height** for desktop and mobile

`Click Countdown bar to find settings`

<table><thead><tr><th width="223">Setting</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Enable full width</mark></td><td>Display the banner at the full width of the screen or window.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Height</mark></td><td>Change the height of the banner section for desktop screens: between 60 and 300 pixels.</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;">Mobile height</mark></td><td>Change the height of the banner section for mobile screens: between 60 and 300 pixels.</td></tr></tbody></table>

\\

***

> **Related links**
>
> [Countdown banner](https://help.fluorescent.co/cornerstone/pages/theme-sections/countdown-banner)\
> [Promotion grid](https://help.fluorescent.co/cornerstone/pages/theme-sections/promotion-grid)\
> [Sales banner](https://help.fluorescent.co/cornerstone/pages/theme-sections/sales-banner)