Title: Flexible content nested
Last modified: July 12, 2020
---
# Flexible content nested
* Resolved [MatsKruger](https://wordpress.org/support/users/matskruger/)
* (@matskruger)
* [5 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/flexible-content-nested/)
* Hello
* I tried to use your plugin to create nested flexible content with layout files
and “the_flexible”.
* The base group is called “Sections” which is flexible which contains 2 layouts
* Layout 1 is called Full which contains 1 field called “Column” which is flexible.
* “Column” contains 1 layout called block.
* The second layout is called “2 Columns” which has 2 fields which are clones of
the field called “Column”
* This original “Column” return the content of the layout file correctly.
But
the cloned “Column” in the other Section layout return an empty string.
* I have used “Prefix Field Names” on the cloned fields and used “column_1_column”
and “column_2_column” but it returns an empty string.
* My first try i created a inactive group which was inactive and all the layouts
of “Sections” cloned that group. So when that did not work i tried making it
inline in the first column.
* I saw this [https://wordpress.org/support/topic/flexible-content-nested-clone/](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/flexible-content-nested-clone/)
but as you write what i am trying to achieve is a finite nested and not infinite.
Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
* Thread Starter [MatsKruger](https://wordpress.org/support/users/matskruger/)
* (@matskruger)
* [5 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/flexible-content-nested/#post-13112015)
* Ok i got an idea to make the fields in code instead and then have a factory funktion
to create layouts and columns. So instead of clones it will just create a new
group with the same fields with a new key.
* This looks like it works fine. This will properly also be easier to maintain
in the long run.
* Then i can just import it in when i need to change settings and then update the
code afterwards.
* Would still love to know why it wont work for me with the clones.
* Plugin Author [Konrad Chmielewski](https://wordpress.org/support/users/hwk-fr/)
* (@hwk-fr)
* [5 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/flexible-content-nested/#post-13115844)
* Hello,
* Thanks for the feedback! It’s really hard to understand your technical architecture
as didn’t provide any code, screenshot or export. What I can tell you is that
nested Flexible Content with clones work correctly (I use it everyday), as long
as you don’t trigger infinite loops.
* Generally speaking, when going into complex structures like that, I always advise
people to start by creating native Flexible Content, with native clones, then
get the correct front-end output using the ACF `have_rows(): the_row()` functions.
See: [https://www.advancedcustomfields.com/resources/flexible-content/](https://www.advancedcustomfields.com/resources/flexible-content/)
* Then, when everything is working correctly, enable the “Dynamic Render” setting,
create layout template files, and convert the front-end code to use the ACF Extended
helper `the_flexible()`. You’ll find a tutorial about that here: [https://www.acf-extended.com/post/flexible-content-dynamic-layout-preview](https://www.acf-extended.com/post/flexible-content-dynamic-layout-preview)
* In order to help you, I’ll need your field groups json export files and the PHP
code you’re using on the front-end. But first, please make sure that your code
is working using the native ACF `have_rows(): the_row()` functions.
* Have a nice day!
* Regards.
* Thread Starter [MatsKruger](https://wordpress.org/support/users/matskruger/)
* (@matskruger)
* [5 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/flexible-content-nested/#post-13120449)
* Hello,
* I tried doing what you suggested, i created everything as of the native guide
and then replacing with `the_flexible` when everything works.
* I have created multiple layout files
* index.php
* ```
get_layout( $layout_name, $field );
// echo '';
// get_template_part( 'layouts/' . $layout_name . '/template' );
// echo '
';
// endwhile;
// endif;
} // end while
} // end if
?>
```
* layouts/full/template.php
* ```
';
// get_template_part( 'layouts/' . get_row_layout() . '/template' );
// echo '';
// // if ( get_row_layout() == 'header' ) :
// // the_sub_field( 'heading' );
// // elseif ( get_row_layout() == 'block' ) :
// // the_sub_field( 'hels' );
// // endif;
// endwhile;
// endif;
if ( has_flexible( 'column' ) ) :
echo '';
the_flexible( 'column' );
echo '
';
endif;
?>
```
* layouts/header/template.php
* ```